Linmoor School axed

By Tobias K. Houpe
Contributing Writer
Columbus Post

At the end of this school year, Linmoor Middle School will be no more. Due to a drastic fall in student enrollment, the school will close its doors for good.
For the school board, it was an issue of practicality and economics. With enrollment down to 173 students, drastic decisions had to be made.
“ I was very disappointed that we had to close Linmoor Middle School,” said Columbus School Board member Shawna Gibbs. “To be fiscally responsible, we have to run schools that are efficient and economical and Linmoor’s attendance had fallen below that level. But I do think it is incumbent for us to find unique programs that parents in that community would like to choose.”
According to the Facilities Master Plan, certain schools must be earmarked for closing or consolidation if they fail to meet certain criteria. Linmoor was not able to meet that criteria, which involved student enrollment and an increase in growth over the last three years.
The 173 students currently enrolled at Linmoor fell far short of the minimum of 600. Next year, those students may be reassigned to a nearby school such as Medina, Indianola, Eastmoor or Champion.
Attendance has been dropping for the last few years. In 2004, the student population amounted to 324, and then in 2006 it dropped to 234.
Clarence Lumpkin of the Linden Area Commission says that he fails to understand why Linmoor was selected when other schools have lost students as well.
“ I thought it was a terrible thing to close Linmoor,” said Lumpkin, who was not happy with the decision. “We have been working very hard to revitalize this community and the Columbus school system should have been working hard to keep the school open.”
Continued Lumpkin, “They were telling us that there were too many students in the classroom for the teachers to teach effectively. Now that we have fewer students in the classrooms, they’re telling us we have to close the school. I don’t understand that.”
Sharing another perspective, Gibbs commented, “That (Linden) community has unique challenges, but they also have a number of resources, so when all the resources become aligned with the parental wishes and expectations for their children, I think we’ll see a new Linden emerge. I think every parent has their own answer for what they want for their child. We’re a district of choice...and for whatever reason it is, we have to build and develop our schools that are open in Linden and provide the best options for students and families.”
The solution says Gibbs is found in establishing programs that will appeal to parents.
“ We have to, now more than ever, stay in touch with our parents and look at our programs, look at what we’re doing well. We can’t afford to keep what we’re not doing well. We need to refocus and remind everybody that it’s all about the kids. We are building 21st century schools. Every school that we’ve opened, attendance has gone through the roof,” said Gibbs. “We feel we have a good array of programs and if there is a gap that exits, that’s what we want to hear from the community.”
As part of the Facilities Master Plan, three new schools will soon break ground. Gibbs attempts to put it all into perspective.
“ Buildings are buildings and as soon as you build a building it starts to decay but what we want to hear back from the community is feedback about programs because programs travel with children and they stay with kids and we can put them anywhere,” she said. “If we get a good handle on the programs and the curriculum and the learning environments that our parents want, we can begin to craft schools of choice for every community and for every parent in Columbus Public Schools.”
Other schools currently on the Facilities Master Plan Watch List are: Douglas Elementary; Duxberry Park Elementary; Linden Park Elementary; and Mifflin Alternative Middle School.

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