If you are interested in receiving babysitting services while attending the State of the Schools event on Wed, May 7 from 6-8 p.m. in the IMS auditorium, please fill out this form. Babysitting will be provided by members of the IHS NHS and Key Club. During the event, children will enjoy activities and a small snack! https://forms.gle/AEKKnnf1MWWn4mQd7
Teacher Appreciation Week is off to a muy delicioso start! We kicked things off this morning with breakfast, and it was the perfect way to celebrate the incredible staff who make IMS such a special place every single day.
We are so thankful for our amazing team—their dedication, energy, and heart do not go unnoticed. This week is all about YOU, and we can’t wait for all the fun ahead
For those residents who were unable to attend yesterday's tours, we want to share a look inside Independence Middle School and highlight key areas of concern discussed during the visit:
Stop #1: Main Entrance & Security
Our current entrance does not include a secured vestibule, limiting our ability to properly screen and monitor visitors before they enter the building.
Stop #2: Cracks in Floors & Walls
Cracking throughout parts of the building, including areas built just 20 years ago, reflects the facility’s aging condition and may point to underlying structural concerns.
Stop #3: Windows & Classroom Spaces
Original single-pane windows from 1961 are still in use. They are inefficient, difficult to repair, and make it challenging to maintain consistent indoor temperatures.
Stop #4: Courtyard Pipe Issue
A cracked sanitary pipe beneath the courtyard and building requires ongoing maintenance every 5–6 months. Repairs would be costly and highly disruptive.
Stop #5: Home Economics Room
This classroom is outdated, with aging equipment and limited resources, reflecting the need for modern, functional learning spaces.
Stop #6: Gym Roof & Water Leaks
Active leaks in the gym have caused visible damage and raise concerns about long-term structural integrity and interior conditions.
Stop #7: Air Handling Units
Aging HVAC systems struggle to properly circulate air and bring in fresh air, impacting efficiency and overall indoor air quality.
These stops highlight ongoing challenges within the IMS facility. We are committed to keeping our community informed as we continue planning for the future of our schools.
More details: https://aptg.co/nxL_MQ
Stop #1: Main Entrance & Security
Our current entrance does not include a secured vestibule, limiting our ability to properly screen and monitor visitors before they enter the building.
Stop #2: Cracks in Floors & Walls
Cracking throughout parts of the building, including areas built just 20 years ago, reflects the facility’s aging condition and may point to underlying structural concerns.
Stop #3: Windows & Classroom Spaces
Original single-pane windows from 1961 are still in use. They are inefficient, difficult to repair, and make it challenging to maintain consistent indoor temperatures.
Stop #4: Courtyard Pipe Issue
A cracked sanitary pipe beneath the courtyard and building requires ongoing maintenance every 5–6 months. Repairs would be costly and highly disruptive.
Stop #5: Home Economics Room
This classroom is outdated, with aging equipment and limited resources, reflecting the need for modern, functional learning spaces.
Stop #6: Gym Roof & Water Leaks
Active leaks in the gym have caused visible damage and raise concerns about long-term structural integrity and interior conditions.
Stop #7: Air Handling Units
Aging HVAC systems struggle to properly circulate air and bring in fresh air, impacting efficiency and overall indoor air quality.
These stops highlight ongoing challenges within the IMS facility. We are committed to keeping our community informed as we continue planning for the future of our schools.
More details: https://aptg.co/nxL_MQ
Enrollment in Independence Local Schools has fluctuated over time. In the 1980s and early 1990s, total enrollment was at its lowest point, reaching 671 students. Enrollment increased through the late 1990s and 2000s, peaking at over 1,100 students. In recent years, enrollment has remained around 1,000 students.
Stop by our Primary and Middle School from 2–4 PM today!
We welcomed a special visitor who attended fourth grade here during the building’s very first year in 1956. He returned to walk the halls and relive cherished memories.
As you walk through today, you’ll see spaces that have served generations of students over many decades. This is an opportunity to reflect on our district’s history and observe the current condition of our facilities.
We welcomed a special visitor who attended fourth grade here during the building’s very first year in 1956. He returned to walk the halls and relive cherished memories.
As you walk through today, you’ll see spaces that have served generations of students over many decades. This is an opportunity to reflect on our district’s history and observe the current condition of our facilities.
Join us TOMORROW, Sunday, May 3 from 2-4 at IPS and IMS for building tours. Bring your neighbors...bring your questions!
Happy National Principals Day to Mrs. Haley Mueller! Mrs. Mueller’s leadership, positivity, and dedication make a lasting impact on our middle school students and staff. She works tirelessly to create a supportive environment where students can grow, connect, and succeed.
Thank you, Mrs. Mueller, for everything you do for IMS. We are grateful for you! 💙💛
Thank you, Mrs. Mueller, for everything you do for IMS. We are grateful for you! 💙💛
Join us TOMORROW - Thursday, April 30 at 7 p.m. at the Civic Center. What's the format? Q&A . . . we will answer the questions submitted over the past several months from our residents and any new ones. Hope to see you there!
