When Elyria school administrators announced plans to use local and state funds to build new schools, parents like Ross Johnson were excited.
“It brought joy to my heart,” Johnson said.
The master plan called for elementary schools to be built on the north, south, east and west sides of town for nearly $200 million. Johnson said new state-of-the-art schools would not only help students learn, but would also raise property values.
That excitement has turned to discouragement. School officials said there is not enough money in the budget to build a school in Johnson's south side neighborhood due to rising construction costs.
“It was really devastating to hear that,” Johnson said.
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Now, Elyria resident Brenda Warren has started a petition to send a message to school board members and administrators that residents want them to find a way to build the school.
“So we are all looking to get the petition signed by residents of the entire city. We want them to honor their promise. They promised us a new school on the south side, and we are looking for that school for our children,” Warren said.
“The petition was brought forward as another way to engage residents to be a part of the conversation,” said 5th ward councilman Marcus Madison.
Madison also signed the petition. He’s concerned hundreds of students would have to be bussed to the new schools.
“There’s a lot of children and families that look to our local neighborhood schools for services as well as opportunities to learn and grow, so it’s devastating news to hear,” Madison said.
A spokesperson for Elyria Schools said school officials are looking at all options to meet south side residents' needs. The spokesperson also said they’re meeting with the design team to see if the size of the other schools can be reduced to save money.
However, school officials say the tight budget could mean another one of the proposed five schools would also not be built.
