Columbus City Schools may decide on building closures this week
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Tomorrow's Columbus school board meeting is expected to be tense as a task force of community members brings forth long-awaited recommendations on building consolidation.
Why it matters: Any proposal, if approved, would shutter multiple schools — sending students elsewhere and permanently changing the district's footprint.
Zoom in: Initial proposals the task force presented last month offered nine different scenarios, potentially affecting 20 schools.
Catch up quick: Columbus City Schools has unsuccessfully tried to consolidate its facilities for years — and its most recent effort, which began in February, has been filled with controversy.
- Teachers union president John Coneglio resigned from the task force in April, saying its focus was "the further managed decline of our district."
- Then, in May, a leaked school board strategy on "taking control of the task force narrative" from the union caused public outrage. It included tactics such as switching meeting sites last-minute, rewarding "good media outlets" and highlighting "racial dynamics" between the district's two employee unions.
- A board investigation found newly elected member Brandon Simmons solely responsible for the document, though he says other members contributed.
What they're saying: Groups have since asked to pause the process due to transparency concerns, including the teachers union, the Columbus Education Justice Coalition and parents who say they feel left out of decision making.
The other side: CCS officials say reducing the district's number of aging facilities is necessary to operate more efficiently amid decreasing enrollment.
What's next: The task force will privately gather at 1:30pm tomorrow at 270 E. State St.
- Originally, a public meeting had been scheduled at East High School, per the group's website.
What we're watching: The board meets at the same location at 5:30pm and that meeting will be streamed live on Facebook.
- Board members could vote on the task force's recommendations. If not, their next regularly scheduled meeting is Aug. 6.