Facilities
Olmsted Falls City School District currently encompasses five school buildings, a central office building and a transportation facility, along with surrounding grounds, athletic fields and playgrounds. This page contains the latest information and updates on Olmsted Falls City School District facilities, maintenance and future planning. Keeping our community informed is a priority to the district. Community members with questions about any of our school facilities and grounds are encouraged to contact (440) 427-6000.
OFCS Facilities News & Information
Facilities Master Planning
Central Office Project
What’s going on with the Central Office?
We understand the community’s concerns—why invest in a new central office? The answer is simple: it’s good for students and staff, and we’re doing it without raising taxes. The current office is a small, outdated building that houses 17 staff members responsible for key functions like payroll, student services, operations, and community engagement. It’s cramped, inefficient, and not ADA-compliant. Renovating would cost over $1 million but wouldn’t resolve the space issues. Building a new office will provide adequate room for staff and operations, without raising taxes, by using funds from retired debt. This solution is essential to meet the district’s long-term needs and support efficient operations in the future.
The White House on Bagley
If you’ve driven by Olmsted Falls High School on Bagley Road, you may have noticed the small white ranch house situated in front of it. A sign that reads "Olmsted Falls School District - Board of Education" is posted there, but it's easy to miss and doesn't quite capture the bustling activity happening inside. This white house is the "home" to 17 employees who work behind the scenes to keep the school district running smoothly.
The "white house" functions as the office space for the Superintendent, Treasurer, Assistant Superintendent, Assistant Treasurer, Chief Operating Officer, Director of Student Services, Director of Business, Director of Communication, Family and Community Engagement Specialist, Data and Accountability Specialist, and their support staff. These employees handle payroll, pay bills, and manage the day-to-day operations of the district. Ideally, other central office administrators would work here too, but due to space constraints, they are spread across the district’s five school buildings.
History of the Board of Education (Central) Office
How did the office end up in this location? In the late 1990s, the district was under financial receivership with the Ohio Department of Education. At that time, the district was leasing office space from the company previously known as Evergreen Packaging, located at 7920 Mapleway Drive in Olmsted Falls. To alleviate this financial burden and save money, the district purchased a property in front of OFHS with a white ranch house built in 1972. This house was converted into office space, and the district's board of education and central administration offices were "temporarily" relocated to 26937 Bagley Road in November 1999. What was meant to be a temporary three-year solution has served as the central administration office for nearly 25 years.
Attempts to Relocate
Over the years, there have been attempts to find a more suitable location for the district’s central office. None of the existing school buildings have sufficient space for these staff members. Although the district considered leasing a site to build a new central administration building at the Bagley and Stearns Road intersection, the move was deemed economically infeasible for many reasons, including the high annual rental cost and lack of tax-exempt status. Most importantly, upon termination of any lease agreement, the school district would have nothing to show for their financial investment.
Why Move Now?
Imagine living in a small ranch house with 17 people. While you might not visit the building, if you did, you would find a dated and inefficient office space that no longer supports effective and professional district operations. Staff members work in closets with a sump pump, under stairs, and in every available nook. The building is not ADA compliant, and student files are stored in spaces shared with a bathroom and other storage areas. There is insufficient room for group meetings or private consultations with visitors. The Board of Education does not meet at this office due to space constraints. Despite the challenging environment, the staff continues to perform their duties effectively while tolerating significant activity, noise, and congestion. To view a collection of recent photos of the current central office space, please click HERE.
Why Not Renovate?
As part of its due diligence, the district considered renovating the current central administration building. According to the architect’s assessment, it would cost $1,173,357.34 to renovate the building and maintain its existing layout (i.e., 2,104 square feet on the first floor and 1,532 square feet in the basement). However, the high cost, combined with the building's inadequate square footage for a professional work environment, led to the conclusion that the district needed a different solution.
Why Build?
After thorough consideration, the Board of Education, Superintendent, and Treasurer have identified an option to construct a new central administration building at the current location on 26937 Bagley Road. The timing is ideal, as the debt from an HVAC equipment upgrade has recently been retired, and the annual cost of the new building will be comparable to the retired debt. This project will not increase taxes or advance the district’s need for a ballot measure. The new office will provide adequate workspace for current staff and consolidate Technology, Special Education, and the High School Alumni office staff under one roof. It will also offer a designated space for Board of Education meetings, professional development, and public gatherings.
What’s Next?
The current plan is to construct a 10,000-square-foot, single-story building at an estimated cost of $3.8 million. That cost includes construction, contingency and fixtures, furniture, equipment, and much-needed parking space for the full campus. The district is in the design phase, with construction expected to start in February 2025 and be completed by early 2026. Once the design is finalized, it will be shared with the public. As always, we are committed to using our resources wisely. The new central administration building will provide a welcoming, professional, and efficient workspace and offer a positive first impression of Olmsted Falls City Schools that the community can be proud of.
For answers to “Frequently Asked Questions” about this project, we invite you to click on the link below for additional information:
Those who wish to tour the current Board of Education office are welcome to contact Superintendent Jim Lloyd jlloyd@ofcs.net to schedule a visit.