Willoughby-Eastlake Schools is offering opportunities for students

By Mimi Vanderhaven

In the spirit of synergy, Willoughby-Eastlake City Schools has forged mutually beneficial relationships with community partners to open up opportunities for its students.

“Strengthening partnerships with local businesses and industry leaders is part of our vision to best prepare our students for the future,” says Superintendent Steve Thompson.

With the two new high schools, the partnerships role will expand and evolve.

For the record: The new North and South High Schools’ construction is both on time and on budget, Thompson reports, with school doors expected to open in fall 2019. And since both campuses are much more than just schools, North will now be named Union Square, and South will be Union Village. Thompson says the names are a nod to the former Union High School, back when both schools were housed in the same building.

Two of the most impactful partnerships are with the Lake County YMCA and the City of Willoughby Senior Center. New facilities for both will be connected to South/Union Village.

“When we first sat down with YMCA CEO Dick Bennett, we talked about how a plan could come together that made sense for both parties,” he says.

“We knew that, ultimately, we wanted our students to have a top-notch, eight-lane competition pool and fieldhouse. The Y will use its expertise to staff and maintain it. Then we mapped out a shared schedule so our teams from both high schools could utilize the pool after school, and the community members could use it during the days and evenings.”

Within the fieldhouse’s four gyms, two will be used by the schools, one by the YMCA, and the other by the city for special events, so each party can have more space. The walking track suspended above the courts will also be enjoyed by all parties.

Other community partnerships include:

• The University of Akron – Students can take college courses while still in high school.
• Pulp – A smoothie bar staffed by students.
• Cardinal Credit Union – Staffed by students.
• LakeHealth – A minute clinic that currently serves employees and they are working to expand that to students.
• Mitchell’s Ice Cream – Students handle inventory, accounting, sales, etc., within the school store.

“Our students are gleaning real-world business skills in a hands-on setting, which is invaluable,” says Thompson.

For more details about community partnerships, visit WESchools.org.