Southeast : Lakewood Residents Study Plan to Form School District

Echoing nationwide concerns about the quality of public education, a group of Lakewood residents has proposed forming its own school district.

Home rule and higher standards were the rallying calls at a recent community meeting where hundreds of residents voiced support for a plan to create a district to oversee 22 Lakewood schools that are now controlled by four outside districts.

“There’s a real emphasis on returning to the neighborhood concept of schools,” said Todd Rogers, a sheriff’s sergeant who helped launch the drive.

The plan has drawn charges of racism from parents whose children are bused from neighboring cities, which have more diverse populations.

But Rogers said his group is willing to discuss keeping those students in the district.

The Lakewood City Council on Tuesday appointed two of its members as liaisons to Rogers’ group. They plan to draw up an official proposal for county officials, who would draft a petition for city residents. If 25% of the city’s voters approve the plan it could go to the state Board of Education, which must approve the proposal before returning for a citywide referendum.

A consultant for the county Committee on School District Organization said the process could take 2 1/2 years.

Since its founding in 1950, the city has been divided by outside districts. Two separate efforts to set up a Lakewood district failed in the 1970s. . . .