Columbus City Schools puts levy dollars to work with building improvements over summer

Columbus City Schools highlighted new building improvements Wednesday, including new furniture, playgrounds and other upgrades funded by a majority of the $100 million generated annually from the voter-approved levy last November.

At Westmoor Middle School and Valleyview Elementary, located next to each other on the West Side, the district showed off new capital improvements to the schools — a new playground, window replacements and dynamic class furniture that will allow students to pick from a variety of different seating options.

Westmoor Principal Wendy Gittens said the upgrades are "refreshing" to a building that has been "such a heavy and dark place for so long."

"Under the right conditions, students can thrive," Gittens said. "Of course teaching is the main thing, but the environment sets the stage."

Alex Trevino, CCS director of capital improvements, said that the district has worked through much of the backlog of essential improvements like air conditioning systems in recent years, and is now focusing on improvements "that have much more of an impact on the daily lives of our students."

"We'd love to improve all (of the schools) overnight, and that's just not how it works," Trevino said. "We have to be very intentional about how much investment we make at each building."

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Of the nearly $100 million annually the 7.7-mill levy approved by voters last November will generate, more than $60 million per year is earmarked for maintenance and upkeep of the district's more than 110 school buildings, The Dispatch previously reported .

"Now that voters have approved our permanent improvement levy, the public can expect to see these types of investments happening every year, year-over-year," Trevino said.

Part of the investment at Westmoor, among other district middle schools, was new furniture, including a variety of seating options that can cater to the sensory needs of different students. These include chairs that can rock, high-top tables and chairs, and even chairs that hug the ground.

Gittens said she has heard positive feedback from faculty, and expects students to jockey over the seating they like during the first couple days of school.

"I think it will be a fun couple of days when we return back to school," Gittens said.

Overall, the district has undertaken 120 capital projects this summer. For example, the district has renovated academic facilities, the gym and auditorium at Mifflin High School and made improvements to classrooms and the media center at Scottwood Elementary, The Dispatch previously reported .

The district completed 13 new playgrounds at elementary schools across the district, featuring bright colors and unique fixtures for children to play on. Trevino said that there was a backlog on playgrounds, and with new levy money the district expects to install around a dozen playgrounds each year for the next five years or so.

"Once we get caught up, we'll be able to ease back a little bit," Trevino said.

Cbehrens@dispatch.com

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This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus City Schools puts levy dollars to work with building improvements over summer