The Franklin School of Opportunity has relocated its learning center to the Lakewood High School campus, placing it next to the Cleveland Clinic within the high school building. Although it now shares a location with the high school, Franklin remains a separate educational entity.
Terrilynn Bornino-Elwell, the coordinator for the Franklin School of Opportunity, believes the new location is a better fit. “I don’t think it’s a bad connection, because we’re still separate. We are still our own entity and have much affiliation. Some of the students are connected with West Shore; in my opinion, all of the students are Lakewood students. So I feel like Lakewood is Lakewood,” said Bornino-Elwell.
Benefits for Students and Staff
A primary advantage of the move is the convenience it offers students participating in extracurricular activities at the high school. Bornino-Elwell noted that the closer proximity eliminates walking distances for students involved in activities. Andrew Maruk, Franklin’s guidance counselor, agreed, stating that “…the access, in terms of physical proximity, is nice. We definitely were still connected when we were down the street, but it is nice being on the property, just like having kids go between the two spaces for both the library or sports, or extracurriculars. It’s nice that we’re all in one spot now.”
The new location has also brought significant upgrades to Franklin’s facilities. “We’re in a newer, updated space,” Maruk said. “We’re in a newer, updated space. So, just getting used to that new space, and we have some newer features. We just got 3d printers, and we have furniture and flexible furniture. So definitely, just upgrades in equipment and space.”
Franklin’s educational model focuses on smaller learning environments. According to Maruk, “Classes here are smaller; the class size is usually between ten to fifteen kids, so that just creates a smaller, quieter environment and a little more one-on-one attention with a teacher.”
A Student’s Perspective
Markel Ray, a student who attended Franklin at its original location and now at the high school, offered his perspective on the change. He confirmed that the smaller rooms have helped his education by reducing distractions. “I’ve been improving since smaller rooms,” Ray said. “That means less people, less distractions.”
However, Ray also noted some downsides to the new space. “The rooms have definitely gotten smaller, and there isn’t much to do here,” Ray said. While the learning environment has not changed much, he misses some features of the old building, such as the gym where students could play basketball during lunch. When asked if the move should have happened sooner, Ray said, “Not really. I kind of enjoyed the old building.”
Despite the changes, Franklin staff maintain their focus on education. Bornino-Elwell said the location change had no significant effect on their work, emphasizing, “No matter where we are, teachers do their jobs, students do their jobs.”
While Franklin intentionally preserves its identity as a separate entity with smaller, quieter classes, its new location fosters a deeper sense of belonging. By bringing its unique educational model onto the main campus, the Franklin School of Opportunity is no longer just a neighbor down the street but an essential and connected part of the whole, creating a more unified community for every student it serves.
