Columbus Monthly Special Section: New Albany Suburban Section

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A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

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WELCOME TO NEW ALBANY!

COMMUNITY CONNECTS US After 2020, I’m very appreciative of our ability to gather again in person as a community and play host to some notable events here in New Albany. We are proud to welcome Pelotonia to our town and excited for riders to finish their routes at our new Rose Run Park. The New Albany Walking Classic— America’s biggest walking race—returns as a live event, and the A&F Challenge and ThanksForGiving 4-Miler Thanksgiving Day run and walk are other active wellness events here this year.

A THRIVING TOWN CENTER The Columbus Metropolitan Library – New Albany branch, Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts and Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany are all close to each other in the heart of town, and these venues are surrounded by an ever-expanding list of restaurants and shops that now includes BrewDog. We are also very excited about the grand opening of the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater in late August, which is located next door to the McCoy Center, and Rose Run Park literally bridges all these community assets together via Raines Crossing. Residents and visitors will be able to dine at many different restaurants and enjoy a nature stroll through Rose Run Park before attending a performance at either the McCoy Center or Hinson Amphitheater.

Inside

NEW ALBANY INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS PARK The New Albany International Business Park, the largest planned commercial park in Ohio and one of the largest in the Midwest, now represents $6 billion in private investment and 16,000 jobs. Businesses include Abercrombie & Fitch, AEP, Aetna, Amgen, Bath & Body Works, Facebook, Google and Lower, and every business in the park is served by triple-feed electricity with access to a robust fiber-optic network. We also boast a small business and entrepreneur incubator, Innovate New Albany, which offers the everpopular TIGER Talks throughout the year. If your company is considering a move or expansion, I recommend you put New Albany at the top of your consideration list.

A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section

Columbus Site Manager

Alan Miller

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Ray Paprocki

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contributors

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Digital

A+ SCHOOLS & CITY SERVICES Our 200-acre New Albany-Plain Local School learning campus, surrounded by 80 acres of woodlands, wetlands and nature preserves, is nationally recognized and among the top 3 percent of public schools in all of Ohio, and city staff goes the extra mile to keep New Albany safe and well-maintained while providing a high level of customer service in the process.

I invite you to stop by during one of our upcoming events or take a weekend walk on one of our 55 miles of leisure trails to see for yourself just how special New Albany is. Come and meet a new friend—just be prepared to want to stay!

Mayor Sloan Spalding

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62 E. Broad St. P.O. Box 1289 Columbus, OH 43216 614-888-4567

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section is published by Gannett. All contents of this magazine are copyrighted © Gannett Co., Inc. 2021, all rights reserved. Reproduction or use, without written permission, of editorial or graphic content in any manner is prohibited.

Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited materials.

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Residents are supported by interpersonal connections.

Two new public facilities make their official debut this summer.

Public-private partnerships lead to a flourishing community.

Data points and important information about the city

Explore New Albany’s housing stock through the eyes of residents.

Stellar public and private options offer something for everyone.

LIFESTYLES

New Venues

BUSINESS

BY THE NUMBERS

HOUSING

EDUCATION

ON THE COVER: New Albany’s Independence Day 2021 5K Run & Walk benefiting the New Albany Symphony Orchestra | Photo by James DeCamp

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photo: James DeCamp

This is an exciting time for our community, from being recognized as the best city to live in Ohio and one of the best places to live in the United States by 24/7 Wall Street to being named the safest city in Ohio by Safety.com, a leading home security and safety advocacy website. While the aspirational nature and natural beauty of New Albany are always on display to our visitors, relationships are the key to our community success. I’ve never lived anywhere that is more welcoming than New Albany.

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The New Albany Women’s Network helped fund a Homework Help Center for students in the New Albany Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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Lifestyles

Weaving a Tapestry of Support Community partnerships and a spirit of generosity are common threads in New Albany.

By Nicholas Youngblood

Photo: James DeCamp

New Albany is more than a suburb of Columbus—it’s a rapidly expanding community in its own right, and that’s no accident. The city’s success is the result of careful planning and tight-knit partnerships between city officials, nonprofits and business partners, all with the goal of making New Albany a great place to live, work and play.

