Germantown middle school faces closure this year
A leaking roof and other costly repairs, as well as declining enrollment, could lead to the closing of the Ada H. Lewis Middle School in East Germantown. But parents who want to keep the school open promise to put up a fight.
District CEO Paul Vallas said the school “definitely” needs to be shut down after this school year. When this year's eighth-grade students graduate in June, the 220-student body will be down to 70 students.
“It will cost $27 million to renovate it, it's got multiple cracks in the foundation, those walls are going to come down eventually,” Vallas said of Lewis, adding that utility bills are high.
The School District's five-year plan projects closing 22 schools to save money. Those schools have not been named publicly.
Home and School President Arenda Bethel, whose son is a seventh-grader at Lewis, acknowledges the building does need work. Even so, she and other parents want to find a way to keep Lewis open or, at the very least keep the last 70 students together at another school for eighth grade. Parents argue that they did not get enough notice about the hearings on the closings and that nothing was sent home telling them that the school faced possible closure.
A District spokesman said the District followed proper meeting notification procedures. Vallas said the District would work with parents to find proper placements for the students at other schools.
Parents are concerned about their children being sent to Roosevelt Middle School because of a student rivalry, Bethel said.
Comments (4)
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 20:24.
im very sad about the closing of ada h h lewis middle school. i once attened the school in 1990 - 1992 thhis school it's apart of my history. im there are many others who the way i feel about this school! schools are one thing in the city that never need to close down! i pray there wont be over crowding at othere schools as a result of this. this city is going down when schools are closing!!!
Submitted by Melice (Gilbert) Hinds (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 07:59.
The Class of 76 would like to acquire the time capsule that we placed in the school's foundation. Send any helpful info to our page on Facebook; www.facebook.com/Ada H. Lewis Class of 1976.
Submitted by Melice (Gilbert) Hinds (not verified) on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 07:57.
I am from the Class of 76 and a group of former classmates would like to get the time capsule we placed in the schools foundation BEFORE the school is demolished!!!!!!!! Anyone know how we can acquire the time capsule pls e-mail me at melice319@yahoo.com.
Submitted by Kayisha (not verified) on Thu, 12/06/2012 - 14:32.
I will miss you Lewis alot of good funny memories. I Love You Shaquan Fraizer <3
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