Groundbreaking and Ranger Rally

Groundbreaking and Ranger Rally

North Ridgeville City School's Ranger Rally served as a thank you to the community and a celebration of the start of another school year. The Friday evening back-to-school kickoff culminated with the groundbreaking ceremony for the new North Ridgeville High School, which will open in 2028.

As visitors arrived, they were greeted by the marching band and cheerleaders, guiding them to dozens of activities, booths, and food trucks inside Ranger Stadium. A rock climbing wall, inflatable bouncy houses, games, and balloon animals created a carnival-like atmosphere for families to enjoy.

"A part of our evening tonight was to show appreciation for our families and all of their support for the schools," said Meghan Hignite, Principal of North Ridgeville High School.

The 2000 Wilcox Elementary School Time Capsule was opened near the entrance to the high school, and a letter from the class of 2000 was read. William Noll from the North Ridgeville Historical Society explained the history of the school and Superintendent Elizabeth Wilcox, for whom it was named. Former Wilcox principals Chris McCully and Lee Armbruster gave comments, sharing their personal connections to the school.

The site for the new North Ridgeville High School had been prepared for construction and was an ideal location to host the groundbreaking ceremony.

"We are truly grateful to have you all here to share in such a meaningful milestone for our community," said Superintendent Roxann Ramsey-Caserio. "Since the day I became a Ranger, we have been working toward this very moment, and it's incredibly rewarding to see it come to life today. This ceremony is not just about breaking ground. It's about building the future for students today, tomorrow, and for generations to come."

North Ridgeville Mayor Kevin Corcoran read a proclamation, "This new facility will provide modern, innovative learning spaces that reflect North Ridgeville City School's mission of empowering students to design their preferred future and support its academic achievement, career readiness, and extracurricular opportunities for generations of students."

"This event is a culmination of strong community support, unbelievable leadership from the school district and the school board, and a lot of hard work from ThenDesign Architecture," said Bill Schurman, PE, owner of Hammond Construction, while expressing his excitement for the project. "We want to thank you all for trusting us to build your new high school. We want to turn over a high school that you will be proud of for many generations."

Board of Education President Frank Vacha expressed his heartfelt gratitude, "A lot of hard work got us here today. Hard work from my fellow board members, the administrative team, Citizens for Better Schools, and so many people in our community. Thank you."

The North Ridgeville City School's Ranger Rally offered a unique experience filled with fun activities for students, their families, and the community to celebrate the start of the 2025-2026 school year. This memorable back-to-school event, including the groundbreaking ceremony, expressed gratitude for the ongoing support from the local community.