“All these entities work together. I’ve never seen anybody, any community, do it quite the way we do,” says Craig Mohre, president of The New Albany Community Foundation.

The Foundation was formed in 1995 with a simple mission: Help build an extraordinary community. Since then, it has become the backbone of many of New Albany’s most ambitious endeavors.

In fact, the Foundation’s four core values—lifelong learning, arts and culture, health and wellness, and environmental sustainability—have been adopted as the pillars of the city.

In addition to helping fund the New Albany Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater and other structures that tie the city together, the Foundation has awarded millions in grants to various organizations that aim to improve New Albany.

One such organization is the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, founded in 2007 after the construction of the McCoy Center. Co-founder Heather Garner says a key goal of the orchestra is to make classical music more accessible to every member of the community. Many of the orchestra’s 140 members are neighbors and friends, which Garner says breaks down the traditional stuffiness of the symphony. “What I’m always trying to do in my programming is break barriers,” she says. “I think music is for everyone. We want everyone to feel welcome and invited.”

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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In that vein, the orchestra has extensive youth programs and sensory-friendly concerts for guests with special needs. “Music is such a wonderful therapy for so many people, and it’s meant to be for everyone. And people shouldn’t feel like they can’t come,” Garner says.

“It makes me really sad to think that someone feels like they wouldn’t be welcome in the concert hall.”

Garner says she is looking forward to summer performances in the new Charleen & Charles Heather Garner Hinson Amphitheater.

The amphitheater represents the latest effort in a decades-long initiative to improve outdoor living in New Albany. According to Scott McAfee, New Albany’s chief communications and marketing officer, the city is home to more than 2,000 acres of green space, and most neighborhoods are within a quarter-mile of a park. About 55 miles of trails connect New Albany’s town center to Amphitheater advocates at the new venue; from left, Janelle Coleman of the AEP Foundation; Victor its business park and residential areas.

Paini of Facebook; Heather Garner of the New Albany Symphony Orchestra; City Councilmember Just across the street from the amphiMatt Shull; donors Marty and Lisa Savko, Marty Savko Jr., and Lynne and Martyn Redgrave; and Plain Township Trustee Dave Ferguson theater lies the new Rose Run Park, set

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: top, Lorn Spolter; Bottom, James DeCamp (2)

Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts

As partners in a master-planned community, New Albany collaborates with our residents and businesses to create a shared vision for the future that brings people together to do more than just live or work. It’s a friendly, inclusive community that makes you feel at home, encourages a healthy, active lifestyle, nurtures the creative spirit, invests in lifelong learning, supports business and protects the environment for future generations. It’s more than a place, it’s a way of life.

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Cyclists gather before a training ride at the Heit Center.

The New Albany Walking Classic winds through the Market & Main Street area each September.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: Top left and bottom, Lisa Hinson; Top right, James Decamp

for dedication in August (see Page 16).

McAfee says these new developments are part of the city’s commitment to create even more green spaces. The outdoor recreation spaces are beneficial to the area and the local environment.

“Events are important to the community— whether it’s Founders Day, that literally celebrates our founding fathers, or July Fourth, or something like The Walking Classic that helps bring people together,” McAfee says.

“And I think when you combine that with this notion of sustainability and doing things that are good for the environment, it’s just this natural tie together to move forward with both of those things simultaneously.”

McAfee says New Albany has started many initiatives to reduce the city’s environmental impact. LED traffic lights, solar panels, stormwater cleaning systems and electric or biodiesel city service vehicles are just some of the ways the city is investing in a sustainable future. McAfee thinks smaller communities like New Albany can make a difference. “Every marathon begins with one small step,” he says. “I definitely believe that communities our size, and com-

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Creeking in Rose Run

munities larger, can make a positive impact in these areas.”

New Albany residents make great use of the outdoor spaces for their own health, as well. The city is home to The New Albany Walking Classic, the largest walking race in North America, according to its website.

