Campus improvements on track for completion before students arrive

by Melissa Martin

June 24 school board meeting

While school is out of session for the summer, construction crews are working overtime to make sure a handful of projects are completed in time for the first day of the fall term on Aug. 20.

As part of his report to the Brecksville-Broadview Heights Board of Education, Superintendent Jeff Harrison said several construction upgrades and enhancement projects across the district’s campus are well underway with plans to wrap up by opening day.

The new traffic pattern along Hilton Drive is already visible to those who pass through campus. As of mid-June, light pole bases were installed, and light poles were being set in place. Additionally, storm and sanitary sewer work was completed, and the existing pavilion at the stadium is slated for demolition, according to Harrison.

“Concrete curbs and sidewalk work is starting and pavement work will follow,” Harrison said, noting that funding for these projects comes from savings from the construction of Brecksville-Broadview Heights Elementary School and from the sale of the former Chippewa and Highland Elementary School properties.

The tennis court reconstruction project is also underway, as demolition was initiated at the end of the 2025-2026 school year. The drainage reconstruction underneath the courts has been completed and, as of the end of June, was awaiting the city’s final inspection. The new asphalt was tentatively scheduled for the end of June as well, allowing for a curing period before the specialized tennis court surfacing could be installed.

Harrison said the BBH High School stadium is also experiencing an overhaul, with removal of the old turf surface complete and site preparations for the new turf expected to be finished by July 4.

At BBH Middle School, an expansive LED lighting project is also taking place this summer, with selective ceiling demolition underway, Harrison said.

“Every interior and exterior light fixture will be transitioned to LED lighting, providing energy savings, reduced maintenance costs, improved lighting quality and supporting the district’s sustainability efforts,” he said.

Other infrastructure and facility improvement projects include roofing at the middle school and audio/visual upgrades in the BBHHS Media Center. Asphalt resurfacing and pavement maintenance projects are also slated for July, Harrison said.

“Beyond these capital improvements, district maintenance and custodial staff are completing numerous summer projects to prepare the facilities for the upcoming school year,” he said. “These efforts include deep cleaning, floor refinishing, painting, HVAC preventative maintenance, grounds maintenance, playground upkeep and many other repairs and improvements throughout the district.

Harrison said the BBHHS football team will once again assist with mulching flower beds and landscaping areas, “helping maintain the attractive appearance of our campuses while supporting student programs through their efforts.”

“Together, these projects reflect the district’s ongoing commitment to providing safe, clean and well-maintained learning environments for students, staff and the community,” Harrison said.

School report cards

In other news, school board member Tish Kwiatkowski unveiled preliminary outcomes from state tests administered in the spring

“We are trending in the right direction, which is positive,” Kwiatkowski told the board. “More students are moving into high-performance tiers, with more students reaching the advanced and accomplished levels. That means [students] are achieving at higher levels than is actually required.”

In addition to narrowing the achievement gap for the district’s English learners – one of the criteria measured on the annual report card – Kwiatkowski said the district test data demonstrate significant increases in fifth- and sixth-grade math and language arts scores, as well as in third-grade math and language arts scores.

The high school, Kwiatkowski said, is also recording strong gains this year. Students are showing a 97% proficiency rate in U.S. history and a 95.4% proficiency in biology. English/language arts 2 scores have increased from an 86% proficiency rate last school year to 91% this school year.

“Kudos to our students and our staff,” Kwiatkowski said. “I expect when we hear Dr. [David] Martin presenting information from the state report cards in the fall that we are going to hear much more information regarding these gains that we are already seeing.”

The 2025-2026 state report cards are expected to be released in mid-September, according to the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce. The report cards evaluate public school districts and charter schools throughout the state across six components. Each component and overall rating uses a five-star scale. The BBH schools earned a five-star rating on the district’s most recent state report card.