A day after school board member Brandon Simmons proclaimed that discussions about Columbus City School closures were "dead" the school board announced plans last night to take a closer look - in person - at the buildings under consideration. Although there is no deadline for the board to vote on the Task Force recommendations board president Christina Vera says that from late September through October, board members will tour the schools proposed for closure. Vera says the tours are "purely for research".
"We are also consulting with both national and local experts on rightsizing and equity. But it will take time. We are dedicated to an authentic process and creating a viable strategy that includes not just experts, and not just board members. But also our students, families staff and the entire Columbus community."
Vera says all of the Board committees will play a role in the school realignment process, and will share ongoing developments every month. Board member Sarah Ingles chairs the Policy and Governance committee, and says they started the year with time sensitive reviews, like Title IX policies, EEO and non-discrimination policies, ADA prohibitions. Next up is a review of the policy surrounded school closures. Ingles says the committee heard from members of the appointed Community Facilities Task Force that the process is difficult and limiting.
"...and so we are going to be visiting that policy to make sure that the Task Force is set up and prepared in a way that makes sense for the next ground, and the next time we would need to use that. And that will probably take us a few meetings."
The nine schools the Task Force recommended in June for possible closure are:
Broadleigh Elementary School
Buckeye Middle School
Eastmoor Middle Facility (Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys building)
Fairwood Elementary School
Lindbergh Elementary School
McGuffey Facility (CAHS building)
Moler Elementary School
North Linden Elementary School
West Broad Elementary School
One of the other recommendations from the Task Force is grade brand standardization, aligning grade distribution across the district. Board president Vera says the Academic and Facility Alignment committee will evaluate current policies, as well as the district lottery program, special education, gifted and talented program and athletics.