Dave Wharton, director of New Albany Parks and Recreation, says the community works hard to stay on top of its residents’ recreational needs. His team has developed more than 200 acres of land for programming and runs sports leagues for youth and adults alike, ranging from soccer to pickleball to esports. As well as promoting healthier living, these programs have made for a healthier community. “I’m still good friends with the parents of the kids [my kids played with when they] were 6 and 7 years old playing soccer,” Wharton says. “So you formulate friendships and relationships throughout the whole community.”

New Albany’s leaders know there’s more to health than just fitness, however. That’s why Healthy New Albany offers endless ways for residents to improve their well-being. Healthy New Albany is a nonprofit organization aimed at promoting healthy living that spun off from

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Top, a Healthy New Albany Senior Connections meeting; bottom left and right, residents enjoy a walkable town center with shops and eateries.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: James Decamp

the Walking Classic in 2010, with support from The New Albany Community Foundation. Services include a farmers market, community garden, senior programs, a yoga school and the New Albany Food Pantry.

During a year marred by the Angela Douglas COVID-19 pandemic, executive director Angela Douglas says Healthy New Albany stepped up to offer cooking classes, nature programs and a huge expansion of its food pantry. She adds that many of Healthy New Albany’s programs are made possible with community cooperation.

“If I’m going to host an event, or I need support for something, I know that I can reach out to other nonprofits or city leaders … and get their support,” Douglas says.

“That’s a tremendous benefit. You don’t get a lot of competition—you get a lot of collaboration—and I think that’s really special.”

Photo: James Decamp

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As well as food, the pantry provides health care, child care, furniture, clothing and even English language learning services for New Albany’s growing immigrant population.

“The community support that we’ve received has been pretty amazing—from individual donors and corporate,” says director Jennifer Wilcoxon. “People have stepped up and really come out to help.”

That same can-do attitude extends beyond those who support the pantry, however.

Another pair of community leaders, Sarah Ryan and Vineetha Thomas, are helping to turn that generous spirit into meaningful action through New Albany Bridges. The duo volunteer their time to direct a network of advocates who connect people in need with the resources they require through an online forum with more than 400 subscribers. These advocates are embedded in the New AlbanyPlain Local School District, the New Albany Food Pantry and local religious organizations.

The forum helps locals find everything from mattresses and clothing to gift cards and rent payments, mostly from anonymous donors.

“Helping with this organization helps me feel like I’m doing something substantial. I’m helping my community,” says Thomas.

New Albany Farmers Market

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The people who donate seem to feel the same way. Ryan says the strong community bonds make sure nobody slips through the cracks. “I think it’s just the kindness—spreading the love, giving someone a smile,” she says. “Kindness has never been so easy.”

The last year has put stress on New Albany residents, just like any other community. Luckily, there are programs in the city for residents who require mental health support, as well. Wellbeing Connection, a nonprofit founded by Sarah Underhill and Diane Herman, aims to make mental health a priority in New Albany. Support groups, counseling connections, yoga classes and online resources are just a few of the ways Wellbeing Connection is reaching out.

“We have such leadership here, and people are willing to step up and lead, and I think that’s given me the courage to do it myself,” Underhill says.

Sarah Underhill and a volunteer staff a Wellbeing Connection table at a community event.

The New Albany Community Foundation’s 25th Anniversary Since then, the Foundation has continued to promote lifelong learning and cultural development through programs big and small. Whether it’s a homework help center, Safety Town or a mental health campaign, the Foundation is always finding ways to improve residents’ lives.

A flagship initiative of the Foundation is its lecture series, which has brought thought leaders such as Newt Gingrich, Sanjay

The New Albany Lecture Series

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

“Shared experiences are Gupta, Michael Phelps and Glenn ways that people can come Close to the community together and get to to discuss politics, know one another—be social justice, menneighbors and care tal health, history for one another,” says and more. The Foundation president Foundation also Craig Mohre. “So, donates books whether it’s attending authored by these a lecture [or] ... raising influential figures to Craig Mohre money for COVID assistance local youth so they can for the food pantry, those are the attend student-specific lectures things the Foundation can do to and connect with larger-than-life strengthen community bonds.” figures in a down-to-earth way.

