CCS BOE: Resolution Approved To Lease 2 Buildings To Charter Schools
The Columbus Board of Education passed a resolution at their most recent meeting that designates Linmoor Middle and Indianola and Medary Elementary schools as swing spaces and leases Kent, Linden Park and Second Avenue elementary schools to third parties which include two charters. The resolution also slates Pinecrest and Scioto Trail elementary schools for demolition and designates Wayne Elementary School for district storage.
Brentnell will be leased to the Charles School at Ohio Dominican University for $62,594.00 per year for a term of ten years. The rent will be capped so that it does not increase more that 13.5% as compared to increases in the consumer price index. Linden Park Elementary will be leased to the Knowledge Is Power Program (KIPP) for $55,345.50 per year under the same terms. Both entities are responsible for capital improvements, maintenance and utilities for the properties in addition to the yearly lease amounts.
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During the meeting, Superintendent Harris acknowledged that out of the 6,400 students that reside in the community, approximately 2,200 students are enrolled in schools operated by CCS in the Linden area. Roughly 3,000 are attending Columbus City Schools outside of the Linden community, and another 1,100 are attending schools not operated by CCS, including charters.
The parent of a first grade student in Columbus City Schools criticized the board for the proposed resolution prior to the vote during the public comment on agenda items.
“Students, parents and teachers have felt the effects of charter schools in Columbus city Schools,” said the parent. “Why would we make charter schools more accessible to parents? Why would we allow them to have a substandard education when they can have the best education in Columbus City Schools? Linden is an area that we are working so hard to revitalize, why would we allow a charter school to come in and steal our brightest students?
Superintendent Harris responded, saying “It is our responsibility to make sure the buildings are well maintained, and you have to have some level of utilities in the buildings or they will not be able to withstand the elements. (Money obtained by the leasing) allows us to put back money in the general fund or in the capital improvements budget. Over a 20 year maximum we would look at close to 3 million dollars that would be generated by those schools.”
Board member Betty Drummond agreed with the parent in principle.
“I don’t feel a lot different than she does, but the approach that I would take is a bit different,” said Drummond. “We can’t stop the proliferation of charter schools, they’re going to happen whether they lease them a building or not. We have to step up to the plate such as we are in the Linden Community so that the parents don’t want to leave and the parents don’t want to take us out of the schools. (Charters) are going to come and squat whether we want them to or not.”
“We have been very focused in the leases that we pursued or continued a conversation about,” said Harris. “KIPP and Graham have both shown themselves to be high performing schools. In order to build a vibrant community we need to make sure we have as many high performing schools in order to build economic development.”
Board member Shawna Gibbs asked how many buildings the district had available. She added, “(KIPP) is a wildly successful program and it has results across the country of doing well. I just wish they would look at another building in another community that was not oversaturated and that was down to a minimum number of students.”
“I think it provides parents with a successful option if they’re not happy with their current charter school,” responded Harris.
“What is the unintended consequence of the success of KIPP in a community that has already lost so many students to charters?” asked Gibbs.
“There is nothing that precludes a parent from sending their child from any charter school regardless of the location,” interjected Board President Terry Boyd. “Tonight we have a business decision to make. We have resources that are going unused, buildings that are draining the budget. Here’s the opportunity to turn a negative into a positive.”
The Columbus Board of Education voted 5-2 in favor of the resolution, with Board members W. Carlton Weddington and Shawna Gibbs voting against the proposed resolution.