August 23, 200717 yr As a diehard urbanite, I love it. As a parent aware of the stigmas attached to inner-city public schools, it scares the hell out of me.
August 30, 200717 yr South High Students In Original Building For Two Years South High School students are stepping into the past so their school building can move into the future. A $25 million renovation to modernize classrooms and spruce up hallways at South High School on Ann Street begins this fall. Meanwhile, students started classes yesterday in the Barrett school building on Deshler Avenue, which was the original South High. "That building has come full circle," said Jim Driggs, who attended Barrett and South during the 1960s and is president of South High School's alumni association. "This process breathed new life into the building. Once again, it's going to be used to its old potential." For the next two school years, Barrett will be called South on Deshler Avenue. South High School was in the building now known as Barrett from 1900 until 1924, when the current South High was built on Ann Street. Barrett became a junior high school and then a middle school; it was closed in 2006. Columbus Schools spent about $850,000 to turn Barrett back into South High, including $150,000 to replace the roof. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/news-story.php?story=dispatch/2007/08/30/20070830-B1-02.html
January 21, 200817 yr Vacant schools' fate unclear Columbus officials debating which buildings to keep, which to let go Monday, January 21, 2008 - 3:06 AM By Jennifer Smith Richards and Simone Sebastian THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH District officials are again making choices about how many school buildings to keep, which ones to use as "swing space" during the district's rebuilding program and what should be done with the others. In all, 14 district buildings will be vacant at some point this school year -- including several that are being replaced by new schools. Six of the 14 are slated to be demolished. And three others might be leased to charter schools or others. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/01/21/facilities.ART_ART_01-21-08_B1_7O93P0U.html?sid=101
March 5, 200817 yr COLUMBUS CITY SCHOOLS Board agrees to lease 2 buildings to charters Wednesday, March 5, 2008 By Simone Sebastian, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A plan to lease two Columbus public school buildings to charter schools was approved in a divided school-board vote last night, after last-ditch efforts from a board member and a parent to convince officials that doing so would hurt the district. The leases approved last night will allow the KIPP Journey Academy charter to use the former Linden Park I.G.E. Alternative Elementary, and the Charles School to use the former Brentnell Alternative Traditional Elementary. Each lease is for 10 years, with an option to extend for another 10. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/03/05/CCS05.ART_ART_03-05-08_B1_LL9HTD1.html?sid=101
December 12, 200816 yr An update on the construction of Columbus Public Schools new Downtown High School and Career Center from DowntownColumbus.com. The new school is currently under construction at the corner of Fourth and Mound. http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/progress/downtown-alternative-high-school Columbus Downtown High School & Career Center In winter 2009, the downtown skyline will be accented with something new: beautifully lit windows belonging to the Columbus Downtown High School & Career Center. Designed to house up to 800 students, the Columbus Downtown High School, which features a public restaurant staffed by students, a three-story library and a cosmetology/hair salon will unite students from three other career centers across the City into one central location. This location allows students convenient access to colleges and universities as well as internships and job placement with major central Ohio corporations. Columbus Public Schools is consolidating its business and technology vocational programs under a single state-of-the-art center to give students more and better opportunities to develop necessary skills while gaining real-world experience in the downtown business arena. The Columbus Downtown High School will offer areas of specialization in the following career clusters: business, engineering, information technology, and personal services. The building will also house the district's culinary arts program, which will offer a full food service facility including a student-operated restaurant. And because Columbus City Schools has control over the entire block located at the corner of Mound and Fourth Streets, they guarantee the site will feature more green space and more parking, making the site a point of pride for both downtown and the District. For more information, visit the Columbus City Schools Web site at http://www.columbus.k12.oh.us/applications/ENews.nsf/pages/Downtown%20Career%20Center%20profile?opendocument.
