The Ohio Department of Education has given final approval of Warren
City Schools’ American Rescue Plan ESSER Round 3 grant application, which includes a budget of $12.5 million for the new wellness center being planned at the high school campus.
The funding approval was announced at the Tuesday, Jan. 25, Warren City Schools
Board of Education meeting.
The ARP ESSER grant provides $12.5 million of the estimated $15 million project.
Remaining project costs have already been put aside in capital improvements, and the project calls for no additional costs to taxpayers, for example, in the form of additional levies.
“We needed to be fiscally responsible and create a plan for using these grant funds that would be sustainable once the funding source was no longer available. I am thrilled that our plan has come to fruition and we will be providing equitable opportunities for our students,” commented Warren City Schools Treasurer Karen Sciortino.
“Built specifically for our students, and featuring student centered programming, the
Health and Wellness Center project will complete our campus vision and provide space and resources necessary to enhance the growth and development of our children. The addition of the ARP ESSER grant funding will play an important role as we move forward with our planning, construction and programming phases. It is certainly an exciting time for our Warren City Schools families as we begin to move forward with this project,” said School Board and Athletic Council Member Patti Limperos.
“This is a tremendous opportunity for the students and families in the Warren City School
District as the center will increase the district’s capacity to develop our students’ level of personal wellness and social emotional awareness as the needs of the whole child are advanced. Part of our vision for this project is to realize more equitable student academic and wellness outcomes by addressing barriers such as anxiety and other mental health concerns brought to light through the COVID 19 pandemic, said Dante Capers, Associate Superintendent of Student Services, Student Wellness & Success.
“The district is looking to break ground on the new facility later this spring or early summer with the project completion date set for August 2023 and will be utilized to address both academic, social emotional and physical needs of our students,” said Superintendent Steve Chiaro.
