Toledo community rallies to save two elementary schools from closure

Petitions circulate to protect Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools after TPS Transformation Plan 2.0 announcement

Apr. 17, 2026 at 10:49pm

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An abstract, impressionistic scene of a school playground, with blurred figures of children playing amid soft, warm pools of light and color, conveying the cherished role these schools hold within their local communities.The vibrant energy of a neighborhood school community hangs in the balance as Toledo families fight to save their local elementary institutions.Toledo Today

Community members in Toledo, Ohio have started circulating petitions to save Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools from closure under the Toledo Public Schools' Transformation Plan 2.0. The plan, announced this week, proposes shutting down multiple schools to address a projected $68 million budget deficit. Parents and teachers are urging the school board to reconsider the closures, citing the strong community ties and recent investments in the schools.

Why it matters

The proposed closures of Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools have sparked an outcry from the local community, who view the schools as important neighborhood institutions. The decision to shutter these schools is part of a broader effort by Toledo Public Schools to restructure and cut costs, but residents are concerned about the impact on students, staff, and the overall character of their communities.

The details

Under the TPS Transformation Plan 2.0, the district is considering closing or repurposing eight elementary schools, including Harvard and Navarre. Community members have started circulating petitions to save the two schools, arguing that a lot of work has gone into improving the schools' ratings in recent years and that the staff and families are tightly knit. Parents like Alexandra Wheet and Angie Fitzpatrick say the schools are community hubs that should be preserved, not shuttered. While TPS Superintendent Romules Durant acknowledges the district's financial challenges, he says the goal is to "better repurpose" school facilities to meet community needs more efficiently.

  • The TPS Transformation Plan 2.0 was outlined to the school board and public this week.
  • The school board is expected to vote on the plan on April 28, 2026.

The players

Alexandra Wheet

A community member whose mother has taught at Navarre Elementary for five years.

Angie Fitzpatrick

The PTO president at Harvard Elementary, who has two students at the school.

Romules Durant

The superintendent of Toledo Public Schools, who says the Transformation Plan 2.0 is a necessary step to address the district's projected $68 million budget deficit.

Toledo Public Schools

The school district in Toledo, Ohio that is proposing the Transformation Plan 2.0, which includes the potential closure of Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools.

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What they’re saying

“I mean it's basically one big huge family. She knows basically everybody there. She has connections to parents and staff, and it took a blow to all of them.”

— Alexandra Wheet

“We're saying that we really want the board to think very carefully about whether or not closing eight schools in our community is the right move. What other measures can they take to address the financial shortfalls?”

— Angie Fitzpatrick, PTO president at Harvard Elementary

“How do we better repurpose this facility that meets the needs of this community in more effective ways, but more importantly, is more efficient on our own finances as well?”

— Romules Durant, Superintendent of Toledo Public Schools

What’s next

The Toledo Public Schools board is expected to vote on the Transformation Plan 2.0, including the proposed closures of Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools, on April 28, 2026.

The takeaway

The proposed closures of Harvard and Navarre Elementary schools have sparked a passionate response from the local community, who view the schools as important neighborhood institutions. While Toledo Public Schools cites financial challenges as the driving force behind the Transformation Plan 2.0, residents are urging the district to carefully consider the impact on students, staff, and the overall character of their communities before making a final decision.