COLUMBUS, Ohio — Many Columbus City Schools families will be facing changes after the district announced the closure of five schools on Tuesday.
One of those schools is West Broad Elementary, where two of Susan Cavendish's children attend.
“My heart is broken for those other families, staff and communities,” said Cavendish.
Cavendish said the schools that will close mean a lot to the community.
“It’s a sense of community. It is a safe haven for children and the community. It feels like a family,” she said.
The board voted to close the school, but they said they would build a new school in its place. The funding and plans for that new school are unclear.
“They would have to come back to the voters and ask for more money. Quite frankly, after their behavior, I don’t expect many of us will feel eager to give them money,” said Cavendish.
She said the uncertainty is unsettling.
“This disproportionately affects lower income areas, people of color. It does feel like ripping neighborhoods apart,” said Cavendish.
The other schools closing are Broadleigh Elementary School, Buckeye Middle School, Columbus Alternative High School, Moler Elementary School and West Broad Elementary School. The schools will not close prior to the 2026-2027 school year.
The closures will also have a big impact on teachers and staff. John Coneglio, president of the Columbus Education Association, said the board’s decision is disappointing.
10TV asked Coneglio what the school closures mean for teachers’ jobs.
“Well, that’s what I'm gonna try to figure out, right? Because all of those things, whether if it's a closure of a building is different than if it's a relocation,” he said.
Coneglio said he is not worried about teachers losing their jobs.
Both Coneglio and Cavendish said they have a lot of unanswered questions. They hope for more clarity from the district and school board.
“We are a growing city, right? There’s no doubt about it. But we don’t have it, there is no plan for growth,” said Coneglio.
“The public verdict is this is not okay,” said Cavendish.