Anecdotal Input from the In-Home Chats Following the
2017 State of the Schools Address
General Reactions to the MHS Facilities Assessment Report
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Not surprised. I went to school there in the 80s.
Since we closed it off with walls. It is tight and there is no lighting.
Hard to get around.
Kids talk about it being depressing.
New schools – kids are collaborating, a lot of daylight, variety of seating – so much healthier.
Mariemont now, missing out on opportunities.
Student went through Dale Park and the new JH had a completely different experience from each other. The
staff at both buildings was great, but students couldn’t wait to leave.
Colleges already doing what we want to do at the high school.
Interesting that we are modeling our high school after what corporations are building - Open, flexible spaces.
The world is changing, if we don’t change, we will fall behind.
Love to have new building, not opposed, but concerned about the land. Geographically limited with parking,
fields, etc. On the same site? Not sure how we can do it. So much land we are not using. Building up,
expand and use more land. Looking for you guys to explain how to utilize the land. Trying to do too much
with limited land space. Site is awful.
I like the uniqueness.
With the sliding hills, the land is tricky and we don’t have luxury of building on different site.
Athletic facilities working out ok. May see option to preserve those places.
Parking lot is a challenge. Different drive way? Separate athletic drive? Add parking to hill?
Parent talked about bomb threat…really concerned because there is no way out. Another drive way is a
priority.
Not a surprise. Condition of school and the trends. Have a freshman, huge contrast from other schools and
high school.
Cost to maintain was new information; building itself was built when open classroom concept was in; not
what is going on in college classrooms and businesses.
Just go in a classroom; the space does matter. Small and not conducive to learning. Science labs aren’t like
that, but most classrooms are. We can do better. A lot of wasted space, but classrooms are small.
This is the first place I’ve ever been where you can’t get a map because the floor plan is to confusing.
I haven’t heard anything. The rumor…we need a big pot of cash to build a new building. Why is it an
emergency? Facility has been changed and changed. Working out ok. I don’t see need to do anything.
Surprised we are talking about the high school. Back when we did the three other schools, the high school
was fine.
The high school is depressing. Accessibility is poor. We are stuck with that plot of land. How can we improve
with that land?
Are facilities the cause of kids going to private schools?
I think safety/security is a concern.
Do we have a safety concern in Mariemont? If so we can go to Home Depot and get some wood, nails and
build a vestibule.
Single drive way is a concern. This needs to be addressed; however, not saying we need to build a new
school to do it.
Does a new building add to property values? Will we attract more kids?
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I read the report and saw pictures of Kings and Princeton. How do our facilities rank compared to other
districts that aren’t experiencing a lot of growth? What are they doing? Looking for Benchmarking. Are they
upgrading or building new?
Are you comparing apples to apples? How do the taxes compare?
Some people had to move from Mariemont because of the taxes and they went to Indian Hill because of
cheaper taxes.
A group of current high school parents to share feedback/experiences with parents who don’t have children
at the high school would be beneficial.
It would definitely help people of they toured the high school. Start design workshops earlier and provide
tours.
With two high school students, something needs to be done.
Are there any creative ways to help finance?
Feedback about Classrooms & Learning Spaces
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Safety is first priority.
Different spaces and having flexibility and color.
Larger classrooms.
How will teachers teach differently? Are they prepared to collaborate and push students further?
Incorporate cafeteria into more like a learning space.
We need a student lounge.
More storage in classrooms; store projects, extra equipment, etc. Not a lot of junk out.
Most future team visits did not have lockers.
I want kids to be participating and actively engaged.
Bigger classes?
Working space.
Windows/natural light. Go up with the building and add more windows…beautiful view.
More personal space for the instructor.
Ensure have the technology to collaborate and video conferencing. Give to the kids what our employees give
to us to be happy and productive.
Bigger classrooms with bigger windows.
Windows that open.
Like the strange shape of the school…unique.
Collaborative space. As an employer, that is the culture we are in. Employers are looking for students with
collaborative experience.
I was in the class of 74. I don’t think it was a mistake. It was flexible with rolling bookcases that could open
up the classroom. I just attended our 40th class reunion and we are all normal.
We need a facility like Facebook. Open collaborative classroom setting. Flexible furniture.
Hearing positive things about the furniture at the JH.
Bring more color into schools.
Natural light.
Need to look at geothermal.
Feedback about Arts Spaces
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Auditorium should be able to hold all students and more.
More open space. Need a better space to display work
Solicit Cappies groups to get feedback on our visual/performing art spaces.
We need a backstage and dressing rooms.
Definitely need more storage. In music and theatre. Store props, dressing rooms.
Practice rooms.
Sinks/plumbing in the art classes.
Nice to have them together, but may not necessarily want department wings.
Windows/natural light.
Light booth, sound board.
Auditorium that holds all students.
Auditorium definitely needs to be bigger.
Auditorium is also an art space/theatre. Auditorium is also a performing arts center. Need prop space, prop
storage, dressing and makeup rooms.
Separate rooms for music groups.
Weakest area of structure.
Open space up to community when not being used by school.
Instrument storage.
Art spaces need to be away from academic areas.
