The Toledo Board of Education will consider a resolution to temporarily close both Edgewater Elementary and Mayfair Early Childhood Center at its March 25 meeting.
On Friday, the school board’s finance and business operations committee recommended the resolution be placed on the full board’s upcoming meeting agenda.
“The vote on the resolution will allow the board and district staff to temporarily close both buildings and begin to look at what they will be used for in the future,” board President Robert Vasquez said. “We are always, as a board, looking at ways to be as efficient as possible and allow the administration to use both buildings in the most efficient way possible.”
James Gault, chief of educational development, said the district will save about $2 million per year by closing both facilities.
“The district is facing an anticipated funding hole because of funding changes that may result in a $2 million loss to early childhood education,” Mr. Gault said. “These moves are being carefully considered to ensure that all students continue to receive the high quality educational services they need, despite these financial challenges.”
Mr. Gault said closing Mayfair, which is in the most northern part of the district, would save about $1 million in maintenance, transportation, support staff, and other expenses.
“Mayfair currently has 200 kids, with 120 of those students going into kindergarten next year,” Mr. Gault said. “The other 80 students will be served in other K-8 buildings. Those families will be notified by May 1 where their child will be located next year.”
Mr. Gault said just under 100 students attend Edgewater, which serves students in K-5. Students in grades 7 and 8 were moved in the 2023-24 school year to Ottawa River Elementary School. Students in grade 6 were moved this school year.
“Ottawa River has room for the 100 or so students from Edgewater,” he said. “There are also built in programs like the Boys and Girls Clubs at Ottawa River for the students as well.”
Mr. Gault said the early childhood program was funded by Head Start and state money, so it would not benefit from the latest tax levy, which voters passed in November.
“We are able to combine the schools and save the money,” Mr. Gault said. “Most school districts in the state are looking at severe budget cuts. We would love for the state not to make changes to the funding, but they are making cuts so we have to too. We can save on overhead cuts without cutting services to the kids.”
Mr. Gault said the district’s goal is to repurpose both Edgewater and Mayfair.
“The board does not want to see the buildings going to waste,” he said. “We will use the buildings to meet the community’s and district’s educational needs.”
Mr. Vasquez said he believes the administration already has plans “in the works” for the buildings.
“They have something in mind, but nothing has been finalized as yet,” he said. “The board will vote on those plans once they have gone through the committees.”
First Published March 18, 2025, 6:29 p.m.