December 17, 200816 yr Some construction photos from yesterday of the new Downtown High School. This building is pretty huge. Takes up the whole block between Fourth and Fifth: <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_21.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_18.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_17.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_19.jpg"> <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/rs2008_20.jpg">
December 17, 200816 yr Cool. Here I was thinking this was part a CCAD expansion. Very nice. Proof of how schools can (and should) be treated as development tools.
December 17, 200816 yr Author Agreed. This is looking like a great facility that will add another facet to the learning institutions located on the eastern fringe of downtown (CCAD, CSCC, Franklin, and Capital Law) in the Discovery District. Not to mention it's another surface lot stricken from the landscape.
December 20, 200816 yr Planning continues for 11 projects: November bond issue allows school district to move into Phase 3 of its massive facilities upgrade plan By KHALILA PERRIN, COLUMBUS LOCAL NEWS Published: Wednesday, December 10, 2008 - 5:12 PM EST With a $164 million bond issue approved by voters last month, Columbus City Schools leaders are ready to charge into the third phase of their massive facilities master plan. District leaders already have sketched out a timeline which shows another slate of project beginning the architect hiring process next month and completing construction by mid-2012, in time for the 2012-13 school year. Read more at http://www.columbuslocalnews.com/articles/2008/12/17/german_village_gazette/schools/gvcolbondb_20081208_0138pm_1.txt
December 21, 200816 yr Not to mention it's another surface lot stricken from the landscape. Actually, there was a smaller building located there that was razed. But yes... the footprint of this new (taller) build did eat up some more downtown parking spots. ;)
December 31, 200816 yr Columbus school renovations timeline shuffled Funding, crowding lead district to rearrange timeline Monday, December 29, 2008 - 3:07 AM By Simone Sebastian, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Some Columbus children will get renovated schools sooner than expected, while others will have to wait longer for new classrooms, under a scaled-back version of the school district's construction schedule. Columbus school-district leaders originally planned to renovate or rebuild 26 buildings in the next four years. Now, 11 schools will get improvements in the next round of the districtwide rebuilding project: New buildings + Alum Crest High/Clearbrook Middle (both are for severely emotionally disturbed children) will be consolidated at a new location in a new building + Cedarwood Alternative Elementary + Georgian Heights Alternative Elementary + Ecole Kenwood Alternative (French-language school)/Spanish Immersion K-8 will be consolidated at new location in one new building + Liberty Elementary + Starling Middle Renovations + Clinton Elementary, including expansion + Linden-McKinley High, including expansion to add grades seven and eight + Olde Orchard Alternative Elementary, including expansion Postponed + Elementaries: Arlington Park, Broadleigh, Como, Deshler, Fair Alternative, Hamilton STEM Academy, Indian Springs, West Broad, Winterset + Middle schools: Dominion, Monroe Alternative, Southmoor Read more at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/12/29/copy/delays.ART_ART_12-29-08_B1_DCCC4MS.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
January 4, 200916 yr New Downtown High School, renovated East High shown off Friday, January 2, 2009 - 9:08 AM By Simone Sebastian, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Columbus City Schools opened the new Downtown High School and the revitalized East High School to reporters today, showing off two bright and modern buildings that will greet students on Monday. The high schools are the capstone projects in the first round of Columbus' districtwide school-construction plan. Along with South High School, which is to open this summer, the East Side and Downtown schools mark the largest, and among the last, projects funded by the $392 million bond issue that voters approved in 2002. East High School, built in 1922 at 1500 E. Broad St., received a $30 million makeover. It has an airy atrium and library and 34,000 square feet of new space. Most of the new space goes to a gymnasium with three basketball courts and more bleachers. It replaces a much-smaller gym that shared a floor with the auditorium stage. The $25.1 million Columbus Downtown High School, on Mound Street between 4th and 5th streets, will house many of the district's career-education programs, beginning with 200 juniors and seniors in cosmetology, business, junior ROTC and information technology. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/01/02/high_schools.html?sid=101
