2027-2028 Elementary Configuration Plan

Beginning with the 2027-2028 school year, all preschool and kindergarten students will attend Kean, all first- and second-grade students will attend Melrose, and all third- and fourth-grade students will attend Parkview. Grades 5-12 will remain unchanged at Edgewood Middle School and Wooster High School.

The grade-banded model increases teacher collaboration, promotes student equity, provides greater clarity for future planning, and improves district-wide efficiencies. This transition also creates more consistent educational opportunities for students across the district and allows for more targeted student support at each grade level.

The district will continue evaluating transportation, communication, and school procedures to help make the transition as smooth as possible for families. While students may attend different elementary buildings, the district remains committed to maintaining welcoming school environments and strong connections between families, staff, and school communities across all buildings.

The modular units are a more cost-effective option than operating and maintaining Cornerstone Elementary as a school building. Significant investment would be required to address ongoing repair and maintenance needs at Cornerstone, without resolving the building’s underlying age and infrastructure challenges.

The modular units will require less ongoing maintenance, create staffing efficiencies, and provide an improved learning environment for students. They will also provide modern classroom spaces designed to support student learning and daily instruction.

This approach allows the district to address immediate space needs while continuing to support high-quality instruction and maintain focus on long-term facilities planning.

Over time, Cornerstone Elementary has required the district to address several significant facility concerns, including mold mitigation, outdated heating and cooling systems, roof leaks, and foundation repairs. These ongoing maintenance and infrastructure challenges have continued to increase costs and contributed to the need to evaluate alternative long-term solutions for the district’s facilities needs.

This will continue to be an ongoing conversation that is included in the revised master facilities planning. The district plans to engage in conversation with Wooster Growth to explore future opportunities for the building and land that best support the community.

The Board plans to secure funding through a Certificate of Participation or through the use of general funds. 

The modular units are intended to serve as a temporary solution while the district continues evaluating long-term facilities options. At this time, the district anticipates using the modular units for several years as part of its transition plan, while future facilities planning efforts continue. The Board will continue to assess the district’s needs and determine the best long-term path forward for students and the community.

The modular units will be equipped with the same alert and safety features as the district’s school buildings. They will be securely installed and anchored, and will be quickly accessible to the main building. The units are also designed and installed to meet safety standards, including added stability through being connected in the event of high winds.

The district’s goal is to provide safe, effective learning environments for students while remaining financially responsible and continuing to evaluate long-term facilities solutions. The district is also being mindful of a potential future need for an operating levy. Operating levies provide essential funding for day-to-day educational programming and services, making them a critical priority because of their direct impact on students. At this time, it is anticipated that an operating levy may be needed in 2028 or 2029. In the meantime, the district is prioritizing its current funds and managing staffing through attrition.

These transitions also create an opportunity to develop a revised master facilities plan. The Board will continue evaluating what is best for students while working toward a long-term facilities solution that best meets the needs of the district and community.