Facilities FAQ

The elementary school renovations are primarily on the interior of the building. The exterior will remain the same. The major interior upgrades include new HVAC systems, including air conditioning, electrical systems, lighting, plumbing upgrades, new restroom fixtures, new furniture, finishes and technology, ADA accessibility and LEED silver rating. The renovations also include safety upgrades, such as a secure vestibule and new sprinkler and fire alarm systems. The renovation at Lomond also includes adding an elevator to the building.

After the Woodbury building reopens as the new Middle School, the next buildings we are planning to renovate will be Lomond and Mercer. These buildings were chosen for renovations first because they are our largest elementary schools, both in terms of square footage and student enrollment. 

Based on our current schedule, Lomond and Mercer will close at the end of the 2026-2027 school year, and renovations will take place concurrently at both buildings throughout the 2027-2028 school year. While each building is under renovation, Lomond and Mercer students will attend classes for one year at the former Shaker Heights Middle School building, located at 20600 Shaker Boulevard. Both elementary buildings are planned to reopen for Grades K-5 in Fall 2028. 

District representatives continue to discuss renovations and timing for the remaining elementary schools with the architects and contractors. More information will be shared as it becomes available.

The Ludlow Early Learning Center opened its doors to the inaugural class of preschool students on September 15. The District received an occupancy permit from the City of Shaker Heights and passed the state PreK certification prior to the start of school.

There are several punch list items that are being wrapped up at Ludlow, including masonry on the north vestibule entrance and paint repairs. The remaining work will be completed outside of school hours, including after school and on weekends.

Subscribe to the Facilities Newsletter for updates.

Partial demolition at the former Woodbury Elementary School is complete. The pool, gym, east wing and west wing have been demolished. The center building, which was built in 1918, will be retained and renovated. Early foundation work is underway in February 2025. Construction on the addition is expected to take place in Spring 2026, and the building will reopen as the new Middle Years Building for Grades 6-8 in Fall 2027. Subscribe to the Facilities Newsletter for updates.

The playground at the Ludlow Early Learning Center has equipment for preschool students and older children. The District partnered with the City of Shaker Heights and the Shaker Schools Foundation to fund a playground suitable for Ludlow students and older children. Thank you for your generous support for the incredible Ludlow playground!

Woodbury is scheduled to open as the new Middle Years building in Fall 2027.

Woodbury Road will be the access driveway for construction at Woodbury. Construction trucks will travel down South Woodland Road to reach Woodbury and avoid Aldersyde Drive and Onaway Road (the Oval). There is now two-way traffic on Woodbury Road.

The Shaker Heights Schools are committed to creating minimal disruption to the community while we implement our Long-Term Master Facilities Plan. Representatives from Gilbane Building Company have met with neighbors around Ludlow and Woodbury prior to the start of renovations. The contractors work within the noise ordinance hours for the City of Shaker Heights. Neighbors are encouraged to contact Shaker Heights Schools Assistant Superintendent of Business & Operations Jeff Grosse at grosse_j@shaker.org with questions or concerns. Community members may also reach out to District Communications Specialist Julie Hullett at hullett_j@shaker.org for more information on facilities plans.

We are having ongoing conversations with the City recreation and District athletic departments. The plans for athletic facility use likely won’t be solidified until closer to the reopening of Woodbury, as we are still working through the use of existing and new athletic sites. The Middle School and High School could both be using fields at the current Middle School site, for example. Middle School and High School teams will also likely share athletic spaces on the Woodbury site, too. 

The Shaker Heights Schools are responsible for grounds maintenance, such as lawn mowing, outside the construction fence. Gilbane Building Co. is responsible for grounds maintenance inside the construction fence at Woodbury.

We offer full-day and half-day programming for the 2025-2026 school year. Our program is a Universal PreKindergarten (UPK) site funded by Invest in Children. For more information on our PreK programs, visit shaker.org/preschool.

Enrollment is now open for the 2025-2026 school year and families are encouraged to enroll as soon as possible. To start the enrollment process, go to shaker.org/enroll.

The certified arborists report provides a tree inventory and condition assessment, an analysis of each trees’ critical root zones (CRZ) and recommendations for tree protection (TPZ) during the Ludlow Early Learning Center renovation project.

Yes. The tree assessment informs the site design.

Please email Communications Specialist Julie Hullett at hullett_j@shaker.org with your name, street address, email and phone number to join the Woodbury Neighbors Group contact list.

The District is working with Education Elements to create a Middle School design framework. This work is focused on the middle years experience for students, faculty and staff. This includes curriculum and instruction, instructional practices, scheduling, staffing, communications and family engagement.

The Shaker Heights Schools partner with various stakeholder groups to implement the Long-Term Master Facilities Plan. This includes the Facilities Advisory Committee, made up of parents, residents, and staff, in addition to neighbors of the renovated schools, the local community associations, and a joint working group with the City of Shaker Heights. The District provides regular updates on facilities to the Board of Education.