January 6, 200916 yr Couldn't find a construction website for the East High School renovation/addition project. However, I did find a renovation page at the Columbus East Alumni website that has numerous under construction photos: http://columbuseastalumni.org/Renovation.html Cobbled together some East High School photos from the CPS website... ...and some recent photos of the renovated East High School I found on flickr:
August 31, 200915 yr Results of 2002 school levy gleam Four historic schools renovated and one new school opened for 2009-2010, featuring a renovated 109-year-old South High School Wednesday, August 26, 2009 By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch When students arrive for the first day of school today at the renovated South High School, their reaction might be surprise, especially if they were familiar with the old building -- hot, poorly lighted and crumbling. South is one of four historic schools the district is reopening today after renovations. A fifth school is all new, signaling an end to the massive rebuilding project that voters funded in 2002 with a property-tax increase. In some ways, the four historic school buildings are nicer than new buildings. They have restored hardwood floors, wood baseboards and chalkboard frames as well as antique built-in cabinetry in many classrooms. "We can't afford to put this type of material in a new school," said Carole Olshavsky, the district's senior executive in charge of facilities. South High School, which opened in 1900, now has central air conditioning, a 60-camera security system, a fire-sprinkler system, two new gymnasiums and a cafeteria, five new tennis courts, a new football field and running track, new lockers and a refurbished auditorium with balcony seating. Other refurbished buildings opening today are Burroughs ($11.9 million) and Southwood ($10 million) elementary schools and the new Indianola K-8 school at the former Crestview Middle School on Weber Road ($15.3 million). The new building is a combined A.G. Bell/Huy Elementary ($14.6 million) Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/08/26/newskls.ART_ART_08-26-09_B1_2VESILG.html?sid=101
August 31, 200915 yr Results of 2002 school levy gleam: Four historic schools renovated and one new school opened for 2009-2010, featuring a renovated 109-year-old South High School LINK: SLIDESHOW OF THE RENOVATED SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL LINK: MAP LOCATION FOR SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL
September 1, 200915 yr Nice! Now that's some solid construction work! Here's hoping that everyone involved takes full advantage of it. South had one of the worst reputations of any Columbus public high school when I lived in Columbus (2000-2004). Hopefully this catalyzes a turnaround. That's some quality work. (Point of information: So the East renovation was not part of the 2002 package, but South was?)
September 1, 200915 yr Wow, South High School has got to be one of the best inner-city high schools now... looks fantastic.
September 5, 200915 yr The latest 2008-2009 School Report Cards are out: http://ilrc.ode.state.oh.us/schools/School_District_List.asp?CountyName=Franklin%20County Some interesting blog posts & discussions to be found on the topic : http://www.downtowncolumbus.com/rightnow/2009/09/in-search-of-a-city-schools-that-rock/ http://columbushomesblog.com/2009/09/01/columbus-city-schools-getting-better-all-the-time/ http://www.columbusunderground.com/columbus-city-schools-are-improving
September 6, 200915 yr The new schools they are opening, as well as the renovated schools are very nice! I work for CCS, so it is always exciting to hear about a renovated school reopening or a new school opening. The school renovations and new builds are being done in segments; I believe they are just about done with segment 2 and will be starting on segment 3 sometime in the near future, sans some school renovations and rebuilds.
