Columbus schools has too many administrative buildings. Close them before schools.
Close CCS administrative facilities first
I agree that Columbus City Schools has too many school buildings for the current enrollment levels.
The district recently eliminated the committee established to provide governance over its facilities. The 2024 task force was given less time to complete this critical task than the 2018 task force.
This crucial decision needs more time than the February-June period allowed. More time would have easily shown that Siebert and Colerain should not have been on the list.
The district has too many administrative sites, and these sites should be closed and a detailed and transparent planned presented before closing school buildings.
CCS needs to consult community: Will Columbus kids be served? School board must answer serious questions before closings.
In 2014, consultants suggested selling 270 State St., and the two other older buildings that share this site, Fifth and Sixth Street Annex buildings. To date, the district still owns these buildings.
The 2018 task force made solid recommendations on administrative site closings. Unfortunately, not one of these recommendations was implemented.
The district purchased 3700 South High St. with little thought and no plans on what to use the space for. In 2019, administration hired a consultant to make recommendations on how to best utilize the site and, to date, has not implemented the consultant’s advice.
A good start to trust-building is to exhibit fiscal responsibility and close more administrative sites.
Carolyn Smith, former Columbus City Schools chief audit executive/internal auditor
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus schools should close admin buildings before schools
