Hello to All in the Northwest Community!

We are thrilled to share our updates regarding the future of our facilities and our long-term vision for the Northwest Local School District. This spring promises to be a season of significant progress and community collaboration.

Breaking Ground: High School Addition Project

Following the recent approval by the Northwest School Board, we have reached the final milestone in our planning process for the Northwest High School addition.

• Groundbreaking Ceremony: We will officially begin the construction process on February 3 at 3:30 PM.
• The Scope: Over the next calendar year, we will be working closely with Harris Day Architects and Regency Construction to deliver a new weight room, a dedicated wrestling room, and a state-of-the-art storage area for our arts programs.
• Budget Accountability: As many of you are aware, we have decided to postpone the renovation of the Sports Annex for the time being. The projected costs for that specific portion of the project ballooned to an unacceptable level. Our School Board remains committed to fiscal responsibility and we will revisit the Annex renovation project once the initial phases of the new addition are underway.

We are incredibly grateful for the overwhelming support you have shown for this project. These facilities are an investment in our students’ talents and well-being we hope for decades to come.

Charting Our Course: Strategic Planning 2026–2029

As we break ground physically, we are also beginning the intellectual "groundbreaking" for our next three-year Strategic Plans. We want to ensure our district goals reflect the values and aspirations of our entire community.

Key Dates & Opportunities for Input:

• February 23: During our School Board meeting, we will present Northwest’s new Vision and Mission statements. Following the meeting, the Board will hold a work session to discuss new district-wide goals.
• Stakeholder Collaboration: Our facilitator will be meeting with administrators, faculty, staff, and district leaders to gather diverse perspectives.
• Parent & Student Voice: We will be hosting sessions on April 7 and April 9 for parents and later  for students to share their thoughts on the future of Northwest.
• Community Survey: Throughout the entire month of March, we will release a parent survey to ensure everyone has a voice in our Strategic Plans.
• The Reveal: Our ultimate goal is to present the finalized three-year strategic goals at the June School Board meeting and on our district website.

Looking Ahead

It is going to be a very busy spring, but we welcome these challenges with open arms. Whether it is through new construction or new academic goals, every step we take is designed to have a lasting, positive impact on our students.

Thank you for your continued partnership and for being a vital part of the Northwest Community. As always, if you have questions or you want to share concerns contact the building principal anytime. You can always reach me on my cell phone at 330-573-9024 anytime!

Sincerely,

Shawn Braman