October 12, 200915 yr Business First had a great rundown of some of the Columbus Public Schools new and renovated facilities. It was in a recent article titled "Columbus City Schools’ upgrades pump millions into dated facilities". Despite the "dated" comment in the title, it really was a very positive story. Here are the seven school projects featured in the article. 1) SOUTHWOOD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADDRESS: 1500 S. Fourth Street PROJECT TYPE: Renovation/Addition CONSTRUCTED: 1894 COMPLETION DATE: Summer 2009 PROPERTY SIZE: 2 acres BUILDING SIZE: 57,566 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $9.97 million ARCHITECT: SEM-Machisa Design Associates 2) SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL ADDRESS: 1160 Ann Street PROJECT TYPE: Renovation/Addition CONSTRUCTED: 1900 COMPLETION DATE: Summer 2009 PROPERTY SIZE: 12 acres BUILDING SIZE: 183,733 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $32.1 million ARCHITECT: DesignGroup, Inc. 3) LINDEN-McKINLEY STEM ACADEMY ADDRESS: 1320 Duxberry Avenue PROJECT TYPE: Renovation/Addition CONSTRUCTED: 1927 COMPLETION DATE: 2011 PROPERTY SIZE: 12.38 acres BUILDING SIZE: 157,000 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $30.0 million ARCHITECT: Moody Nolan, Inc. 4) INDIANOLA AT CRESTVIEW K-8 SCHOOL ADDRESS: 251 E. Weber Road PROJECT TYPE: Renovation/Addition CONSTRUCTED: 1915 COMPLETION DATE: Summer 2009 PROPERTY SIZE: 6.2 acres BUILDING SIZE: 87,963 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $15.26 million ARCHITECT: FMS Architects 5) DOWNTOWN HIGH SCHOOL ADDRESS: 364 S. Fourth Street PROJECT TYPE: New Construction COMPLETION DATE: 2008 PROPERTY SIZE: 4.36 acres BUILDING SIZE: 136,016 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $25.08 million ARCHITECTS: Machisa Design Associates/O.A. Spencer/Triad Architects 6) BURROUGHS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADDRESS: 2585 Sullivant Avenue PROJECT TYPE: Renovation/Addition CONSTRUCTED: 1921 COMPLETION DATE: Summer 2009 PROPERTY SIZE: 7.1 acres BUILDING SIZE: 72,430 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $11.93 million ARCHITECT: Braun & Steidl Architects 7) A.G. BELL-HUY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL ADDRESS: 1545 Huy Road PROJECT TYPE: New Construction COMPLETION DATE: Summer 2009 PROPERTY SIZE: 6.0 acres BUILDING SIZE: 86,857 sq. ft. PROJECT COST: $14.55 million ARCHITECT: Stilson & Associates
October 13, 200915 yr I've been inside Southwood since it reopened. Very pretty building. Looking forward to the student-run cafe in the new Downtown High School, whenever that opens. ;)
October 25, 200915 yr School to receive historical marker Saturday Wednesday, October 21, 2009 By David J. Cross, ThisWeek Staff Writer After several years of planning, the Merion Village Association will place a historical marker at Southwood Elementary School this weekend. The ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at Southwood Elementary, 1500 S. Fourth St, during the school's annual fall festival. "That elementary school has played such an important role in the development of our community," said Bob Leighty, president of the MVA. "We just want to respect and pay homage to the people who came before us. That school was built in the 1890s, think of all the kids that came through it." The dedication of the marker coincides with the reopening of the school, which underwent a $10-million renovation over the past three years. Included in the renovation was the construction of a new gymnasium and lunchroom. Full story at http://www.thisweeknews.com/live/content/germanvillage/stories/2009/10/21/1022gemarker_ln.html?sid=104
October 26, 200915 yr I was down there for the ceremony. Thankfully it was kept short because it was so cold and windy outside. ;) Great building though. Lots of the historic nature of the building was preserved while still updated to be a little more energy efficient. The addition was constructed to match the design of the original building with a connector in-between that was a bit more modern. It's a really nice mix of old and new.
