COLUMBUS, Ohio — Concern is growing for members of the Columbus Education Justice Coalition after leaders of Columbus City Schools announced they are considering closing or consolidating certain buildings.
At a panel discussion last week, Superintendent Dr. Angela Chapman said the district enrollment has changed a lot through the years, but the number of buildings has not. She said several of the building are underutilized.
Recommendations for possible school closures will be made by a task force on Tuesday night at the school board meeting.
“A hand picked task force using data that is not accounting for the cities projected growth to make a decision about what schools to close feels like business as usual,” said Stuart McIntyre, member of the Columbus Education Justice Coalition.
Marielle Henault has three children in the school district. She said she worries about how the closures will affect students.
“Their first response was ‘Mom are they going to close our school?’ They were scared, they love their school community. I imagine any of the families and children that could be impacted by these closures are going to feel the same way,” said Henault.
RELATED: Columbus City Schools considering closing, consolidating certain buildings due to underutilization
Another big concern for the coalition is the impact on teachers.
“Our teachers are impacted when school buildings close. There is a stripping of the teachers and families they built in the schools,” said Izetta Thomas, co-founder of the coalition.
The coalition is asking the board to make four changes.
“Pause on any vote on school closings, plan for growth in a growing city, do not sell our buildings, and of course, have community-led decision-making for those neighborhood schools possibly impacted by the closures,” said Thomas.
The school board will make a final decision about the closures in June.
We reached out to the district for a comment on the coalition’s comment. A spokesperson sent us the following statement.
“The Superintendent's Community Facilities Task Force, in accordance with CCS Board Policy on school closure and consolidations, has thoroughly considered data on enrollment, building use, and conditions. They're about to present their initial proposals tonight. The working group has been dedicated to providing top-notch facilities and resources for our students, teachers, and staff. However, the Task Force's work is far from over with tonight's presentation. Throughout May, we will actively seek community input on the group's initial recommendations through forums and feedback sessions, including a radio discussion on June 1. We are eager to hear our communities’ unique perspectives and encourage everyone to participate. By improving teaching and learning conditions, the District will be better positioned to attract new families as the Columbus community grows.”