Lake Oswego School Board,
The Westridge Neighborhood Association’s Board is unanimous in its opposition to closing lake Grove School. We all agree that Lake Grove should stay in its current location.
The following are comments from our board members:
“I believe that the Lake Grove closure is short-sighted on the part of the school board. Not only does it change the community-based schools that we have in our city, it also does not look ahead. As our city continues to grow, they are overfilling our schools and our classrooms. We’ve seen what it looks like at Westridge; we are bursting at the seams.”
“I’m sorry to hear that any school in Lake Oswego is facing closure. I think our kids need all the buildings we have now and more.”
“The case for keeping lake Grove in place is compelling. I see no rational reason to close the school.”
“My wife and I both agree that closing Lake Grove would be detrimental to both the neighborhood and the city.”
“Having neighborhood schools is very important for the health and well-being of the community.”
“One big advantage of living in Lake Oswego is the quality of our schools, which in no small part, is enhanced by the neighborhood locations of its elementary schools. A neighborhood school is a community hub.”
“The neighborhood is flourishing. Young families continue to move there, and their children have the privilege of attending lake Grove School. Projections show that the student population is going to continue to grow over the years. Lake Grove School has the highest number of students who walk to school in all of Lake Oswego. It doesn’t get much more wholesome than that.”
“There’s overwhelming support for rebuilding Lake Grove on present site. I’ve seen no broad community support for building a new community center, nor have I heard anyone who thinks it’s a good idea to move Lake Grove School to Uplands, to say nothing of the disruption it will cause to the students and their families.”
I hope that as a school board you will consider what is in the best interest of the students, now and in the long run.
Ruth Bregar
Chair, Westridge Neighborhood Association