December 7, 200915 yr Nine schools on Columbus panel's hit list Meetings will be held at individual schools to answer questions about the closings and student reassignments Tuesday, December 1, 2009 By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch Columbus should close nine schools at the end of this school year and reassign thousands of students at dozens of other buildings, an advisory panel unanimously recommended yesterday. The plan is to be presented to the full school board at today's meeting. The district also announced another round of community meetings at each of the 40-some schools that aren't to close but would have students reassigned to other buildings. Letters are being sent to those parents, telling them about the changes to come beginning next fall. Those school-level meetings are expected to conclude before the board holds a special meeting next Tuesday, with a vote on the plan scheduled for a week later. Board President Carol Perkins said she doesn't know whether the school board will accept the plan as is, including the advisory panel's recommendation to close four elementary schools and five middle schools. MAP AND LIST OF SCHOOL CLOSINGS Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/12/01/school_closings.ART_ART_12-01-09_A1_E4FRPHH.html?sid=101
December 7, 200915 yr Columbus school board balks at theater plan Superintendent's request for $8 million go-ahead surprises members Wednesday, December 2, 2009 By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch Under Columbus schools' "policy governance" method of oversight, Superintendent Gene Harris is supposed to run the district with minimal interference from school board members. But Harris learned last night that doesn't extend to building a 2,500-seat theater for student productions and staff meetings. In what was a rare moment of defiance since the ushering in of policy governance, the board voted 6-1 to table the $8 million plan. The vote came during the same meeting that the board heard a presentation to close nine schools because the district has too much unneeded space. Board members Stephanie Groce and W. Shawna Gibbs said they're not necessarily opposed to the theater but said they want to see more of the plan. It's designed to renovate two aging buildings at the Downtown Fort Hayes campus, which includes a high school, middle school and career center. One building would become a large theater that could convert into a room with tables that would seat up to 2,500. The other would house administrative and classroom space. Together, they would add 35,000 square feet, with a structure connecting them. Full story at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/12/02/copy/ccs02.ART_ART_12-02-09_B1_5DFS0OP.html
December 14, 200915 yr Board seems ready to vote on Columbus school closings Wednesday, December 9, 2009 - 3:03 AM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch Columbus school board members had questions last night about how closing nine schools and reassigning thousands of other students would affect parental choices and the district's future operations. But the plan as recommended by a citizens advisory panel appears to be on track for a vote at next Tuesday's meeting. "First and foremost, I think we are going to have to at least be able to follow what has come to us via recommendation," said board President Carol Perkins, but she left open the possibility that the board could alter the proposal. Vice President Stephanie Groce said the board should consider the panel's proposal as a package, because the advisory panel "had a good reason for (drafting the list the way it did) because it is interrelated. We should respect their recommendation." Full story at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/12/09/copy/CCS_changes.ART_ART_12-09-09_B1_BNFUH2H.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 16, 200915 yr Columbus alternative schools not as popular Monday, December 14, 2009 - 3:02 AM By Jennifer Smith Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Over the summer, officials from a group of Columbus alternative schools phoned parents whose children had left the district for charter schools to beg them to come back. Enrollment had been dwindling for several years at Mifflin, Franklin and Monroe middle schools, which all admit students citywide and only through the lottery process. At a time when Columbus City Schools were shutting buildings, low enrollment is a bull's-eye. Franklin is likely to close in June. In fact, four of the nine schools that are expected to be closed are alternative schools, which historically have been the district's most sought-after and higher-performing schools. The Columbus Board of Education will vote on their fates Tuesday. ALTERNATIVE SCHOOLS: WHAT PARENTS CHOOSE Full story at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/12/14/alternative.ART_ART_12-14-09_A1_0NG0629.html
December 16, 200915 yr Board votes to close 9 city schools Unanimous vote triggers widespread reshuffling of Columbus student body Wednesday, December 16, 2009 - 3:01 AM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch The Columbus Board of Education voted unanimously yesterday evening to close nine schools and reassign thousands of students to different neighborhood schools next fall. The seven-member board completely accepted the recommendation of a citizens' advisory panel, making no changes. Board President Carol L. Perkins said the move was a business decision that no one wanted to make. The buildings to close are elementary schools Deshler, Douglas Alternative, Fair Alternative and Literature-Based Alternative at Hubbard; and middle schools Beery, Clinton, Eastmoor, Franklin Alternative and Indianola Math, Science and Technology. GRAPHIC: SCHOOL CLOSINGS Full story at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/12/16/copy/ccs16.ART_ART_12-16-09_B1_9LG0SOF.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
December 18, 200915 yr Interesting decision. I am for the cost cutting measures, but the district is trying to return many kids to schools in their neighborhoods. However, some of these closures will force some kids to a school not in the their neighborhood or further from where they live. So actually the district is attempting to accomplish the goal but not comprehensively.
