COLUMBUS, Ohio — Seven schools, two facilities and one administrative building in the Columbus City School District are one step closer to closing.
The Superintendent’s Community Facilities Task Force presented its final recommendations for school closures and consolidations to the school board on Tuesday evening. But, the list is not final.
The school board will ultimately decide after more discussion and additional community feedback.
One of the schools on the chopping block is West Broad Elementary School.
Susan Cavendish has two children slated to attend the school in the fall. One of her daughters attended the school last year and she said she loves the school. The family's home is less than a 10 minute walk to West Broad Elementary and the family bought the home to be close to a school.
“I knew there was a school close by and that was really important to me. We have always been a one-car household so it was important for it to be walkable for us,” said Cavendish.
If West Broad Elementary closes, students will have three other options in the neighborhood to attend.
If students go to Highland Elementary School, it’s about .7 miles from West Broad and an 18-minute walk. If they choose Valleyview Elementary, then it would be about 1 mile and a 21-minute walk. Finally, if they choose Westgate Elementary, it is about 1.1 miles from West Broad and would be a 23-minute walk.
Cavendish said she’s worried about the safety of walking farther with her four kids to the next closest school, which would be Valleyview.
“It is down a sharp, steep hill past the train tracks. There’s unfortunately a lot of crime right now over in that area by the train tracks. I can’t walk up and down that hill with four children,” she said.
Routes to the two other elementary schools would take her onto West Broad Street.
“West Broad is one of the busiest streets in Columbus. I see people just flying down that street. I’ve almost been hit in the crosswalk with a crossing guard there,” said Cavendish.
West Broad Elementary is just one of nine schools that could close in the district. Task force member Al Edmondson said he believes the final list will lead to better student outcomes.
“If you want better outcomes for the students, you need to have better services and buildings. They can learn and be able to do it better,” said Edmondson.
He believes the cuts are necessary and will ultimately help the next generation of CCS students.
“We heard you loud and clear. We appreciate all of the comments but we have to do this to save our children,” he said.