Segment 1
On March 6, 2012, the South-Western City School District community showed how much it values the education of its children through the passage of a bond issue to replace 13 elementary schools (Alton Hall, Bolton Crossing, Darbydale, Finland, Harmon, Highland Park, Monterey, Prairie Lincoln, Prairie Norton, Richard Avenue, J.C. Sommer, Stiles, West Franklin), renovate two elementary schools (Buckeye Woods, Darby Woods), and replace Franklin Heights High School.
The design process began immediately after passage of the bond issue with the district's architects and designers working with the community, staff, school board, and facilities teams to design new buildings that met the expectations for 21st Century learning spaces - flexible and safe with space for all-day, everyday kindergarten.
Segment 2
Once again, the voters of the South-Western City School District community overwhelmingly supported its children and schools through the passage of a bond issue for Segment 2 of the overall Ohio Facilities Construction Commission Building Project, which passed on November 6, 2018.
In partnership with the OFCC, Segment 2 focuses on rebuilding the four oldest middle schools (Brookpark, Finland, Norton, and Pleasant View), renovating and building a minor addition onto Jackson Middle School, renovating East Franklin Elementary School, and completing some much-needed roofing and asphalt projects across the district.
Times have changed since the original schools were built. New school safety procedures require additional passive and active security systems to help keep our students safe. Additional educational technology and the resources required for students to be successful in today’s online and virtual worlds require updated electrical systems to fully support them. Instructional spaces need to be flexible and aligned to current programs. In addition, these new and renovated buildings will help our schools and community continue to grow and attract families and businesses that value education.
The four new buildings were opened up to their respective communities in August of 2022.