For the past year, West Clermont Local Schools has been engaging with the community to shape a master facilities plan that will meet the needs of students, staff and families for years to come. We have gathered feedback through Town Hall meetings, focus groups, facility tours and surveys to determine our community’s values as well as their non-negotiables.
Our Community Advisory Team (CAT), made up of key stakeholders, was formed in February of this year and was tasked with bringing a recommendation to the Board of Education. They proposed a plan in August. However, after a deeper analysis, additional ideas have been brought to the table to address all of our facility challenges. Currently, there are two proposals under consideration based on the CAT’s recommended plan.
Option 1 (Updated CAT) involves:
– Replacing Holly Hill Elementary
– Replacing Merwin Elementary
– Building new 5-6 and 7-8 buildings that would be connected on the current middle school campus
– Adding classrooms at Clough Pike and Withamsville-Tobasco Elementary Schools
– Renovating library space at Amelia and Withamsville-Tobasco Elementary Schools & Adding library space at Clough Pike Elementary.
– Making upgrades to safety, technology and furniture district-wide
Option 2 (Modified CAT) is the same as Option 1 with one exception. Instead of replacing Holly Hill and Merwin Elementary Schools, we would build one new elementary school for grades PK-4. This would provide the following benefits:
1. We would have one less building, which would save the district in building and operating costs.
2. Each elementary school would be roughly the same size, allowing us to maximize our resources and give our staff more opportunities to collaborate.
It is important to note that both of these plans preserve the idea of neighborhood schools, and address our community values and our desire to remain fiscally responsible.
Now, it is up to you to once again tell us what best meets your wants and needs for the future of West Clermont Schools. A survey is available on our website through Nov. 4th. I will share a final recommendation with our Board of Education at our Nov. 6 meeting and call for a Board vote.
We are offering a final facility tour and Town Hall at West Clermont Middle School on Nov. 14. Then, our Board will have its Nov. 25 and Dec. 9 meetings to determine if a May 2025 ballot issue is needed and pass the necessary resolutions.
Thank you for your continued involvement in helping us Blaze New Trails.
By Natasha Adams, Superintendent of West Clermont Schools