Photos: Top, Courtesy Wellbeing Connection; Bottom, James DeCamp (2)

A common thread that runs through nearly all the great efforts in New Albany is The New Albany Community Foundation. In 25 years, the Foundation has given $18.5 million in community grants and helped manage 70-plus funds established by local families and businesses, beginning with the New Albany Branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, which was dedicated in 2003 after the Foundation raised over $1 million for the books and materials.

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Photo: James DeCamp

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Underhill has been open about her own struggles in an effort to destigmatize mental health in the city, and it’s working. She says people reach out to her daily about getting help. “You don’t get help until you start sharing,” she adds. “You don’t really use resources, unless you’re willing to share with someone.”

Just like its robust public programs, New Albany’s supportive community was no accident. Nobody knows that better than Cherie Nelson, executive director of the New Albany Chamber of Commerce.

Before taking up her current position, Nelson helped form the New Albany Women’s Network, among other community endeavors. Since she moved to the city 20 years ago, Cherie Nelson she has been working tirelessly to bring people together. The chamber pools the entrepreneurial spirit of the city to drive its development forward, in addition to guiding young professionals and planning community celebrations.

The New Albany Women’s Network is another thread in New Albany’s tightknit fabric. The organization is focused on improving the lives of women and children in the city through philanthropy, social events, networking and more.

Since its inception in 1998, NAWN has donated more than $1 million to other groups and started countless initiatives for local women.

NAWN hosts events for young professionals, new moms, empty nesters and everyone in between. “You can meet various women [at] different ages and different stages of our lives that you probably wouldn’t have met,” says president Terri Erlenbach. “And it’s a great opportunity to socially meet, connect, give back to the community—a community we all love.”

Through careful planning and constant collaboration, New Albany has become a perfect spot for industrious people from all walks of life. No matter what a resident’s ambitions are, friendly faces in New Albany will step up and pitch in.

“I feel like the entrepreneurial spirit kind of flows through everyone’s veins here,” says Douglas. “So if you have a great idea, and you are passionate about something, you can usually get a good group of people behind you to make it happen.”

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Raines Crossing at Rose Run Park

New Venues

Creating Community through Connections New Albany unites residents with a new park and amphitheater in the Village Center.

Residents of New Albany will see two new public space dedications in the Village Center this summer, expanding gathering spaces to connect community members within the heart of the city.

After nearly two decades of research and three years of construction, Rose Run Park has finally come together along both sides of Rose Run, a stream running mostly parallel to Dublin-Granville Road. The gorgeous park offers a new plaza, terraces for outdoor performances, a reading garden, children’s play spaces and even stream access, complete with donated nets and other materials to explore native plants and animals.

The park, which runs between Market and Main streets, grew out of a desire to create a linear park space out of the stream’s corridors, according to Adrienne Joly, director of administrative services for the City of New Albany, who oversaw the construction and development of the park. Initially a barrier between the New Albany-Plain Local Schools campus and Market Square, the stream now has several bridges spanning it.

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“We rebuilt it in a way that was safer for people that are walking and people that are riding their bikes,” Joly says, noting how the park connects the school campus with the library, restaurants, shops and more.

“And we also still have provided the vital vehicular connection for the Village Center,” she adds, referencing the reconstruction of Dublin-Granville Road that coincided with the park’s construction.

“One of the really unique and significant things about New Albany is that we’ve tried to build a community that’s built on traditional urban design and planning principles, where we have all these civic uses in one area—and I think Rose Run Park, now that it’s open, serves as a glue to connect all of these pieces,” Joly says. “I think that’s really important in making a space that people want to come to and that also, in turn, builds community.”

Rose Run Park opened in 2019, but COVID delayed the dedication until Aug. 28, 2021. The nearby Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater, however, will have its grand opening and dedication ceremony as

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

planned on Aug. 31. That celebration will include two hours of free performances for the public.

