Columbus (Ohio) board puts off vote on closing 9 schools

The Columbus (Ohio)  school board has delayed a vote on whether to accept a task force recomendation to close nine school buildings.

The Columbus Dispatch reports that the board voted unanimously to delay action on the recommendations.

On Tuesday, the Superintendent's Community Facilities Task Force recommended closing six elementary schools, two middle schools, a high school and the district's downtown administrative building.

Board members put off a decision on the recommendation so that the public could have more opportunity for feedback.

"Today, I was in no position knowledgeably to make the decision that I think is best for 47,000 children and our 9,000 plus employees," board member Michael Cole said.

The recommended closures:

• Elementary: Broadleigh, Fairwood, Lindbergh, Moler, North Linden, and West Broad.
• Middle: Buckeye Middle and Columbus City Preparatory School for Boys.
• High: the McGuffey Road Facility would close, and Columbus Alternative High School would move its programming to East High School.