Operations
Operations
Embedded Files
The Westerville City School District has always worked diligently to operate safely, efficiently and effectively. These efforts may entail a one-time initiative, such as implementing the MyVan Program to save transportation costs, or a long-term commitment, such as our facility improvements or energy conservation efforts that results in significant savings and cost-avoidance for the district.
All such efforts help school officials stretch the district's fiscal resources as much as possible. A few of our operational highlights are provided below, while other areas of operation have a dedicated page due to the amount of information we have to share with our community.
Custodial Services
Custodial Services
The Custodial Department implemented a cleaning and disinfection program during the epidemic to ensure students and staff health and safety. These protocols are now used at district facilities when there is an increase of illnesses or absences.
The district’s Custodial Department now has electrostatic sprayers and other specialized equipment that supports the cleaning and sanitizing of our facilities. The district is now able to deploy a team to deep clean any school or facility should there be a communicable illness outbreak.
The Custodial Department was crucial to acquiring and distributing personal protective equipment, such as protective gloves, masks and face shields, during the peak of the pandemic. They also outfitted district classrooms and other facilities with hand sanitizers and disinfectant wipes as needed.
The district is upgrading districtwide chemical dispensing systems at no cost. These systems offer a variety of cleaning and disinfecting solutions to help sustain building cleanliness.
District custodians receive specialized training and other professional development as much as twice per year to ensure they are up-to-date on required safety and regulatory compliance. This includes individualized on-the-job training for substitute custodians and new team members.
Human Resources
Members of the district's HR Department conducted a thorough audit of all position titles in an effort to eliminate unnecessary titles and update job descriptions. This effort helped streamline and improve the hiring process, as well as increased the accuracy and consistency of those completing the work.
Enrollment Center
Enrollment Center
District officials renewed their partnership with OhioHealth that has been in place since 2008. Through this partnership, OhioHealth leases office space to the district in its Westerville Medical Campus, located at 300 Polaris Parkway. The cost to the district is just $1 per year and the space provided is used for the district’s Enrollment Center.
In an effort to improve the district’s centralized enrollment process, Enrollment Center staff recently enhanced the registration experience for new families; streamlined the overall enrollment process; and created video tutorials to help families understand the steps, as well as the support documentation required, to complete the process.
Purchasing & Logistics
District officials implemented an Insurance Consultant Agreement, which saved over $160,000 in taxpayer money over the past 3 years by negotiating with multiple carriers and switching to a flat rate agency fee, rather than a percentage commission.
District officials reevaluated equipment needs across the district and switched from purchasing some equipment to leasing it, which has saved slightly more than $173,000 since being implemented.
The district reauthorized its five-year agreement with Pepsi, which brings in approximately $42,000 of support each year.
The district continues its partnership with the YWCA’s Kids Place program, which provides fee-based childcare services for families that require additional support to ensure their children receive proper care before and after school hours.
Our district’s schools and other facilities continue to serve as hubs for various community activities, a valuable service that was halted during the peak of the pandemic. The district has a fee structure in place that takes into account the type of organization requesting facility use (e.g., non-profit, for-profit, community group, etc.) while fostering community goodwill. District officials make sure all costs associated with operating our buildings during non-school hours are covered by the requesting organizations and do not place an additional strain on limited taxpayer resources.
Westerville City Schools seeks every possible way to stretch its resources, including selling equipment that is no longer needed through the GovDeals program. This practice reduces the amount of items that otherwise may end up in a landfill while generating additional revenue for the district. This practice has generated approximately $573,000 for the district since 2019 and nearly $1 million since being implemented in 2012.
Safety & Security
Safety & Security
By the start of the 2023-24 school year, the district will have completed approximately $8.9 million in safety enhancements at every school and other facilities around the district. This was made possible due to the community’s approval of a November 2019 ballot measure. Project highlights include, but are not limited to: enhanced building access controls, a visitor management system, improved quality and coverage of video surveillance systems, intrusion detection systems, improved exterior lighting, and the addition of automated external defibrillators for medical emergencies.
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