Scott McAfee, New Albany’s chief communications and marketing officer, says the amphitheater is a fantastic new venue that works in conjunction with the McCoy Center for the Arts to bring performances, festivals and more to the heart of the city. An intimate venue capable of seating approximately 800 people, the amphitheater will host a benefit featuring “Hamilton” star Leslie Odom Jr. on Sept. 23 to raise money for future programming , according to Craig Mohre, president of presenting organization The New Albany Community Foundation.

“It’s going to be another outstanding gathering place for the community to come together for shared experiences, whether it’s performances or community events or school events,” Mohre says. “This was accomplished much in the same way as other signature venues in New Albany: through collaboration. ... That’s just become a way we get things done.”

Photo: Lisa Hinson

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Lower and Bob Evans offices at the New Albany International Business Park

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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Business

Room to Grow How collaboration, planning and a thriving community draw big business to New Albany’s International Business Park

By Virginia Brown

Photo: James DeCamp

Last year was big for Ohio business.

Despite a global pandemic, the state secured the top spot in Site Selection magazine’s Governor’s Cup rankings for total projects per capita. One town boasted three of the top 25 projects, which helped fuel the state’s success: New Albany.

Public-private partnerships define and distinguish the town’s development. Since the New Albany International Business Park— the largest master-planned business park in the state—was founded in 1998, the city, in partnership with The New Albany Company, has launched roughly $6 billion in public and private investment.

Facebook invested $1.4 billion alone in the business park, and new projects by Amazon and Google were among the entire state’s largest economic development projects all year.

The business park began around 20 years ago with less than 1,000 jobs on site and today has grown to nearly 16,000 jobs. In June, a leading global biotechnology company, Amgen, announced plans to invest $365 million to build a new facility in the business park, creating 400 new permanent jobs.

This could not have been achieved without forward-thinking civic leadership that believed in the importance of strategic planning and investing in infrastructure to accommodate the needs of growing businesses.

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ome back to th c l e e W

New Albany’s Home for the Arts Visit McCoyCenter.org for more information.

City Council and staff at Google’s 2019 groundbreaking, left to right: Joseph Stefanov, Mike Durik, Matt Shull, Colleen Briscoe, Mayor Sloan Spalding, Jennifer Chrysler, Marlene Brisk and Chip Fellows

One Columbus, the City of New Albany and About a dozen community partners, The New Albany Company, as well as including The New Albany Company, additional partners such as AmeriRev1 Ventures, the New Albany can Electric Power, have worked Chamber of Commerce and together to attract global American Electric Power (AEP) companies to the state and Transmission, among others, region that have generated routinely partner to ensure the thousands of construction and region’s thriving future. permanent jobs.”

One such partner is Bill That kind of investment Ebbing, president and CEO of takes trust and commitment from The New Albany Company, which Bill Ebbing outside organizations, too. helps manage the development of the Fintech company Lower, which facilitates roughly 5,000-acre New Albany International the home-buying process for clients nationBusiness Park, in addition to residential neighwide, moved to the park in 2017. Since then, borhoods, a country club and the town center. the company has added another campus and “Collaboration has been the key to sucemploys more than 850 in the city. cess in New Albany,” says Ebbing. “JobsOhio,

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Lower’s offices

Photos: Top, Courtesy City of New Albany; Middle, courtesy The New Albany Company; Bottom, courtesy jeffrey horvath

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Facebook, Google, Amgen, Lower and other innovators all saw the same thing in New Albany.

The future.

They saw a business park with a clear vision of tomorrow. They saw the strength of our technological infrastructure. They saw one of the nation’s most robust and affordable fiber optic networks, triple electric feeds and the power of tremendous bandwidth.

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To thrive. And look ahead with confidence.

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New Albany City Councilmembers celebrate the opening of Facebook; left to right, Kasey Kist, Matt Shull, Marlene Brisk and Mike Durik

“New Albany’s leadership is businessminded, from tax incentives and credits to their willingness to listen to the companies in the city,” says Dan Snyder, co-founder and CEO of Lower. “Any growing business wants to be part of a thriving community that’s attracting the best companies in the world. It opens doors for collaborations, ensures proper investments into infrastructure, and helps get your name out there on a broader scale.”

