News Release
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Aug. 9, 2010
CONTACT: Christine Gordillo
216-630-7941
christine.gordillo@lakewood.k12.oh.us
Board promotes program to encourage employee residencyLAKEWOOD - The Lakewood Board of Education has embarked on an initiative to encourage more Lakewood City School District employees to make Lakewood their home.
“We have asked the citizens of Lakewood to reinvest in their schools and they did with the passage of the levy. We want to do everything we can to encourage investment and growth in our community,” said Board member Ed Favre.
The Board is asking local financial institutions to offer incentives such as discounted mortgage rates and reduced fees to any district employee that chooses to purchase a home in Lakewood. First Federal of Lakewood has come forward to provide such a program. The Board is actively seeking other partners as well. The hope is that other Lakewood institutions might seek the same type of program for their employees.
Currently, about a third of the school district’s employees live in Lakewood. The Board has passed a resolution that includes a section that “encourages employees to reside in the City of Lakewood.” It goes on to say the district will seek collaboration with the City of Lakewood, financial institutions and other community organizations to develop positive and proactive programs to encourage employees to make Lakewood their home.
Board members felt the time is now to become more aggressive about developing a solid program to encourage Lakewood residency. “It is our sincere hope that we can make it more attractive for those who work in Lakewood to purchase homes in Lakewood, and that we can work to build the educational and residential assets of this community,” said Board President Betsy Shaughnessy.
