Rating the Suburbs 2012: For the School Belle

Macedonia

Farhad Sethna was a single dad when he moved to Macedonia 15 years ago, and he chose the Summit County suburb along Interstate 271 because of its good schools. Since then, his family's attachment to the community has only deepened.

His wife, Kim, an educational supervisor at Kent State University, spent four years on the Nordonia Hills school board. Farhad's oldest son and daughter are Nordonia High graduates, and Farhad and Kim's younger kids are in third grade and kindergarten at Macedonia's Ledgeview Elementary.

"We've really been able to see the schools progress," Kim Sethna says proudly.

When Kim joined the school board in 2007, the district was aiming for the state's top report card rating of "excellent with distinction." Thanks to a communitywide effort — teachers undergoing intense professional development, principals analyzing test data, local seniors volunteering as tutors — the district reached its goal. Nordonia Hills (named after Northfield, Macedonia, and Sagamore Hills, all part of the district) hit all 26 of the state's standards for the 2009-10 and 2010-11 school years.

All that progress was threatened by Ohio's school funding squeeze. Voters rejected a new school levy four times in two years.

"We had to scale back," says Kim. "We did everything we could not to taint the academics, to keep our programs strong."

Finally, in November, Nordonia voters approved a new 6-mill levy. The 56-percent "yes" vote prevented further layoffs, a reduction in the length of the school day and deep cuts to art, music and Advanced Placement classes.

The vote preserved one of the greatest draws of Macedonia. Talk to residents about what attracted them, Kim says, and "most people will say the school system." It even beats out the town's convenient location and the modest cost of government.

"We have one of the lowest property tax rates in Summit County," Kim says. "You're getting a lot of value for your dollar."

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Good neighbor: Hudson isn't known for its industry. Western Reserve charm and good schools, yes, but booming business? Well, the city is seeing results from its push near the recently opened interchange on state Route 8 at Seasons Road. As the first tenant at Hudson Crossings Business Park, Meyer Distributing Co. brought 120 employees to its new headquarters in 2011. Still under construction, Seasons Greene Eco-Industrial Park is close to securing green-oriented tenants that could bring another 500 to 1,000 jobs. "We are starting to see the fruits of all the labor we put into trying to look for businesses," says Jody Roberts, Hudson's communications manager.

Like-Minded city: Education has gotten top billing in Brunswick during the past year. The Brunswick University Center opened its 30,000-square-foot facility housing partnerships with Tiffin University, Cleveland State University, Franklin University and Cuyahoga Community College, all under one roof. "It's a pioneering concept," says Brunswick economic development manager Tim Smith. "It just didn't seem practical for all of them to open their own satellite branches." Brunswick City Schools also made additions to six schools, as well as a $5 million renovation of Brunswick High School stadium.