Grandview Heights Schools is excited to revisit the K-12 Athletic Complex aspects of our Facilities Master Plan.  

Stevenson Elementary and the K-12 Athletic Complex: Next Steps

Grandview Heights Schools is greatly appreciative of our community’s commitment to our schools with the passage of Issue 37 on November 5, 2024. A new Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex upgrades will help us better meet the needs of our students, families, and community and will reflect our district’s high standards and commitment to excellence.  We’re excited to see these projects take shape!

As we enter the design phase, we’re eager to bring this vision to life. The next steps include selling the bonds and selecting an architect/engineer and construction manager through a Request for Proposals (RFP) process, with hopes to have them hired by January or February 2025. Together, we’ll create spaces that will serve our students of today and for generations to come. These are exciting times for Grandview Heights Schools and we could not do what we do without the support of our community!  (Posted 11.2024)

Board of Education Approves Resolution to Proceed at June 26, 2024, Regular Meeting (Posted 7.1.2024)

A Community Message from the Board of Education - Stevenson Elementary & K-12 Athletic Complex Update: Next Steps (Posted 6.18.2024)

Dear Grandview Heights Schools Community,

We hope you're enjoying a relaxing summer! This update follows our recent communications and meetings regarding the Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex projects.

Thank You for Your Participation

We extend a big thank you to everyone who attended the May 20th community meeting. Your participation and input help us educate and inform our community about the impact of these important projects.  For those who couldn't attend the community meeting, a recording of the meeting is available at https://youtu.be/gOCpPviyloY  For additional information regarding the projects including architectural renderings, diagrams, and cost estimates, please visit Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex

Project Overview

The proposed project would be approximately 6.95 mills, equal to $243 per $100,000 of property valuation annually.

• Stevenson Elementary: $52.2 million for a new, innovative school featuring collaborative and flexible learning spaces designed to optimize student success.
• K-12 Athletic Complex: Phase 1 & 2 Improvements: $17.3 million dedicated to modernizing facilities with new bleachers, fully accessible restrooms, locker rooms, and concession areas, ensuring inclusivity for all students and community members.

Next Steps

The Board of Education will hold a second vote on the proposed bond levy at our upcoming regular meeting on June 26, 2024, at 7 p.m. in the Larson Middle School Media Center.  We encourage your continued engagement as we make this important decision and thank you for your continued support of Grandview Heights Schools..

Sincerely,

The Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education

Emily Gephart, President

Molly Wassmuth, Vice President

Eric Bode, Member

Kevin Guse, Member

Katie Matney, Member

Board of Education Hosts Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex Planning Community Meeting on May 20, 2024 (Posted 5.23.2024)

On Monday, May 20, 2024, at 7 p.m., the Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education hosted a community meeting to educate and inform the community about the future possibilities for Stevenson Elementary and the K-12 Athletic Complex. 

Board of Education President Emily Gephart welcomed guests and Board Member Katie Matney provided an introduction and overview.  The Assistant Superintendent of the Educational Services Center of Central Ohio Dr. Dan Good served as moderator.  Following a presentation that included diagrams and cost estimates by Perkins & Will Architects Steve Turckes and Aimee Eckmann, the Board of Education responded to a variety of questions posed by those in attendance.  Residents are also encouraged to reach out to any Board of Education members with further questions via email at:

• Emily Gephart   [email protected]
• Molly Wassmuth   [email protected]
• Eric Bode   [email protected]
• Kevin Guse   [email protected]
• Katie Matney   [email protected] 

The presentation can be found here: https://4.files.edl.io/8d1c/05/23/24/145527-81b57551-a853-4892-bb3e-15186da6dc4b.pdf  A recording of the community meeting can be found here: https://youtu.be/gOCpPviyloY

Grandview Heights Schools Board of Education Hosts Community Meeting to Educate, Inform, and Answer Questions Regarding Future Possibilities for Stevenson Elementary and the K-12 Athletic Complex 

Board of Education Approves a Resolution of Necessity at May 10, 2024, Regular Meeting (Posted May 12, 2024)

At the May 10, 2024, regular Board of Education meeting, the Board approved a Resolution of Necessity agenda item regarding Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex facility planning.  The agenda can be found here https://4.files.edl.io/1b8f/05/08/24/012918-7efbe003-6e5d-44c3-831c-e125619c5acf.pdf

Board of Education Discusses Stevenson Elementary and K-12 Athletic Complex Planning

at April 10, 2024, Board of Education Meeting (Posted 4.16.2024) 

During the April 10, 2024 regular Board of Education meeting, Board members engaged in conversation regarding Stevenson Elementary and the K-12 Athletic Complex during the open discussion portion of the agenda.  You can view the Board of Education conversation here starting at the 1:01 time mark on the video.

Facility Committee Shares Recommendation (Posted 3.18.2024)

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.

Track Replacement Project Set to Begin March 11, 2024

K-12 Athletic Complex Project as Part of our Facilities Master Plan

Providing modern, safe learning environments that are designed for the way students learn and teachers teach in the 21st century will prepare our next generation for their future.  

Similarly, it’s important that our athletics facilities, which benefit students in grades K-12, reflect a focus on safety, as well as the needs and goals of our student-athletes and the community, and be a place our community can proudly rally around and support our students.  An as important goal of our master facilities plan is to have facilities designed for the community, by the community

The district has hired the architecture firm of Perkins & Will to develop a good, better, best master plan with options for improving our athletic complex just north of Grandview Heights High School.  The plan is attached at the bottom of this page and can also be viewed at this link: https://4.files.edl.io/1f95/12/18/23/172719-c88d0f1b-4f6c-4e41-9d96-e8bb528f6fe2.pdf

Current photos of the Athletic Complex can be viewed by clicking the link below.  Then double click the on the first photo and then click on the right arrow to page through the photos.

 Grandview Heights Athletics Photos - 04.07.22

As with past facilities planning, we will be engaging with the community for feedback and suggestions on the best path forward. We will not proceed with an improvement project until we think the timing is right to explore our options. We will meet with a variety of stakeholders, including students, coaches, administrators, parent groups, and boosters. Thank you in advance for your time and participation in this very important process.  It is greatly appreciated.

In addition to user groups being involved in needs assessments, programming, and design development, we will also have scheduled community meetings to garner feedback on community on May 12, June 1, and July 19, 2022, at 6 p.m. in the new Larson Middle School.  

A video recording of the May 12, 2022, community meeting can be viewed here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7O8x7GSeUK8

A video recording of the June 1, 2022, community meeting can be viewed here https://youtu.be/LlkP08VCqWQ

A video recording of the July 19, 2022, community meeting can be view here https://youtu.be/WxE4rLrYeXk

Background Information

The athletic complex conversation first began six years ago.  In 2017, Athletic Director Brad Bertani assembled a committee to study the athletic complex located immediately north of the high school. The committee was tasked with reviewing the existing facilities and creating a list of recommendations for physical changes or improvements. The attached recommendation report is the result of that committee’s work.