Aurora Schools sets meetings for community to provide feedback on facilities plan

Jeff Saunders, Ravenna Record-Courier
Aurora City Schools superintendent Mike Roberto stands outside a trailer that now serves as the Miller Elementary School’s library and music room. The original library and music room had to be converted to classroom space as the school district’s enrollment has grown.
Aurora City Schools superintendent Mike Roberto stands outside a trailer that now serves as the Miller Elementary School’s library and music room. The original library and music room had to be converted to classroom space as the school district’s enrollment has grown.

Residents in Aurora City School District will have opportunities to provide feedback about a proposed plan to reorganize the district's buildings, including the construction of a new high school.

The district has scheduled community information meetings for 7 p.m. Wednesday and Thursday at the ACSD Conference Center, 119 W. Pioneer Trail, in front of Aurora High School.

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Superintendent Mike Roberto said he will present an overview of the proposed project, including updates. He said he does not expect either meeting to last more than an hour.

"This is still preliminary," said Roberto. "It's an opportunity for people to find out about it and to, you know, provide their input."

Roberto said talks about the school buildings began in March 2022 and have included community and school staff feedback during meetings and open houses. After interviewing multiple architectural firms, the district hired ThenDesign Architecture of Willoughby.

He stressed that plans have not been finalized, and cost estimates are not yet available. But, he added the district hopes to get school board approval in June. That timeline would help the district move toward a bond issue on the ballot.

The school library inside a trailer that sits behind Miller Elementary School in Aurora. The original library in the building was twice as large and had to be repurposed for classroom space.
The school library inside a trailer that sits behind Miller Elementary School in Aurora. The original library in the building was twice as large and had to be repurposed for classroom space.

Aurora City School District has two problems

Roberto said the district hopes to address two issues with the proposed project − anticipated increased student enrollment, and the 113-year-old Craddock Elementary School.

Leighton and Miller elementary schools are so crowded, Roberto said, that classroom "trailers" have been brought in to provide extra space.

"We're anticipating as those kids move up, it will start to fill our middle school and high school," he said.

Roberto said it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the aging Craddock Elementary School, which is reaching the end of its useful life.

Two plans considered: New elementary school or new high school?

Roberto said that over the past two-plus years, discussions among district stakeholders whittled options down to two alternatives.

One was the construction of a new elementary school for grades kindergarten through three, and the other was construction of a new high school. Both would include the closing of Craddock and its possible demolition.

Although the latter plan would cost more money, it was favored by a majority. Those involved said that while a new elementary school would solve overpopulation in the elementary schools, it would do nothing for Harmon or the high school.

This artist's rendering shows what a proposed new high school in Aurora, to the right of the existing football stadium in what is now a field, might look like. The current high school is shown in front of it and Harmon Middle School in back.
This artist's rendering shows what a proposed new high school in Aurora, to the right of the existing football stadium in what is now a field, might look like. The current high school is shown in front of it and Harmon Middle School in back.

The concept that will be discussed at this week's meetings would call for construction of a new high school for grades nine to 12 in a large field between the current high school and the middle school.

Roberto said the current high school now has about 980 students, with a maximum capacity of roughly 1,150. The new building would have space for about 1,300 students, giving it more room for growth over a longer period.

This layout, subject to possible change, shows a proposed new high school in Aurora between the current high school, left, and Harmon Middle School, right. The project is dependent upon school board approval, as well as voter approval of a bond issue.
This layout, subject to possible change, shows a proposed new high school in Aurora between the current high school, left, and Harmon Middle School, right. The project is dependent upon school board approval, as well as voter approval of a bond issue.

The plan also would involve renovation for the remaining four buildings to make them work for their new roles:

  • Aurora High School − Would become a larger middle school for grades six to eight.

  • Harmon Middle School − Now for grades six to eight, would become district's largest elementary school for grades three to five.

  • Leighton Elementary School − Now for grades three to five, it would take over for Craddock as the district's building for grades one and two, as well as housing pre-kindergarten.

  • Miller Elementary School − Now for pre-K and kindergarten, it would house all kindergarten.

"So there's a little bit of moving around of pieces," said Roberto.

Due to limited space, teachers use the school hallways for storage outside their classrooms in Aurora’s Miller Elementary School.
Due to limited space, teachers use the school hallways for storage outside their classrooms in Aurora’s Miller Elementary School.

Go to tinyurl.com/ybmdtwu8 for more information on the district's website about the Aurora City Schools Facility Master Planning Project.

In addition, Roberto presented an update on the proposed plan during the Board of Education's Feb. 26 meeting. A YouTube video of that meeting can be found at tinyurl.com/268j49eh, with the presentation beginning at 22:50.

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Reporter Jeff Saunders can be reached at jsaunders@recordpub.com.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: Aurora Schools sets public meetings on proposed new high school

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