At its Transmission Headquarters, AEP employs roughly 1,000 people between two buildings in the park. The teams are responsible for running the company’s high-voltage transmission grid, from the engineering and

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Red Roof corporate headquarters

design of new transmission facilities to monitoring the flow of energy over the nation’s largest transmission system.

“New Albany offered a number of benefits, including access to high-speed data networks that are necessary to monitor our facilities,” says Scott Blake with AEP. “In addition, the site offered the convenience of being close to our headquarters in Downtown Columbus, with enough flexibility to grow as our needs evolve.”

New Albany is close to State Route 161, with five interchanges that provide quick access in and out of town. The city is just 5 minutes from the I-270 loop, 7 minutes from the Easton shopping district, 10 minutes to

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

John Glenn Columbus International Airport, and 20 minutes from Rickenbacker International Airport. Plus, more than half of the North American population is located within 500 miles of the region.

In 2019, global giant Google joined the park. At the $600 million data center, Google employs computer technicians, engineers, and others in food services, maintenance and security roles.

“Our site selection team searches the globe for the best locations and communities to build our high-tech data centers,” says Google site leader Rich McMunn. “New Albany stood out not only because of the readily available robust infrastructure and available

Photos: Clockwise from top, Courtesy City of New Albany; James DeCamp; Robb McCormick Photography

AEP Transmission’s offices

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land, but also due to the talent pipeline that has been developed here and the sense of community and partnership that has been fostered over the last several years.”

He also points to a streamlined process New Albany offers companies to move quickly and efficiently. The New Albany Company’s Ebbing says this is by design.

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

“The city looks at economic development like the private businesses,” he says. “They work at the speed of business, not the speed of government.”

According to New Albany Economic Development, the town is 25 percent faster in permitting than competing locations and has simplified the site selection, relocation

Photos: James DeCamp

The city’s economic development team

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and expansion processes. Zoning and infrastructure needs are also streamlined, creating a one-stop-shop experience for relocating businesses.

Facebook broke ground on its facility in 2017 and officially started serving traffic through the data center in 2020.

“Our site came shovel- and technologyready, which allowed us to move forward quickly on our project,” says Facebook representative Amber Tillman. “We have lots of suppliers and partners from all over the country, so being centrally located near Columbus is helpful, as it’s easy to get to no matter where you’re coming from.”

Through Innovate New Albany, startup companies gain access to space and guidance from other public and private businesses to propel them to success.

In partnership with Rev1 Ventures, one of the top five technology incubators in the country, Innovate New Albany has created TechStart New Albany, which helps companies achieve their goals by providing necessary people, information and funding.

New Albany’s business success not only complements but reflects the commu-

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

25

nity’s overall focus on health, wellness and community buy-in.

“Our strategic plan helps guide us for decisions that we make with respect to capital infrastructure investments. [It is] what helps us establish infrastructure that’s needed in the community, so we can create shovel-ready and technology-ready sites for businesses,” says Jennifer Chrysler, director of community development for the City of New Albany.

The city’s strategic plan supports four pillars: lifelong learning, the arts, health and wellness, and sustainability.

“Businesses have always been looking for quality life for their employees, in a place where they can thrive financially,” Chrysler notes. “Through our strategic plan, we have eliminated the concern that their employees won’t have a high quality of life. What they also see is that we have community and political consensus. … We get input from the community, so they feel like they’re located in a place that’s moving forward together and growing together.”

Leisure trails, for example, connect the business park to the Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, a community health

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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and wellness facility, and the main town center. A farmers market at Market Square showcases local produce, baked goods, pastries, local honey, coffee and other seasonal items each Thursday afternoon from June through September.

The community garden offers plots for residents in a peaceful park between Village Hall and the police station. The library and post office are centrally located in the area, too.

“We’re a fintech company, so our main resource is people,” says Snyder of Lower.

“New Albany’s well-cared-for community is attractive to potential team members.”

