Superintendent unveils campus master plan, strategic plan

by Melissa Martin

Superintendent Jeff Harrison delivered his first State-of-the-Schools address before a crowd of nearly 100 at Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Oct. 30, outlining the district’s new three-year strategic plan.

As part of that plan, Harrison announced five priorities for the district to achieve between now and the end of the 2026-2027 school year. That list includes:

  • Becoming a top five school district in the state by improving relevant metrics.
  • Ensuring all students in pre-K through 12 have access to the resources, staffing and instructional practices, programs and curricula needed to improve their learning outcome.
  • Developing and maintaining an ongoing community collaboration and communications plan with identified targeted audiences, modes of communication, necessary budgets and messaging that fulfills the mission and vision of being a destination district.
  • Increasing fiscal awareness among community and civic stakeholders through various means of training, communications and regular updates through the school year.
  • Providing exceptional school facilities and learning environments that promote the highest standards of safety, security, efficiency, sustainability, connectivity and fostering school pride.

Harrison said the strategic plan focuses on a new three-pillar mission statement: “Educate, Empower and Engage.”

He pointed out the district earned the highest rating of five stars overall and five stars in each component on its 2023-24 state Report Card. Based on the school’s higher performance index score, the district ranks 15th out of 607 districts in the state.

Harrison also pointed out the new “Attributes of a Bee,” which redefines the way the district prepares students for life after graduation. All graduates, he said, will be future ready, self-reliant, emotionally prepared and globally responsible.

Harrison’s presentation included a brief discussion of the district’s financial data, along with the new master plan for the campus, which includes the former Hilton Elementary School property, board offices, middle and high school entryways and the athletic complex.

The goal of the master plan, Harrison said, is a “transformative campus plan” that not only “establishes an identity” but addresses middle school and high school facilities plus the enhancement of athletic facilities.

Harrison said the plan has not been funded.

Harrison announced the district’s first Community Champion Awards, presented to business organizations, Event Source and the Bibbo Family, along with the Ohio Landscapers Association for their “prized partnerships” with the district. 

Harrison said as part of the strategic plan, he will remain engaged with the community by hosting regular coffee house visits in Brecksville and Broadview Heights, in addition to presenting his annual State-of-the-Schools address every October.

He said the district has recently partnered with two local establishments: The Coffee Club in Broadview Heights and Panera Bread in Brecksville to collaborate on several “coffee hours” during which he and Treasurer Craig Yaniglos will talk to residents about their concerns and share an update on the schools. Each coffee hour event will take place from 9 a.m. until 10 a.m. on the following dates:

  • Thursday, Nov. 21, at Coffee Club
  • Thursday, Dec. 19, at Panera
  • Thursday, Jan. 16, at Coffee Club
  • Thursday, Feb. 20, at Panera
  • Thursday, March 20, at Coffee Club
  • Thursday, April 17, at Panera.

The district will host two key communicator sessions on Wednesday, Jan. 29, at the BBH Elementary School and on Wednesday, April 30, at the BBH Middle School auditorium. ∞