Families make pleas to the Weber School District to keep Lomond View Elementary School open

PLEASANT VIEW — Families in a Weber County neighborhood are fighting to keep their local elementary school open as the Weber School District considers closing Lomond View Elementary, a 65-year-old building that would require significant safety upgrades to remain in use. At the same time, district officials say enrollment has remained stagnant in recent years, despite new housing developments in the area. Parents packed the school gym Wednesday night for a meeting that lasted more than four hours, sharing emotional pleas and concerns about the potential closure. The district is reviewing options as part of a broader facilities study. [gallery ids="845669,845668"] “Closing a high-performing school is not an innovative solution. It is a step backward,” said parent Danielle Hawley, echoing the sentiment of many in attendance. Others raised concerns about the long-term impact on the community and future development. “The potential costs are massive. Say you get this wrong, and all of these developments that we’ve been talking about do bring in families,” said parent Justin Nipko. Even students spoke up. “I’ve gone to Lomond View my whole life, and it feels like my second home,” said Brian, a 10-year-old student. Another second grader simply pleaded, “I love this school. Please don’t close it.” District officials emphasized that no decision has been made. “Our numbers have been kind of stagnant, or they’ve actually been dipping over the last five years,” said Lane Findlay, Weber School District communications director. If the school closes, students could be reassigned to two nearby schools; Orchard Springs Elementary, about a mile and a half to the south, or North Ogden Elementary. Some parents worry that growth in Pleasant View could reverse recent trends. “There’s so much of our community that still needs to be developed,” said Heather Brown. “If they close this and put them at capacity then what’s going to happen when the neighborhoods fill in?” This was the second feedback session in the district’s study. The school board plans to review community input and enrollment data before making a decision at its next meeting on Dec. 3. “I think it’s very tough,” Findlay added. “You’re talking about impact to a school community. This is a very storied older building. There’s generations of families that have come through.”

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