January 25, 201015 yr School board approves Linden-McKinley work $38 million makeover to add space for 7th-, 8th-graders Wednesday, January 20, 2010 By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch The Columbus school board signed off last night on a $38 million makeover of the former Linden-McKinley High School that is to be completed by December 2011. When the school reopens, it will house seventh- through 12th-graders. The 300 middle-school students will occupy their own floor in a 93,000-square-foot addition that will keep them separated from an estimated 700 high-school students. The new Linden-McKinley addition will double the space of the original high-school building, which opened in the 1920s in South Linden. Two existing additions built in the 1950s on the north side of the original building will be demolished to make room for the new construction, which will house gymnasiums and locker rooms on its lower floors and middle-school classrooms on the top floor. The original building will be renovated and will be connected to the new addition by a three-story atrium. The school will get a refurbished football stadium surrounded by a new track, as well as new tennis courts on the 12.7-acre site. Rendering of the three-story atrium that will connect the refurbished Linden-McKinley school with a new addition. Full article at http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/01/20/copy/ccs20.ART_ART_01-20-10_B3_PRGBU5N.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
January 30, 201015 yr This map was made by CU user "<A href="http://www.columbusunderground.com/forums/profile/the-cruise-director">the cruise director</a>". I thought it was really cool and worth sharing: <b>Columbus City Schools</b> - Elementary Schools ranked Excellent with Distinction, Excellent, or Effective based on 2008-2009 data from http://ilrc.ode.state.oh.us/ http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=101922516511187705772.00047dc30f8462f171ea9&ll=40.002898,-82.971497&spn=0.362925,0.561676&z=11
February 2, 201015 yr Wasn't expecting North Linden and North Central to be on the list. Now if only the near-east, west side, and south side would have bigger improvements.
February 2, 201015 yr What I'd really like is for all of the other CPS schools to be on that map as well, so that one could get a better sense of the proportion and distribution of superior schools. The geographic statement alone (North > South) is pretty significant though.
February 16, 201015 yr Student-run cafe opens to public for Downtown lunch Friday, February 12, 2010 - 3:05 AM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch A $5 full-course lunch with beverage, served by a waiter or waitress (tip optional) at a sunny Downtown cafe? Move over, Subway. Downtown High School opened its student-run cafe yesterday to the public. The special: spaghetti with meatballs, a salad, roll and drink. The school's culinary-arts program has 93 students to handle the work in two shifts. Rolls and soups are made from scratch each morning. Salads are made to order. The tables are situated in the northwest corner of the building at 364 S. 4th Street, a couple of blocks east of the Franklin County Courthouse. Patrons have to be buzzed into the building and sign in until an outdoor cafe opens in a few months. The cafe will be open from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. up to six days a month, always on Wednesdays and Thursdays. The next open date is Feb. 25. Full article at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/12/CPScafe.ART_ART_02-12-10_B1_Q4GIMP3.html?sid=101
February 27, 201015 yr <b>Spending a Year With City Year Columbus</b> By Walker | February 23, 2010 <img src="http://www.columbusunderground.com/archives/cityyear1.jpg"> If you’ve spend much time Downtown in the past few years, you’ve probably noticed groups of young people walking around in red jackets from time to time. Those folks are volunteers at an organization called City Year, who dedicate an entire year of their lives to serving their community. We recently sat down with City Year Columbus Executive Director Lourdes Barroso De Padilla and External Affairs Project Leader Anthony Geraci to find out more. Walker Evans: I’m sure you get asked “So, what’s City Year?” quite often. Do you have a quick summary you can give for someone unfamiliar with the organization? Lourdes Barroso De Padilla: City Year is an organization that unites servers 17-24 years old for full time service. We work in schools K-12th grade helping kids who have gotten off track to successfully completing their schooling back on track so that they can successfully complete high school. READ MORE: http://www.columbusunderground.com/spending-a-year-with-city-year-columbus
