Lies vs. Truth
We will update this page with new information as we receive it.
Lie: No Decision Has Been Made
“No decisions have been made regarding the closure of any K-2 school.”
Excerpt from an email from Gyimah Whitaker to Carmen Sulton (sent October 11, 2025). The full email is displayed in the Appendix section towards the bottom of the page (listed as A1).
Truth: School Closure was first mentioned as an option in November 2024 and solidified in September 2025.
“ I just want the board to consider closing A school…”
Excerpt from the BOE retreat on November 19, 2024. The full video of the retreat is in the Appendix (listed as A2).
A proposed timeline from September 8, 2025. Note the October 16th action item - “Letters sent home to CSD communicating the intent to close a K-2 school with avenues to provide feedback (date, time, location)”
Emphasis added
Lie: No school has been named
“At this time, the board has not decided to close Westchester Elementary.”
Excerpt from an email from Gyimah Whitaker to Carmen Sulton (sent October 11, 2025). The full email is displayed in the Appendix section towards the bottom of the page (listed as A1).
Truth: Westchester was always going to be the school closed.
A draft letter to be sent to the community identifying Westchester Elementary. No other school had a letter drafted. This was shared with the CSD admin on October 6 (see email below).
Email from James Wilson of Education Planners to the superintendent, Dr. Whitaker, in which he shared the presentation he was to give on October 14th. He makes reference to the above draft letter.
Lie: The ECLC and School Closure Aren’t Linked
Dr. Gyimah Whitaker “The community really wants to hear from the board that the new ECLC is linked, yes or no, to the K-2 decisions in studies.”
Dr. Carmen Sulton: “No.”
Hans Utz: “No”
James Herndon: “ Obviously not. Like we're not opening one because we're closing another.”
Excerpt from the transcript of the Board of Education retreat on November 18, 2025. Full recording and transcript available in the Appendix below (listed as A3).
Truth: The plan was to use the money from the school closure to pay towards the ECLC Bond.
Text message conversation with then At-Large Board Member Dr. Jana Johnson-Davis.
Text message conversation with Board Chair Dr. Carmen Sulton from August 5, 2025.
Full conversation in Appendix (listed as A4).
Appendix
A1 - “They are getting revved up.”
Full email exchange between Dr, Gyimah Whitaker to Dr. Carmen Sulton (sent October 11, 2025). Dr. Sulton uses this email (largely unchanged) in response to community members.
A2 - “ I just want the board to just consider closing a school.”
Full recording of the Board of Education retreat held on November 19, 2024. The video starts at the relevant section.
A3 - “Obviously not.”
Full recording and transcript of the last third of the Board of Education retreat held on November 18, 2025.
A4 - “to cut those expenses”
Full text conversation with Dr. Carmen Sulton from August 5, 2025.
