Stow district considering plans to build new elementary schools, renovate high school
The Stow-Munroe Falls City School District is taking a hard look at the future of its facilities, with a major overhaul looming and potential for a November ballot issue asking taxpayers to help finance more than $250 million to replace and renovate schools.
The district's current six elementary schools could be consolidated to three or four kindergarten-through-fifth-grade buildings if one of two draft plans unveiled last fall moves forward. Both plans seek renovations at Stow-Munroe Falls High School and call for construction of a new middle school to serve grades six through eight.
The district is hosting informational sessions about the proposal for residents Thursday and Jan. 25, to collect public feedback on the plans for the Facilities Committee to consider.
Operations Director Scott Campbell said consideration of a new facilities plan is "long overdue," but added, "we have learned so many lessons by watching surrounding districts, and our goal is to do this right the first time."
The district estimates its existing schools — ranging in age from 30 to 80 years — need about $201.9 million in renovations. The estimated renovation cost has increased by $75.3 million in the last four years.
Estimated costs for competing Stow-Munroe Falls facilities plans
Under the proposal calling for four elementary school buildings for the district's prekindergarten through fifth graders, the buildings would be a little more than 70,000 square feet, and would cost just under $28 million each. The capacity of each building would be 601 students. The total cost, which includes the abatement and demolition of the district's six existing elementary schools, demolition of the intermediate and middle schools and construction of the new middle school, would be around $262 million.
Another proposal, which would cost about $258 million, would construct three larger elementary school buildings at 90,425 square feet with a capacity for 801 students. Each building would cost an estimated $36 million.
The total cost for that plan includes the abatement and demolition of the district's six existing elementary schools, demolition of the intermediate and middle schools, and construction of the new middle school.
In both scenarios, the new 6-8 middle school would be 160,613 square feet and have a capacity for 1,197 students. It would cost just shy of $61 million.
Proposed renovations and additions to the high school would cost about $85.6 million.
What have Stow-Munroe Falls residents told the district so far?
According to information from the October 2023 Facilities Committee meeting, a survey of Stow-Munroe Falls district residents showed:
Preferred sites for new schools would include where Kimpton Middle School, Fishcreek Elementary School, Lakeview Intermediate and Highland Elementary schools, and Woodland Elementary are located.
67% of respondents believe a nearly 22-acre site owned by the district on Housley Road near Hudson Drive would be a good site for a new elementary school.
83% of respondents prefer Highland, which is next to Lakeview Intermediate, as a site for middle school instead of the Kimpton Middle School site.
81% of respondents would prefer the district construct four new elementary schools.
All survey results and information from the upcoming January sessions will be compiled and uploaded on the school district website, said Laura Forchione, director of technology integration and public relations. She added that there will be other opportunities for residents to ask questions and share feedback.
According to information from the district, the Facilities Committee will regroup to analyze the feedback it received and discuss financing options. By March, the committee will determine a final master plan for the district, financing and potential issues to place on the November ballot. These plans will be finalized by April, and an agreement will be submitted for Board of Education consideration by May.
2 public meetings to focus on Stow-Munroe Falls school plans
The district will host its first informational session on the plans at 6 p.m. Thursday at Kimpton Middle School, 380 North River Road in Munroe Falls. The second will take place at 6 p.m. Jan. 25, also at Kimpton.
Residents will have an opportunity to review plan options, ask questions and offer their own ideas. Thursday's meeting is geared toward residents in the Woodland, Indian Trail, Riverview and Kimpton areas; the Jan. 25 meeting will focus on residents of the Fishcreek, Echo Hills, Highland and Lakeview areas. Families with the Stow-Munroe Falls High School are invited to both evenings.
"We hope to see as many families and community members there as possible, as it is so important to garner feedback from the majority of this project's impact," said Kristie Prough, interim superintendent, adding that "these sessions will shed light on so many possibilities for our district."
Reporter April Helms can be reached at ahelms@thebeaconjournal.com
This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Stow-Munroe Falls district faces big choices about school buildings