April 26, 201015 yr CITY-SUBURBS DEAL School districts’ pact gets new look Columbus orders study of costs of ending ‘Win-Win’ Tuesday, April 20, 2010 - 11:19 PM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch A deeply divided Columbus school board ordered up an analysis tonight of how much money and added costs the district could expect if it pulled out of the 24-year-old "Win-Win" agreement. Over the objections of the board president and vice president, four members pushed for the analysis. It was a surprise request concerning what would be akin to the nuclear option of Columbus City Schools taking back students who live in Columbus but now go to Dublin, Westerville, Hilliard and South-Western schools, as well as five other suburban districts. "Win-Win" is the legal accord that allows students to go to the suburban schools without the threat that the Columbus district would try to annex that land, which is in the city of Columbus but served by suburban school districts. The 1986 peace accord, hammered out at a time when Columbus was busing students for racial desegregation, requires that the suburban districts collectively pay $6.3 million a year to Columbus schools in return for keeping those students in the suburban schools. But for the first time in more than two decades, some school-board members are talking as though Win-Win might no longer be a win for Columbus, which has been hit hard by students leaving for charter schools. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/20/school-district-pact-gets-new-look.html
April 26, 201015 yr COLUMBUS HOMES IN SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS Turmoil over Win-Win leaves students hanging in balance State education board would have final say on changes to district boundaries Thursday, April 22, 2010 - 2:53 AM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch More than 54,000 single-family homes worth more than $9 billion could end up switching from suburban districts into Columbus City Schools if the Win-Win agreement isn't renewed for another six years. Four Columbus school-board members said Tuesday that they want a cost-benefit analysis of the agreement to see whether the $6.3 million that nine suburban districts collectively pay the urban district is still a good deal. Districts have until May 31 to vote to pull out of the agreement, or it automatically renews for another six years. But the Columbus school board couldn't just end the 1986 agreement and take over areas that are in suburban school districts. The State Board of Education would have the ultimate say on any attempt to change school-district boundaries, and some suburban-school parents have already indicated they would fight if Columbus schools try. Win-Win is a legal agreement that settled school boundaries in Franklin County. It said areas that were already developed in 1986 would remain in suburban districts. In exchange, Columbus schools would share some tax revenue from those areas and have the rights to any new areas annexed to the city of Columbus. Full article: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/04/22/copy/winwin-follow-art-gbp89cm5-1.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
April 26, 201015 yr The ending of the "Win-Win" agreement could have a huge impact on Columbus Public Schools, nine suburban school districts and even residential development within the City of Columbus. In addition to the previous two articles, here's more information about the 24-year old "Win-Win" agreement between CPS and the suburban school districts. MAP: COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS AND SUBURBAN SCHOOL DISTRICTS BOUNDARIES LIST: SUBURBAN DISTRICT PAYMENTS TO COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS WIN-WIN HISTORY: Timeline related to deals between Columbus schools, suburban districts WIN-WIN PRIMER: Quick facts about the Win-Win agreement
May 2, 201015 yr School board is likely to extend Win-Win Columbus loses millions if it pulls out, study finds Saturday, May 1, 2010 - 2:50 AM By Bill Bush THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH A majority of the Columbus Board of Education appears ready to vote Tuesday in favor of six more years of the Win-Win agreement after four members called last week for a second look at the finances of the 24-year-old agreement. The district's analysis, which was released yesterday, shows that Columbus City Schools likely would lose $4.42 million for every 1,000 students gained by pulling out of Win-Win, the 1986 truce that ended disputes over which school districts serve portions of the city of Columbus. It concludes that the district would pay about $11.6 million to educate every 1,000 new students it received from ending Win-Win. On the revenue side, the district would receive about $4.7 million in per-student state aid and $2.5 million in new local property taxes. Full article: http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/01/copy/school-board-is-likely-to-extend-win-win.html?adsec=politics&sid=101
May 5, 201015 yr Columbus schools extend Win-Win pact Tuesday, May 4, 2010 - 6:13 PM By Bill Bush, The Columbus Dispatch The Columbus school board agreed tonight to keep the district's Win-Win plan in place for another six years. The Board of Education voted 5-1, with board member Mike Wiles casting the lone "no" vote, for a resolution that says the board intends to continue the agreement. Board member Hanifah Kambon abstained. The 24-year-old agreement had been called into question recently when four members of the board said they wanted a second look at the finances of the plan. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/05/04/Columbus-schools-extends-Win-Win-pact.html?sid=101
May 5, 201015 yr What benefits would the suburban districts receive from pulling out of the agreement?
