On May 5, 2009, Westerville School District voters approved a Capital Improvements Renewal Levy, which has enabled the district to maintain a safe, nurturing and efficient learning environment for students and staff (District goal #2).
Since then, the school climate has changed. According to Jeff LeRose, Executive Director of Business Operations, district operations staffing levels were significantly reduced over the past year. The Maintenance, Grounds, and Custodial departments employed 112 individuals at the start of FY12, and ended with 82. Still, from a health and safety standpoint, LeRose feels Westerville schools remain safe, nurturing, and efficient. “We have fewer resources, but are always looking for opportunities to increase our operating efficiency,” he said.
Despite the cutbacks, facilities are being maintained and teachers are being provided with resources and tools to support learning through the replacement of textbooks, technology, and instructional materials. Some of the physical improvements that took place during the summer of 2012 included: roof replacement at the Early Learning Center; repair of the slate roof at Longfellow; HVAC improvements at Emerson, Hawthorne, Mark Twain, McVay, Robert Frost and North; electrical improvements at Central College and South; lighting upgrades at Hawthorne, Wilder, and North; district-wide paving repairs; re-striping and structural spraying of the track at North; replacement of door hardware at Annehurst and Pointview; and the replacement of 10 school buses.