RICHMOND HEIGHTS, Ohio -- Richmond Heights Schools held its annual Back to School Extravaganza Thursday (Aug. 12), and it was more extravagant than ever.
The event is held each year days before the start of school -- except the last two years due to the pandemic and new school construction -- as a means to invite the public to the school grounds, entertain them, and tell them of things to come during the school year. On Thursday, a large crowd left no spots unfilled in the school property’s parking lot as residents flocked to get what was, for many of them, their first look inside the new Richmond Heights Upper School building.
That building, 447 Richmond Road, which opened to students for classes in March, also includes the community’s new Cuyahoga County Public Library (CCPL) branch. The branch is scheduled to hold its grand opening at 2 p.m. Saturday (Aug. 14). Those in attendance Thursday, however, got an opportunity to see the inside the of new branch for the first time.
Add to those inaugural events the fact that the Richmond Heights Police Department held its National Night Out activities Thursday on the school grounds, a food truck served attendees, and University Hospitals was present to give free health screenings, and residents had plenty to keep them occupied -- and impressed.
“I am very proud of the school (building) and I’m excited about it,” said Arnetta Parker, a Richmond Heights resident of 20 years, who attended the event with husband, John. “It’s a great compliment to (Superintendent) Dr. (Renee) Willis. We’re impressed with the building, the aviation classroom. It’s great to have this building here.”
The Parkers regularly use the Mayfield Branch of the CCPL, but now also plan to use often the library housed in the new Richmond Heights School building. “The (old Richmond Heights branch) just wasn’t for me. It’s great to have this new library within walking distance,” Arnetta Parker said.
The new library branch replaces the smaller, older one, which is now closed. It had been located in a storefront at 5235 Wilson Mills Road. The new branch is 50 percent larger, and contains 25 percent more materials than did the old branch.
“I like it a lot,” said 50-resident Ian Mackay, after seeing the inside of the new branch for the first time. “This is a whole different place (from the old branch). It’s larger, there’s more here. They have the extra room in the back for meetings.” A room at the back of the branch can be used as public meeting space, and will be used for seniors who take part in the Silver Sneakers/YMCA exercise program.
“I wanted the library to be here so that it could be a real part of the community,” Willis said. “I got the idea when I saw at GlenOak (High School) down in Canton that the (Stark County District) library was part of the school, so I went with that idea to (former CCPL executive director) Sari Feldman and discussed with her about doing the same thing here. I’ve worked with her and the current (CCPL) director, Tracy (Strobel).”
Willis, who called Thursday’s turnout “phenomenal,” said, “I’m getting a lot of people saying thank you for your vision, for believing this building could be built.”
Ground was broken on the $26-million building in May, 2019. Voters approved in November, 2017, a levy that paid for the building’s construction.
Thirteen-year resident and mother of three Kenya Hunt, said she is in the process of transferring her children to the Richmond Heights Public Schools after seeing the new building and learning of the work taking place within the district. “I like the (new building) a lot. I love the innovation,” she said.
Willis said the Richmond Heights School District, consisting of an upper school, middle school and elementary school, has about 800 students enrolled for the coming school year. “That’s a little down from last year when we had about 900, but we’re seeing students getting enrolled every day, so I’m expecting that (800) to grow,” she said.
Masks will be required of students and staff. Classes are being held in person, but students who wish to learn virtually will be able to do so via the “Spartan Academy” program. About 20 students are now enrolled to take classes virtually.
Classes begin for all grades Aug. 23. Willis said that the building will host its first-ever sporting event, a girl’s volleyball match, Saturday (Aug. 14). The school is also offering cross country this fall.
The high school had to take a two-year break from competing in football during the construction of the new building. This will be the second of those two years.
“We’re going to rebuild our football program,” Willis said. “But we’re going to start (next year) with the middle schoolers.”
Willis said she is still working to try and obtain funding so that a new football stadium can be built, adding that she is optimistic that she will find that funding.
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