FCS recommends closing Lincoln, Jacobs schools

Findlay City Schools Superintendent Troy Roth has recommended closing both Lincoln Elementary School and Jacobs Primary School next school year. The recommendation was made at Monday's regular meeting of the district's school board, but there was no board vote. Under the recommendation, elementary students would be divided into three buildings for students in kindergarten through second grade, and three buildings for students in grades three to five. The reorganization is expected to save the district between $1.3 million to $1.7 million annually. The 106-year-old Lincoln Elementary building, located at 200 W. Lincoln St., would be closed. Jacobs Primary, located at 600 Jacobs Ave., would be repurposed. Roth said the reorganization will save the district money while protecting student achievement. It will also allow the district to better balance the number of children living at or near the poverty level in each building. He said the goal would be to keep the number at less than 50% at each building. The move would require the district to purchase modular classrooms. However, there was no discussion Monday as to why the modular classrooms are needed or where they will be located. Roth said the recommendation to close the schools was the result of months of study by a committee appointed specifically to review the district's options. A superintendent's finance committee recommended closing two elementary schools in October, just prior to the district's third and final attempt to pass an additional tax in 2020 to support district operations. The levy was defeated. Members of the superintendent's committee are appointed by the superintendent and may include up to two school board members. Roth said the committees are exempt from Ohio's open meeting laws because they are administrative. The committees meet as necessary. Meetings are not open to the public, and no minutes are kept. There are seven district superintendent committees, including committees on personnel, facilities, strategic planning, finance, policy, technology and district leadership. On Monday, Jude Hammond, interim treasurer, also recommended the school district stay off the ballot, at least until next year, to reevaluate its financial position. Hammond said Findlay Schools could qualify for about $4 million under the new federal COVID-19 relief bill.With the exception of the past school year, Findlay Schools have been deficit spending since 2016, relying on a yearly carryover balance and budget-cutting to balance the books. Voters last approved additional operating money for the city schools in 2004, with a five-year, 5.9-mill levy. In May 2014, voters agreed to make that levy permanent. Grant: 419-427-8412 denisegrant@thecourier.com