To Jonathan Alder Students and Families:

At the heart of our master facilities planning work is a simple but powerful vision: creating spaces that strengthen Community, Connection, and Family. This vision reflects our district’s guiding motto, Value the Past, Invest in Today, and Elevate the Future, and it is shaping every decision as we move forward.

With that vision as our foundation, we are excited to share an important step in the process. After a thorough and competitive selection process, the district has recommended Steed Hammond & Paul (SHP) as our Architect and Engineering firm for the next phase of our facilities work. Six firms submitted proposals and were evaluated through a structured review process focused on educational design experience, K–12 work in Ohio, energy efficiency, and alignment with our district’s instructional priorities.  Following this review, SHP emerged as the firm best positioned to bring our vision to life.

SHP stood out for their deep investment in our district, having already worked closely with our Teaching & Learning leaders and teachers through educational visioning. This work ensures that future facility designs are grounded in how teaching and learning happen every day in our schools and allows the design process to move forward efficiently and thoughtfully.

As we continue to build momentum, the district is also in the process of finalizing the selection of a Construction Manager at Risk (CMR). This step will allow us to move confidently into design and construction while maintaining a strong focus on collaboration, cost control, and transparency.

We are committed to keeping families, staff, and community members informed through regular updates and opportunities for input as designs take shape and throughout the construction process.

We are grateful to the many community members who helped guide our master facilities planning work and look forward to continuing this work together as we build spaces that serve students, families, and the broader community for generations to come.

In Gratitude,

James Miller Ed.D. 
Superintendent
Jonathan Alder Local Schools