December 2, 2022
On Monday, Nov. 28, the Beachwood Board of Education selected the master plan to construct two new elementary buildings at their current locations. A new Bryden Elementary will serve grades K-2, and a new Hilltop Elementary will serve grades 3-5. This decision culminates months of work that included multiple community input sessions, online surveys, and conversations with stakeholders. We are grateful to the Beachwood community for being active participants in this process. Your feedback has guided this momentous decision. We believe this plan answers the call of the community and best positions our district for the future.
Throughout this process, we listened to hundreds of residents and heard concerns, ideas, and visions for the future. With this information in mind, we considered the pros and cons of two master plan options during the public study session on Monday, November 28.
The decision to construct two new elementary schools maintains what already works well in our community while offering abundant opportunities for the District to expand our programming and maintain our tradition of excellence. Elementary students will learn in modern, developmentally appropriate facilities tucked into their familiar neighborhoods. The grounds will serve as assets for the entire community. This is an exciting opportunity to invest in our green spaces by adding walking paths, upgraded playgrounds and fields, gardens, and outdoor shelters.
Constructing two new elementary facilities is a significant investment on the part of the community, but it is what our students and staff deserve. Together, the Board and administration will work diligently to deliver this project on time, on budget, and with the least disruption possible to students, staff, and families.
Megan Walsh, President
Jillian DeLong, Vice President
Kim Allamby
Josephine Chan
Wendy Leatherberry