COLUMBUS, Ohio — One day after its board censured one of its members, Columbus City Schools is continuing the process of evaluating the future of some of its buildings. The district held four forums on Thursday, giving community members a chance to weigh in on recommendations made by a task force that could close up to 20 of the district’s schools. 

What You Need To Know

  • Columbus school board member Brandon Simmons was censured Wednesday night during a special school board meeting

  • Some parents of Columbus City Schools students said they are concerned and have lost trust in the school board as the district considers potential school closings

  • Board president Chiristina Vera stated that Simmons worked on the leaked document alone, but Simmons claimed other board members contributed to it

“I think holding people accountable is important. But I think that it's not enough to hold people accountable and then still barrel forward with a plan that feels really rushed, really confusing, and that doesn't seem to include everyone's voices,” said Cat Lynch, a parent of a first grade student at Westgate Elementary. 

Lynch was among dozens of community members taking part in one of the district’s forums, designed to get feedback on a proposal to close some of its schools.

“While I certainly understand it's a very, very busy time, it's important that we have these conversations now,” said Kathryn Moser, the deputy superintendent of academics for Columbus City Schools. 

But those conversations have recently come out of focus, after the spotlight turned to Brandon Simmons, the board member accused of being behind a leaked document that strategized how to fend off opponents of the plan.

“It's hard to trust it when there's so many things unfolding and things it feels like every day There's a new thing that we're finding out has been kind of shady or shouldn't have happened with all of that,” said Lynch. 

At a meeting Wednesday night, the school board voted to censure Simmons and remove him from the committees on which he served. But despite calls for Simmons to resign, he still holds his spot on the board. Still, other board members are distancing themselves from him, disputing his claims that he was not the only one behind the document.

“I am personally disappointed in Mr. Simmons creation of the document and how he has handled this situation publicly,” said Christina Vera, the President of the Columbus Board of Education. 

And for some community members, the ongoing saga and the leaked document are making it tough to concentrate on the issue that the board wants to prioritize.

“We want to work together is what everyone’s been saying. And this was the response. This is the response that a board member has for the people that they serve and wanting to work with them. That is shameful,” said Izetta Thomas, the lead organizer for the Columbus Education Justice Coalition.