Edgewater Elementary Closing for Renovation, Students to Merge with Ottawa River Elementary

TOLEDO, Ohio — Edgewater Elementary, a staple in the Point Place community, will soon close its doors for an extensive renovation project that will reshape the local educational landscape. Beginning this fall, students from Edgewater will be temporarily relocated to Ottawa River Elementary, as Toledo Public Schools (TPS) moves forward with plans to repurpose the building and restructure schools in the Point Place area.

The decision to shut down Edgewater is part of a broader plan to revitalize the neighborhood’s educational offerings. TPS officials believe the renovation will improve the district in the long term, but it has left some residents with concerns about the future of their community and their children’s education.

Residents gathered at a community meeting on Wednesday, where they had the chance to voice their concerns directly to Jim Gault, the Chief of Educational Development for TPS. Among the main topics of discussion were the potential impact on class sizes and the possible effects on local families.

Scott Parker, a Point Place resident and grandfather to three Edgewater students, expressed concerns about the rising class sizes once the schools merge. Currently, his granddaughter’s class at Edgewater consists of just 18 students, but Gault suggested that the combined class sizes at Ottawa River could range from 22 to 25 students per class. Parker worried that larger classes would limit the one-on-one attention that his grandchildren currently receive.

“When you add more kids, education is going to suffer for somebody,” Parker said. “I just hope it’s not my grandkid, because they’re not going to get the one-on-one.”

Another concern raised by local resident Jane Graybell was the potential for families to move out of the area due to the merger. Graybell worried that parents might be deterred from living in Point Place if their children were bussed out of the neighborhood to attend school.

“I’d be afraid of families not wanting to, you know, come out here and live out here with their children because they’re going to be bussed out to another school,” she said.

While these concerns loom large, Gault assured the community that the district has plans for the long-term future of Edgewater. The school building, though temporarily closing for renovation, will not remain empty for long. TPS plans to transform it into a Pre-K through 12th-grade facility, offering a specialized curriculum designed to take advantage of the unique resources available in Point Place, including its proximity to the lake.

“We see this as an opportunity to create a program that incorporates marine biology or other specialized themes that connect students with the local environment,” Gault explained. “We’re looking at ways to offer something unique that could attract families back to this area.”

In addition to the marine biology program, TPS is also considering a Montessori-based learning approach for the restructured schools, which would emphasize hands-on, experiential education.

Despite the exciting possibilities, many residents are still grappling with the immediate disruptions caused by the closure. As the district moves forward with its plans, the renovation of Edgewater is slated for completion by August 2027.

While the long-term vision for a K-12 system in Point Place has many supporters, some community members remain cautious. They are eager to see the positive effects of the changes, but they also recognize the growing pains associated with such a significant transition.

For now, the community waits as TPS moves forward with plans that will not only transform the local educational experience but also shape the future of Point Place itself.