Superintendent Update On The Elementary Planning Task Force

At the Lakewood City Schools, our strong sense of community has always been our foundation. We've overcome challenges and celebrated countless milestones. We are once again coming together to shape the future of our schools.

Since 2015, our district has seen a decline of over 1,000 students. While our values of close-knit neighborhoods and walkable schools remain strong, this shift has created challenges for our elementary facilities. Some schools are underutilized, with capacity as low as 62%, while others exceed 80%.

To address these challenges, we formed the Elementary Planning Task Force in August 2024. This dedicated group of educators, parents, and community members has reviewed enrollment trends, analyzed space utilization, and explored scenarios to optimize our schools. Along the way, we’ve sought input through community conversations at each elementary school and a community-wide survey.

The Task Force identified key priorities that reflect our community’s values. These include minimizing walking times, creating equitable class sizes, avoiding students crossing major thoroughfares, and expanding preschool opportunities.

The last Task Force meeting was held on Wednesday, April 30. After months of collaboration and detailed data review, the Task Force is finalizing its conclusions and key considerations, which will be presented to the Board of Education at the June 16, 2025, Board meeting. My final recommendation to the Board will follow in September 2025. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor trends and state legislation that could impact these decisions.

I want to thank our Task Force members and everyone in the community who has shared their feedback, questions, and insights along the way. This partnership is what makes Lakewood truly special.

You can continue to stay informed by visiting our website at www.lakewoodcityschools.org for updates, meeting recaps, and, in June, the Task Force Report. Navigate to the “Find it Fast” menu at the top right of the home page and select Elementary Planning Task Force. Thank you for being a vital part of our Lakewood community.