May 5, 201015 yr They don't have to pay to Columbus Schools a part of their tax revenue. The question is whether Cbus schools would fight to get the students in the areas covered under Win-Win and I assume the tax money from those areas.
July 16, 201014 yr Fresh future for old Columbus school buildings Under district plan, properties in the city just won't sit empty Tuesday, July 13, 2010 - 2:50 AM By Jennifer Smith Richards THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH These schools were laid off. An unlucky 13 old-timers in the Columbus school district have been told to pack their things. Four are elderly and will be demolished and replaced. Nine were let go last month because of low enrollment. But instead of selling off schools, which in the past has left a slew of dead buildings and dismayed neighbors, five of the nine will be spruced up for lease. Three others will be reborn as other district schools, and the last will provide temporary school space during renovations. The district's plan is a relief to residents, some of whom have watched a boarded-up school building for years. LIST OF COLUMBUS PUBLIC SCHOOLS LEASED AND REUSED Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/07/13/fresh-future-for-old-schools.html?sid=101
August 22, 201014 yr NEW INTERNATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL AT FORT HAYES CENTER New school plans global outlook Columbus public school will focus on immersion classes, study abroad Wednesday, August 18, 2010 By Ben Wolford, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Coach Adam Weiss and his soccer players have the unenviable task of building a team from scratch. They also have to build a high school. They don't have to raise the structure - the new Columbus International High School will be housed, temporarily at least, in a Fort Hayes building. And they don't have to construct the curriculum because that's already been crafted by educators, including Principal Ameer Kim El-Mallawany, who has taught at innovative public schools in Boston and the Bronx. But the 181 freshmen enrolled so far will need to make Columbus International feel like a high school when classes begin Aug. 25. The International High School will have 10 teachers its first year, all garnered from within the district. As a new freshman class is added each school year, more teachers will be hired. Columbus schools spokeswoman Kim Norris said costs to open the school are negligible, because the district already owned the building and used existing teachers to staff it. She said the district hasn't decided on a permanent location for the high school. Full article: http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/08/18/new-school-plans-global-outlook.html?sid=101
August 25, 201014 yr Story and video from NBC4 on the beginning of another school year. The new International High School at the Fort Hayes Center is profiled along with two other schools new to the district this year. Columbus City Schools Opens 3 New Schools
September 18, 201014 yr Columbus City Schools' plan to refurbish Fort Hayes structures could refortify Cleveland Avenue strip Business First of Columbus - by Carrie Ghose Friday, September 17, 2010 A sad row of boarded-up military structures could become a historic district bustling with academically oriented service groups under a Columbus City Schools plan to revitalize the edge of its Fort Hayes campus. The school board is set to vote Sept. 21 on $5 million in infrastructure improvements, including reworked street patterns, safer walkways, ornamental fencing and lighting throughout the campus, plus a utility backbone that will enable redevelopment of a string of vacant buildings. MORE: http://columbus.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2010/09/20/story1.html?b=1284955200^3960341#
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