Columbus City Schools considers new school closures, transportation changes

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Columbus City Schools are considering closing four additional schools to save money and comply with impending legislation.

At a special board of education meeting Thursday night, school leaders discussed new possibilities for reducing the district's budget by $50 million annually. CCS may close four additional schools and reassign students to other facilities to better distribute class sizes across buildings.

Superintendent Angela Chapman said she knows changes will be difficult, but they are necessary to prioritize learning amid federal and state cuts to school funding.

CCS would save more than $3 million each year by closing Como and Fairwood elementaries, Duxberry Arts Impact and Columbus Gifted Academy. These closures would be in addition to the five schools the school board voted to close in December.

District leaders said combining schools would also be good for students and instruction. CCS leaders said combining student bodies into one larger school will increase academic and extracurricular opportunities, and make support systems more accessible.

"None of our students come to school and say, 'Oh, I need to be sick on Tuesday, because that's when the counselor's there,'" Chapman said, referencing shared services.

The district also weighed transportation changes, especially as the district's school choice lottery system makes transportation costs much higher. The district currently transfers more students than legally required, and is considering placing the responsibility of transportation on families for non-1100% lottery K-8 schools.

If all the suggestions were approved, Fairwood Elementary would be folded into Ohio Avenue. Columbus Gifted Academy could be folded into Avondale. Como Elementary would transition into Oakland Park, making it a neighborhood school. The district wants Duxberry to become part of a K-12 arts program at the Fort Hayes complex, with students moved to South Mifflin until the new complex can be completed.

The schools under consideration for closure are among 15 buildings at or below 60% enrollment. CCS leaders said they are concerned about their $97 million combined investment in the under-enrolled buildings, especially because of pending legislation at the Statehouse. If passed, school districts would be required to sell buildings that are under 60% utilized.

The district is also looking at the age of buildings when considering closures or consolidations. More than half of district buildings are more than 50 years old, and many require costly maintenance.

CCS said putting more students into newer school buildings will also help safeguard taxpayer dollars. Fewer buildings would allow the district to focus funding and invest in newer facilities instead of dividing dollars.

District leaders were also able to offer details about the five closures already approved by the school board. The district has already saved nearly $5 million in avoided costs, and preserved more than $31 million into newer buildings.

The district is also requesting community feedback before plans are finalized in November and December. CCS will hold three parent town hall meetings Oct. 27-29 at 6 p.m. to ensure parent voices are a part of the decision-making process.