What a great night at our Paint & Sip event!
From creative masterpieces to our fancy dirty soda bar, it was the perfect mix of fun, laughter, and quality family time. Events like this truly showcase what makes our school community so special.
A huge thank you to Ms. Bloam for organizing such a memorable experience, and to our amazing PTO for their continued support in making nights like this possible!
We loved seeing so many families come together—already looking forward to the next one!
Several potential locations were evaluated:
» Baseball Field Site: Not recommended due to recent investment exceeding $200,000, added replacement costs, proximity to Vineyard and Stadium Drives, increased traffic stacking risks, and reduced roadway buffers.
» Middle School Parking Lot: Considered but not preferred due to congestion risks, proximity to key exits, and reduced circulation flexibility.
The selected concept prioritizes safety, traffic flow, and long-term operational efficiency.
If the bond passes, the district will begin a formal postapproval planning process starting with an Owner–Partner Kickoff Meeting. This includes district leadership, school safety staff, police and fire departments, city engineering, traffic professionals, operations and maintenance staff, and design and construction partners. This ensures safety, emergency access, utilities, and daily operations are built into the project from the very beginning.
No. The current site plan is a preliminary conceptual study, not a final architectural or engineering design. It shows approximate building placement, traffic circulation, parking, playgrounds, bus drop-off areas, stormwater management, and field adjustments. Final engineered plans will not be developed unless voters approve the bond issue.
https://www.independence.k12.oh.us/page/future-facilities-planning
Have you watched? Take a moment to view the proposed PreK-8 school building fly around.
https://youtu.be/gtiO5GRVgAo?si=ljN0U_zKncifszrB
https://youtu.be/gtiO5GRVgAo?si=ljN0U_zKncifszrB
If approved by voters:
May 2026 approval
» Design: June 2026 – June 2027
» Construction: April 2027 – May 2029
May 2026 approval
» Design: June 2026 – June 2027
» Construction: April 2027 – May 2029
The site plan is being shared to help the community understand how a new PreK–8 building could fit on the existing campus. It is part of the district’s commitment to transparency and early communication showing feasibility, relationships between site elements, and planning considerations before any final decisions are made.
https://youtu.be/gtiO5GRVgAo?si=F4I9B2DDJDYRmzJE
https://youtu.be/gtiO5GRVgAo?si=F4I9B2DDJDYRmzJE
A new building would:
» Reduce long-term maintenance costs due to new
systems and finishes
» Meet current HVAC and air-quality codes, providing
a healthier learning environment
Utility costs may change depending on system upgrades, such as adding air conditioning where it does not currently exist.
» Reduce long-term maintenance costs due to new
systems and finishes
» Meet current HVAC and air-quality codes, providing
a healthier learning environment
Utility costs may change depending on system upgrades, such as adding air conditioning where it does not currently exist.
Yes. During the design process, which will occur after the bond is passed, cost estimates are reviewed at multiple phases. If adjustments are necessary, options may
include:
» Material selections
» System features
» Design details
» Phasing or delaying certain non-essential elements
A construction manager would work with the district throughout design to help control costs.
include:
» Material selections
» System features
» Design details
» Phasing or delaying certain non-essential elements
A construction manager would work with the district throughout design to help control costs.
Earlier concepts assumed a smaller building size. The current plan reflects a collaborative “right-sizing” process with staff and administrators to ensure appropriate classrooms, support spaces, and adjacencies needed for today’s instruction and student services. The 2019 bond process did not include a Program of Requirements, which when utilized gives accurate sizing needed.
The site plan includes:
» Separate traffic patterns for buses, parent dropoff, and staff parking, and staggered start times between buildings
» Dedicated preschool drop-off and parking
» Clear, one-way traffic flow to reduce congestion and improve safety
» Final traffic plans will continue to be coordinated with district and city partners.
» Separate traffic patterns for buses, parent dropoff, and staff parking, and staggered start times between buildings
» Dedicated preschool drop-off and parking
» Clear, one-way traffic flow to reduce congestion and improve safety
» Final traffic plans will continue to be coordinated with district and city partners.
» A resident earning $100,000 per year and owning a $100,000 market value home would pay approximately $1,026.25 per year
» A homeowner with a $100,000 market value home and no earned income would pay approximately $26.25 per year
The income tax portion applies only to earned income; it does not apply to Social Security or retirement income.
On the district website is a calculator to estimate each
individual’s cost.
https://www.independence.k12.oh.us/o/ils/page/calculator
» A homeowner with a $100,000 market value home and no earned income would pay approximately $26.25 per year
The income tax portion applies only to earned income; it does not apply to Social Security or retirement income.
On the district website is a calculator to estimate each
individual’s cost.
https://www.independence.k12.oh.us/o/ils/page/calculator
