Lakewood Schools Delay Open House At Taft Center For Innovation

LAKEWOOD, OH — A planned open house at the Taft Center for Innovation has been delayed, the Lakewood Schools announced. The accompanying Listen & Learn session with Superintendent Michael Barnes has also been moved to the Ranger Cafe at Lakewood High School.

The Listen & Learn will start at 6 p.m. Community members can meet with Barnes and ask any pressing questions about the district.

The redevelopment of Taft Elementary was announced in December 2018. Taft Elementary was originally built in 1927, making it more than 90-years-old. Additions were built in 1957 and 1970, but upgrades were needed for the building to house the Board of Education and the preschool program.

"This move will allow us to maximize a taxpayer-funded property that has been underutilized over the years since it closed as an elementary school while giving us the space needed to expand critical programming for our students and keep our Central Office staff in Board-owned property," said Superintendent Michael J. Barnes in a statement released when the upgrades were announced.

The district's Warren Road properties were sold to Liberty Development Company in 2019.