WCS introduces revised plan for new facilities
At the Dec. 19 meeting of the Wooster City Schools Board of Education, WCS Superintendent Gabe Tudor introduced a revised plan to address district facilities. The plan, which calls for a new middle school to house sixth grade through eighth grade, was developed in response to feedback received from the community following the district’s previous bond issue failure in May 2023.
Pending the construction of a new middle school on the high school campus, the revised facilities plan will move third grade through fifth grade to the Edgewood building. Kindergarten through second grade will remain at Kean, Melrose and Parkview elementary schools, and the Littlest Generals Preschool and PlayLab will remain in use at Cornerstone.
According to Tudor’s report to the board, the plan supports the key findings from community re-engagement. Survey responses and open discussion revealed a desire for reduced financial commitment for the community, community interest in neighborhood schools and staff interest in grade-level schools. Additional interest in building a new middle school, moving the eighth grade to the middle school and a desire to save the Cornerstone building also surfaced.
“Over the past several months, the school district has engaged with the community to determine the best course of action for our facilities,” Tudor said. “After listening to staff, parent and community feedback through town hall meetings, surveys and building tours, we believe that the revised plan addresses the needs of our students and Wooster residents.”
The next steps for the district will include a vote to approve the facilities plan at the January board meeting. If the plan is approved at that time, the necessary tax resolutions will appear on the February and March board agendas. The district will then apply for OFCC co-funding, targeting a bond issue on the November 2024 ballot for voter approval.
For more information on Wooster City Schools and the facilities plan, visit www.woostercityschools.org and navigate to the Facilities Master Plan page.