Columbus City School board members toured nine school buildings recommended for possible closure this week.
The tours took place from Monday to Friday during school hours. School Board President Christina Vera said board members were able to talk with teachers, students, and in some cases, families.
“And it was really an amazing opportunity to really dive deeper, to further understand the unique needs and challenges in all nine of our school communities,” Vera said. “A common theme amongst all nine communities was really the importance around feeling like their school was their community.”
In June, the Superintendent’s Facilities Task Force, a group of volunteers charged with creating consolidation plans for the sprawling school district, recommended nine buildings for closure out of an initial list of 20.
The buildings on the chopping block included one high school, two middle schools and six elementary schools: Buckeye Middle School, Fairwood Elementary School, Broadleigh Elementary School, West Broad Elementary School, Lindbergh Elementary School, Moler Elementary School, North Linden Elementary School, Old Eastmoor Middle School and The McGuffey Facility, which currently houses Columbus Alternative High School.
Amid continued frustrations from district families and staff who largely don’t want to see their schools closed, Vera announced in August that the board would tour all of the buildings before making any final decisions.
Vera and board members Jennifer Adair, Sarah Ingles, and Michael Cole made good on that promise this week, touring two to three buildings a day along with two members of the board services team and a district communications representative.
“We want to be mindful and respectful that these are more than just facilities. These are communities.”- Columbus School Board President Christina Vera
REALTED — Columbus City Schools board members call on board member Brandon Simmons to resign
Vera said the district’s other three board members – Vice President Tina Pierce, Ramona Reyes and Brandon Simmons – were invited to attend, and that the board was able to be together outside a public meeting because it was a fact-finding project and no votes were taken. WOSU asked to join the tours, but was not allowed.
Vera said board members were focused on finding out more about programming, infrastructure, safety, functionality, and learning environments at each building.
“We're thinking about priorities like safe and nurturing spaces for our students,” Vera said.
She believes some schools are open to the idea of moving, but that they’d like to have a say in where they go or would like a new building.
“But for the most part, it was really geared towards, you know, ways that they were hopeful that their building could stay open,” Vera said.
RELATED — Ohio districts are considering shuttering schools, and the backlash is intense
The board will have a special meeting at 6 p.m. on Nov. 14 at the district’s main office at 3700 South High Street to discuss the tours and get additional information from district personnel. Vera said the board will not make any final decisions at that time.
Vera said “if and when” the board makes a final decision, changes will not go into effect right away. Closures or consolidations would likely take a year and a half to two years to implement.
Vera said the board plans to continue to take a “community-centered approach.”
“We want to be mindful and respectful that these are more than just facilities. These are communities,” Vera said.
