By Dawn Scotland
The Truth Reporter
Romules Durant, EdD, unveiled Toledo Public Schools’ plans to revitalize the Scott Park Campus into a new 288,000 square foot development at the Toledo Rotary Luncheon Monday, October 14, at the Glass City Center. The plan will include educational opportunities for students seventh-12 grade, and will also include educational, recreational and residential facilities in partnership with area universities.
Durant highlighted Toledo Public Schools’ robust and innovative programming that is attracting students from outside the district, including the Pre-Medical & Health Science Academy, Aerospace and Natural Science Academy, Toledo Early College, and Toledo Technology Academy of Engineering that have achieved national recognition.
The school district is aiming to expand and continue that vision with the Scott Park Campus. The former Comtech facility was once owned by the University of Toledo. “The entire campus has opportunities for collaboration,” he stated.
Durant outlined the three-prong approach for the innovative campus: Educational, Recreational and Residential.
The campus will include three new magnet high schools that will allow students to matriculate from seventh grade to bachelor’s degree. “All that is going to happen through collective collaboration,” he continued. The project includes partnerships with Owens Community College and the University of Toledo both of which signed a letter of intent with TPS for the project in February of this year.
“We have [these partners] all at the table having conversations about what does a certification program look like? What does a two-year associate degree look like? What does a four-year degree look like? …all seamlessly on the campus as well as migration from the main campus,” stated Durant on Monday.
The three new magnet schools will include:
- College of Business Academy
- College of Education and Social Services Academy – (training teachers, school counselors and fire fighters etc.)
- Construction and Architectural Academy
The goal is to expand in creating more successful planning across all industries for Toledo Public School students.
The $100 million project will include a fitness center, dining hall, recreational athletic dome, administrative suites, outdoor and indoor construction training facilities, three academies, child care center, ministry office, residential facilities and fishing pond, among other amenities. The campus will also be a part of a two-park system that is connected to Ottawa Park via the bike trail.
“We’re going to have an interchange of ages all within this campus,” shared Durant.
Staff and educators will be able to live on the campus. “We want teachers to live on the campus they work, we want police officers to live on the campus they work, we want professors to live on the campus they work… and we are creating the opportunities for them to do just that,” he said.
An $84 million annual return to the community is anticipated from the project via the new opportunities and work being done at Scott Park. It will bring an estimated 3,000 jobs to the campus.
Celebrating its 175th anniversary, Toledo Public Schools serves more than 20,000 students in Toledo, Ohio. The district has 58 school facilities, including six comprehensive high schools and 42 elementary schools: four elementary STEMM academies, six elementary level magnet schools and six high school level magnet schools. These schools offer students a specialized curriculum that focuses on the interests of the students. Its mission: to provide innovative educational opportunities that ensure each student is prepared for their future. Its vision: to empower each and every student to lead and live a purpose-driven life. (Source: Toledo Public Schools)
Issue 19 is on the ballot November 5. If approved the levy would help fund the proposed Scott Park Renovations.
Issue 19 supports:
- authorizing the school district to issue up to $99 million in bonds, with revenue going to fund improving school district buildings and sites, and requiring an estimated property tax levy of $71 per $100,000 in assessed value; and
- levying an additional property tax of $133 for each $100,000 in appraised value for five years.
To learn more about Toledo Public Schools visit TPS.org.
