For the first time in the history of Upper Arlington Schools, a capital campaign was brought to the forefront to support the monumental task of building state-of-the-art, comprehensive academic facilities. Private donors joined together, with the Upper Arlington Board of Education and Upper Arlington Legacy Capital Campaign Committee, to raise $7.5 million to augment the $230 million bond-levy endorsed by Upper Arlington voters in November of 2017.
The first $5 million raised went to the completion of construction costs, as promised to the community throughout the bond-levy campaign. The additional $2.5 million, named "The Honor Project," sought to go above and beyond bricks and mortar to support programming and building enhancements that would make an impact on students' daily academic and co-curricular experiences.
With the first ask to support the campaign made in January 2019 and surviving the COVID-19 pandemic, the Legacy Campaign successfully reached its goal of raising $7.5 million in April 2021. When the schools opened their new doors in August 2021, there was shock and awe and excitement in our community with these new buildings that brought existing and new donors forward, which resulted in the additional $800,000 being raised.
In the years following the campaign, school districts across the country contacted our district with an intent to understand our facilities master planning process and how we raised millions of dollars of private money to support a public school. It was the hard work of a dedicated team and our community. Upper Arlington has long been a lighthouse district and benefitted from strong community support. Thanks to the Legacy Campaign and its generous donors, that continues to be true today and for many years to come.