Through the year, the New Albany Chamber also hosts popular community events, including an Independence Day parade and festival and Taste of New Albany, featuring music and samples from restaurants, caterers, specialty food vendors, craft breweries and area distilleries. Later in the year, Oktoberfest and a holiday tree-lighting draw festive crowds.

Each season, the Jeanne B. McCoy Community Center for the Arts, which opened in 2008, welcomes thousands through its doors to continue the area’s thriving appreciation for arts and culture. And soon, the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater will host resident arts groups, such as the New Albany Symphony Orchestra, New Albany Community Chorus, Community Band, dance groups and area school groups.

The center of town is not only full of boutiques and galleries, but also serves as a gathering place for those at the New AlbanyPlain Local Schools learning campus, and the Rose Run Corridor Greenway promotes an active lifestyle.

Along Market Street, boutique shop Elliot Cooper draws shoppers in search of men’s and women’s apparel plus accessories, baby gifts, home goods and more. Truluck Boutique is another area go-to, with other shops like Pet People, Learning Express, Hayley Gallery and more nearby.

Popular national restaurant chains, from Freshii to Mellow Mushroom, mix with some of the top local go-tos, like coffee- and baked-goods staple Fox in the Snow Café.

Sweet treats at Johnson’s Ice Cream and Whit’s Frozen Custard are always a draw, as is the Rusty Bucket Restaurant & Tavern.

Mainstays like Starbucks and Hudson 29 are located in the town center, and soon, international craft brew hotspot BrewDog will open.

It’s no wonder that, with a strategic vision, public-private collaboration and a focus on a well-lived community, New Albany continues to attract top businesses.

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By the Numbers

NEW ALBANY AT A GLANCE It’s no secret that New Albany is a desirable community for a wide range of lifestyles, but what exactly makes it so successful? Effective and comprehensive strategic planning from Day 1 is a major component, but the city’s residents truly set it apart as one of the country’s best places to live. Here’s a look at the demographics behind those residents, as well as the city at large.

Best city to live in Ohio

98.6%*

78.5%*

High school grad

College grad

(24/7 Wall St.)

3,587 Number of homes

16.83 0.34

Homes per acre (by far the lowest of comparable Central Ohio cities)

$203,409* Median household income

square feet of office space

employees

$497,800* Median home value (owner-occupied home units)

$6 billion in private investment

One of “America’s Best 50 Cities to Live” (USA Today )

Newly added civic uses:

55+

Miles of leisure trail

Rose Run Park

Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater

Miracle Field

Michael Lucey Memorial Basketball Courts

2,000+ acres of Parkland

*Source: U.S. Census July 2019 data (2020 data not yet available at time of printing)

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: Left to right, James DeCamp; Alan Hinson; Deana white; Courtesy City of New Albany

Population estimate

12 million

16,000

Square miles (approximately 10,800 acres)

10,933*

Business Park

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Housing

New Albany’s Many Faces A look at the city’s housing options, seen through the eyes of those who live there

By Peter Tonguette From its high-performing school district to its ample arts and culture offerings to winding leisure trails, the city of New Albany has services and amenities to spare. To its nearly 11,000 residents, however, the city is simply a comfortable place to call home.

New Albany meets the needs of families and individuals of all backgrounds and needs through a diverse, robust housing stock, including its signature neighborhoods, such as the New Albany Country Club neighborhood, as well as apartments, 55+ communities and senior living facilities.

“When the first homes of the New Albany Country Club Community debuted in the 1991 BIA Parade of Homes, it was unclear at the time what the demand would be,” says Jack Kessler, chairman Jack Kessler of The New Albany Company. “Today, it’s so gratifying to see how the neighborhoods have matured, how the variety of residential options have grown throughout the community and to witness New Albany blossom in a way that none of us could have imagined all those years ago.”

Alonna and Jarrod Skinner each grew up in communities where they walked to get where they wanted to go.

“I’m from the West Side of Columbus, and Jarrod is from New York—we are from very walkable neighborhoods,” says Alonna, 41, who works at the New Albany Chamber of Commerce. “We really wanted more of a neighborhood and walkable feel, versus a cutoff subdivision ... one way in and one way out.”

