Friday, July 13, 2012
With more students entering the district, the administration is considering postponing a plan to close one of three elementary schools in the district.
The Lakewood City Schools district is considering a move that would halt — or at least postpone — the closing of one of its elementary schools by 2014. At the board of education’s annual retreat on Thursday, superintendent Jeff Patterson proposed holding off a decision, based on the growing student population entering the district. “If we close an elementary school (now) we could fit all the students in our schools now,” Patterson said. “Our number of students is growing significantly, and we might not be able to do that (in the future).” The school board had previously voted — as part of the Phase 3 construction plan — to shutter Grant Elementary School, but Patterson said last month he’d like see which school “makes the most sense” to …
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
Treasurer: “The levy dollars we expected aren’t here. That’s why a new levy just has to happen.”
In one of his last acts as Lakewood’s treasurer, Rick Berdine laid out the school district’s updated five-year forecast to the Lakewood School Board on Monday night. As expected, the school district's financial picture isn’t exactly pretty. But it’s also not as bad as officials had anticipated during the last forecast in October. After Berdine laid out the five-year plan, the school board OK’d Superintendent Jeff Patterson’s plan to trim millions from the budget. Berdine said among the reasons for the shortfall are falling property values — which means fewer dollars the district can collect from levies. State cuts — to the tune of $6.3 million — haven’t helped either. “It’s nobody’s fault,” Berdine said. “The levy dollars we expected aren’…
Thursday, May 24, 2012
We put our readers to the test. To help close a $12.4 million shortfall over the next five years, the Lakewood City Schools will shutter Grant, Lincoln or Roosevelt elementary schools.
To help close a $12.4 million shortfall over the next five years, the Lakewood City Schools will shutter Grant, Lincoln or Roosevelt elementary schools by the start of the 2013-14 school year. On Monday, Superintendent Jeff Patterson said that's part of his proposal to help balance the district's budget, following massive cuts in state funding last year. So, on Tuesday, we asked Patch readers — in a completely unscientific poll — which school they’d close. If it were up to them, Grant Elementary School would close. Lakewood Patch readers overwhelmingly voted to shutter Grant (57 percent), over the other two schools — Lincoln was next with 16 percent of the vote. The school board previously voted — as part of the Phase 3 construction plan…
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
To make up for a $12.4 million shortfall over the next five years, Superintendent Jeff Patterson laid out a budget blueprint at Monday’s school board meeting. But the district’s also going to need some help with a school levy.
In an effort to close a looming $12.4 million budget shortfall over the next five years, the Lakewood School Board considered some deep cuts to the budget on Monday. And not much was left off the table — including cuts to staffing, fewer textbooks and closing a school. Those were just a few of the ideas presented by Superintendent Jeff Patterson at Monday night’s school board meeting. If approved, the proposal would save the district about $8.6 million over the next three years. “This budget reduction plan accomplishes three goals,” said Patterson. “(It) minimizes the impact on student achievement; meets the criteria set by the community; and significantly reduces the amount of millage necessary in 2013.” Patterson has made no secret that …
The district must close one of three elementary schools in Lakewood. Take our completely unscientific poll and let us know which one you'd choose.
To help close a $12.4 million shortfall over the next five years, the Lakewood City Schools must close one elementary school by the start of the 2013-14 school year. Superintendent Jeff Patterson said that's part of his proposal to help balance the district's budget, following massive cuts in state funding last year. The school board previously voted — as part of the Phase 3 construction plan — to shutter Grant Elementary School, but Patterson said he’d like see which school “makes the most sense” to close. The district will consider closing Grant, Lincoln and Roosevelt elementary schools, he said, however the final decision won’t be made until August. “There are a lot factors to consider,” he said. Take our completely unscientific poll …
Joe Hildebrandt
2:35 pm on Friday, July 13, 2012
I wish the board of education would consider selling the old BOE to a private developer, move to Taft or Mckinley. I am sure that would save the money... That building is so old and I am sure that it is pain to upkeep. more ›