Northwest Local School District (NWLSD) celebrated a major milestone on Wednesday, October 16, as district and community leaders gathered to break ground for the construction of the new Colerain Elementary School.
The ceremony, held at the site of the former Houston Early Learning Center at 3310 Compton Road, marked the official start of a project that blends historic community pride with forward-looking innovation. Attendees included members of the Board of Education, Superintendent Darrell Yater, Principal Collin Climer, and representatives from project partners SHP (architect) and Graybach, LLC (construction manager).
“We knew Colerain Elementary, as a building, had outlived its life and we needed to move forward with a new vision,” said Superintendent Darrell Yater. “Thanks to our partnership with the OFCC, the credits we earned from building Taylor, Struble, and Pleasant Run Elementary, and the foresight to move those funds into our Master Facility fund, we’re able to break ground on a new Colerain Elementary without raising taxes on our community at all.”
The new Colerain Elementary will replace the district’s oldest school, which is more than 100 years old. In the summer of 2024, structural issues — including falling bricks — highlighted the urgent need for a new facility. While emergency repairs and ongoing monitoring have kept the building safe for the time being, the district recognized that long-term sustainability required a complete rebuild.
Through a co-funded partnership with the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission (OFCC), NWLSD was able to fast-track the project without seeking new tax revenue. The district leveraged state support, credits earned from prior construction projects, and existing Master Facility funds to fully finance the new school.
“More than 50% of Graybach’s team that is going to work on this project either currently live in the district, went to school in the district, or lived here throughout their childhoods,” said Tyson Grace, Co-Owner of Graybach, LLC. “Early site work has just started. Building construction should begin in February 2026 and wrap up in the summer of 2027, with the first classes starting in the fall of 2027.”
SHP, which has partnered with NWLSD for more than 50 years on over 250 projects, including Pleasant Run, Struble, and Taylor Elementary Schools, will serve as the project’s architect. Graybach, LLC, a Colerain-based construction manager, will lead the build, continuing its long-standing relationship with the district and community.
"This project represents more than a new building. It’s a promise to our students and families,” said Yater. “It shows that when we manage our resources wisely and plan ahead, we can achieve remarkable things. Colerain Elementary will stand as a symbol of what it means to go beyond for our kids."
