More than 300 people packed Lakewood High’s East Gym to have their voices heard at the Phase III Community Forum Sept. 15. After Board of Education President Edward Favre urged everyone to remember that these decisions will affect students “for generations to come” and to keep in mind “what’s best for all of Lakewood,” two Phase III Steering Committee members presented the group’s findings culled from more than nine months of meetings and data collection by the group.

 

 The first proposal included completing Lakewood High’s east side, rebuilding or renovating Roosevelt and Grant and decommissioning Lincoln. The second proposal was to complete Lakewood High east, rebuild or renovate Roosevelt and Lincoln and decommission Grant.

 

Small groups of nearly 50 tables discussed and debated the proposals for nearly an hour and then were asked to come to consensus on which proposal to recommend. The group was also given the option of deciding that either proposal was acceptable. By a ratio of 3:1 the tables of participants chose the option to rebuild Lakewood High School’s east side, rebuild or renovate Roosevelt and Lincoln, and decommission Grant. Ten tables were unable to reach consensus.

 

All of the documents presented at the Forum, along with presenters Sandy Donahoe and Brian Kvasnicka’s script are available under the Phase III section of our web site. When the final tallies are completed, those too will be available on the web site. You can also view the Forum at 10 a.m., 11 a.m., 2 p.m., 3 p.m., 6 p.m., 7 p.m., 10 p.m., 11 p.m. and midnight on Cox Cable Channel 74.

 

The information gathered from the community at the Forum will be compiled into a report and presented by the Phase III Committee to the Board at its Oct. 19 meeting. Following that meeting, the district will enter into discussions with the Ohio School Facilities Commission to finalize its master plan in a manner that meets OSFC approval.

 

When the district is notified that it will be included in the OSFC funding cycle, a 10-12 month process will begin with the OSFC wherein sites will be assessed for renovation or rebuilding criteria and budget and funding issues will be hammered out. A bond issue cannot be placed on the ballot until this work is completed. Therefore, the soonest Phase III construction likely could begin would be summer 2011. With construction estimated to take two years, summer 2013 would be the best-case scenario as to when Phase III could be completed.

 

The support of the community is greatly appreciated during this long process. It is a process that has been proven so successful in the past for our community evidenced by our beautiful new facilities in which many of our students are now learning. The district will keep you posted every step along the way as it looks forward to finishing its 10-year rebuilding plan.