Practice rooms needed.
If we want kids to be creative, we need to provide students the opportunity. Have the room for students to
build sets, etc.
Need space to do arts. We are limited on storage, practice space, place for orchestra to play. Our theatre
limits us on our productions.
Need dressing rooms.
Need restrooms close by.
Space affects class schedule, which limits students, which affects our kids’ experiences. Space affects
curriculum.
Storage, green rooms, make-up room, bathrooms.
Soundproof practice rooms.
If we do it right, we can gain some money back through rentals. Especially if you were close to they café and
could cater food; outdoor area.
Spaces are completely split up.
Not enough space. Sharing rooms for pottery, glass and photography.
Visual arts numbers are increasing. Need another kiln, etc.
Need a sound system.
No backstage.
Acoustics.
Floor is shot. Take a look at Wyoming’s auditorium. Also, look at Indian Hill.
In the arts, people who make the money are backstage. We can’t even offer this experience for our kids.
Only art experience we can provide is performing.
Students used to make props in workshop. Now it’s the board office.
Would a convertible space work? Place to use as gym and then theatre. Gym and theatre may be a stretch,
but if used for similar classes, may work.
Feedback about Safety & Security
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I love that you have to check in at Terrace Park Elementary.
Just want my child to be safe.
Single line of sight. One way in and out is a concern.
Wayfinding is a concern.
Worth it to build vestibule for even a couple of years.
Metal detectors and officers are not inspiring.
Too many doors.
One way in/out. Able to purchase land to build another exit.
I don’t even know where to drop my child off.
Line of sight.
Clean straight sight lines.
Wayfinding is confusing.
Need multiple ways in and out of the grounds.
With a lot of doors, it may help by labeling them.
Where do you park for evening events?
Handicap accessibility is currently too difficult.
A lot of entrances/exits.
Single exit, entrance is a huge safety concern.
Individual classroom doors that have windows, but is safety glass.
More windows that open and close in classrooms – fire concern.
Wayfinding is currently confusing.
Too many doors that can be propped.
Kids have nowhere to go. Some rooms have no exits, no windows, small windows.
Fire hazard, only one door per classroom and no windows.
Feedback about the Athletics Facilities
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Pool and locker rooms are gross.
Gym doesn’t look bad.
Pool is fine. Relative to rest of building, it is nice.
More locker rooms.
Pool and gymnasium…do they have structural problems?
Have you asked staff and students give input?
Tennis facilities on site.
Yoga studio, community rooms. Ways to keep students involved after they graduate.
Flexibility; STEM lab in the AM, studio in the PM.
Dual purpose. Use for our students and then community can use. Balance wellness and life skills.
Update locker rooms.
Tennis courts.
Currently working with Mariemont to update tennis courts. Boosters helping. In process now. Boosters does
not want to give money for tennis courts if we are building our own. Tennis is on athletic radar.
Update workout facilities. The community can pay membership to use. Find a partnership with orthopedic
partner.
Need a strength and conditioning coach. Instead of sports mall, go to the school.
Have a nutritionist.
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Need to teach our kids lifelong wellness.
Stands on both sides of the gym.
Batting cage.
Track around the gym.
Athletics is a huge chunk of what we do. Community will spend the money to make it good. Now is the time
to develop a partnership with hospital. Bring the experts into the field. They can fund a huge amount.
Same with the arts. We need to develop partnerships and fund an auditorium.
Need to pull businesses in now.
New wrestling mats.
Need more than one turf field.
Other Thoughts and Concerns
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Look at the land as a whole. Land behind library, etc.
Walking path for Williams Meadows.
Steps down/easy access to Mango Tree.
Bike trail – get involved so our kids can benefit; increase the walkability.
Is moving the library an option?
Partnership with library and school? We can then use current library for the board staff and professional
development and open up more space in high school. Build new library in high school with assistance from
county?
We need a second entrance/exit. Is there an opportunity behind the track?
Turf/light the practice field.
Turf the other school fields.
What is quickest this could happen if all stars align? I have a freshman and sophomore, will they be in
modulars? At earliest, freshman will be disrupted? Any other options during the transition period?
My kids won’t experience a new building but we have to remember to support our values as a community.
We need to pay it forward.
Other schools have done this. We can get input from them.
Sustainability.
Outdoor learning spaces.
Academic spaces – open, we closed them off, and now want to open them up again…due to trends.
Through past experiences, we need to make sure we don’t jump on trends and buzzwords.
What about switching the junior high and the high school and expand current junior high?
Tutoring rooms off of library. Also need to consider spaces for students who are less social.
What is going to provide the best academic experience? Library vs. cafeteria.
Cafeteria – a lot of the students’ daily experience takes place there. Create a cafeteria to be more functional
throughout the day. An extension of academics.
Big financial task – go to Facebook live, Pinterest live. Let people go and interact. Need to reach those folks
who have an opinion but won’t attend a chat or State of the Schools.
Need to reach senior citizens. Won’t be on social media. Need a way to reach the older population.
Parents with younger children assume that the high school is as nice as the other schools.
Reponses Gathered from Menti.com During the In-Home Chats