Ohio Approves $450M for Nine New K–12 Schools

The commission that oversees school construction in the State of Ohio recently approved more than $242 million in state funds for the construction of nine new K–12 schools around the state. This figure combines with $208 million in local funds to set up $450 million in Ohio public education construction work. The spending package is the second of two that have been approved for educational facilities’ construction and renovation since the easing of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Ohio Facilities Construction Commission announced funding for multiple projects. These include $117 million to Cleveland city schools for two new PreK–8 buildings, a new high school, and renovations to a middle school (including $37.5 million in local funds); $103.2 million to Lancaster city schools for a new high school housing a career tech program (including $56.8 million in local funding); and $29 million for Metro Early College High School in Columbus, which is currently a K–12 STEM school that will relocate to a renovated Columbus middle school.

“We are pleased to support these local projects that will provide area students with an upgraded school environment and new learning opportunities,” said Ohio Gov. Mark DeWine. “Today’s OFCC action will continue to move education forward for many students throughout Ohio.”

The commission already approved $336 million in April for six K–12 building projects.

About the Author

Matt Jones is senior editor of Spaces4Learning. He can be reached at [email protected].

Featured

  • UT-San Antonio Begins Residence Hall Renovations

    The University of Texas at San Antonio recently began a $6-million renovation project to one of its residence halls, according to a news release. Originally completed in 1986, Chisolm Hall measures in at 120,860 square feet and is the oldest and largest residence hall on campus.

  • Designing for Every Mind

    Learning environments have the power to shape not just what students know, but who they become. When a school is designed with genuine empathy—for the full range of ways students think, sense, and engage with the world—it becomes more than a building. It becomes a catalyst for growth, confidence, and belonging. That is the animating idea behind neurodiverse design, and it is one that is transforming how more architects and designers are thinking about school design.

  • Back-to-School Playground Safety: 7 Common Hazards to Look for After Summer Break

    As summer break comes to an end, school administrators have plenty to prepare before students return. While classrooms, hallways and common areas often receive attention during all the back-to-school preparations, the playground should not be overlooked. Months of weather exposure, storms, and regular wear can leave behind hazards that may not be immediately noticeable.

  • Purdue Fort Wayne Opens New Student Housing Complex

    Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) in Fort Wayne, Ind., recently held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for a new, 600-bed student housing complex on campus, according to a news release.