At the regularly scheduled Board of Education meeting on March 13, 2024, two representatives from the community-led Facility Committee, David Schmied and Debra Hoelzle, addressed the Board to share the committee’s outcomes and insights regarding the Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex Master Plans and the committee’s recommendation for the Board’s consideration.  Below is a summary of the information that was shared.  A summary handout was shared at the meeting as well. 

The Facility Committee noted the following Stevenson Elementary Reconstruction and Master Plan features:

• Modern, flexible learning spaces designed for children, fostering creativity and collaboration, with a strong emphasis on safety and security, all within a design that holds a traditional aesthetic.
• Significantly expanded gym similar to what exists at Larson Middle School with independent access for community complete with restrooms and storage.
• Construction of a new two-story Stevenson Elementary on the existing site necessitates housing students in modular classrooms for one academic school year.
• Temporary relocation of Stevenson Elementary students to modular classrooms on the grass lawn south of Larson Middle School for one academic year.

The Facility Committee noted the following K-12 Athletic Complex Plan - Phases 1 and 2 features:

• Current Activity:
• Replacement of the Track and D Rings (the area between the endzone and track to include enhancements to the long jump, high jump, and pole vault field events and an additional training/staging area all of which will be the same synthetic material of the track).  We are also “fixing” the spur so that we will be able to now use the timing systems reliably.  This project is being funded by the Permanent Improvement Fund.  

• Planned Improvements:
• Replacement of synthetic turf.
• New home stadium bleachers and press box.
• New visitor bleachers.
• ADA accessibility for both home and away bleachers that does not exist today.
• A new central building north of the scoreboard would include locker rooms, coaches' rooms, trainers' rooms, and storage.
• New restrooms.
• Two additional locker rooms to be located under the home bleachers.

The presenters also highlighted extensive conversations by the Facility Committee around the concept of levy fatigue given the relatively recent school district and City of Grandview Heights bond levies and the impact of the 2023 property reappraisals.  This information was contrasted with the current market conditions in central Ohio emphasizing that while costs have risen since the completion of the middle and high school projects, costs are unlikely to ever be lower than they are today. The cost to maintain the aging Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex will only continue to grow.

In the coming months, the Board of Education will continue discussing, deliberating, and deciding the merits of a November 2024 bond levy to build a new Stevenson Elementary and Phase 1 and 2 of the K-12 Athletic Complex.  

A recording of the March 13 Board of Education meeting can be found here.  Additionally, all information regarding the Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex Master Plans can be found at www.ghschools.org.