Drawn to New Albany for those qualities, the Skinners, who had already lived in the city for several years, purchased a house in Hampsted Village in 2016. From there, the couple—now parents of a 7-year-old daughter and 2-year-old son—can walk to the nearby Kroger, retail establishments on Market Street and adjacent parks and leisure trails.

“Everything is just a walk away,” says Alonna, pointing to the Fourth of July parade and events sponsored by the Healthy New Albany organization. “There is always something to do for a 2- and a 7-year-old.”

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Of course, among the most important places to walk are the network of buildings that comprise New Albany-Plain Local Schools, the highly rated district that convinced the Skinners to stay put in the community in the first place.

“It’s walkable to the library, walkable to the school,” says Jarrod, also 41, a judge in the Franklin County Municipal Court. “We’re also close to the freeway, so it’s easy for me to get to work. Essentially, one light and I’m on the freeway.”

Ultimately, the Skinners are glad to have found a community where everybody seems to know everybody else. Maybe it’s all that walking? “When you walk around, you see people who you recognize,” Jarrod says. “It’s very friendly.”

Neither have any plans to walk away from New Albany.

“I half-joke that you’re going to have to take me kicking and screaming out of New Albany,” Alonna says, “but there’s probably some truth to that.”

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: Left, Scott Cunningham; Right, James Decamp

Alonna and Jarrod Skinner, Hampsted Village

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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A home in the Windsor neighborhood

For Abe Jacob and Kevin Benson, the benefits of living in New Albany had been visible long before the married couple moved to the Windsor neighborhood last year.

Jacob and Benson most recently lived just outside of Benson’s hometown of Westerville—a hop, skip and jump from New Albany. “We discussed, ‘Do we want to live closer to his parents, up by the Westerville area, or do we just want to go slightly east to New Albany?’ At that point, we were already banking, grocery shopping, [dining at] restaurants [there]— and really noticing just the town itself,” says Jacob, 35, director of government relations at Kallner & Associates.

“New Albany was literally right around the corner,” says Benson, 41, who works in marketing for a commercial real estate company. “Watching it go from the small little farming

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community to what it is today— there’s something appealing with the way [the city] grew, but they still have that kind of tightknit, small-town community.”

The couple settled on Windsor, where they moved last

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

September and were welcomed before a single box had been unpacked. “The day we moved into this house, both neighbors on either side of us came over and introduced themselves,” Jacob says. “The Windsor com-

munity really represents all walks of life, from race to age to [sexual] orientation.”

Not long after moving in, Jacob, active in community involvement, was invited by New Albany Mayor Sloan Spalding to help make the city even more welcoming.

As a member of New Albany’s Inclusion Diversity & Equity Action Committee, Jacob is part of ongoing discussions regarding concerns raised about the name of the Planters Grove neighborhood, which—along with numerous area street names—was originally named to reflect Southern plantations. Renaming Planters Grove is in the offing; another option is to place a marker to explain the history of the name of the neighborhood.

“We’re not brushing it under the rug. But we’re dealing with it head-on, as we properly should,” Jacob says.

Photos: Top, Lisa Hinson; Bottom, James DeCamp

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Vida and Tariq Farwana, Fenway More than two decades ago, when Vida and Tariq Farwana were considering moving from their home in Dublin to New Albany, they were concerned that the suburb was too far removed from the rest of Central Ohio. “We had a few friends that had moved to New Albany and were just singing [its] praises,” Vida says. “But, at the time we felt, ‘Oh, it’s just too far from the rest of the world.’ ” These days, between the city’s numerous amenities and proximity to Easton Town Center and the John Glenn Columbus International Airport, the Farwanas don’t see a need to venture too far from home turf. “Now, I feel like the rest of the world is too far,” says Vida, 60, who worked in IT before eventually switching to home renovation. “I just liked the close-knit community—that everybody knew everybody.”

The Farwanas raised their children—Tara, 29, and Ameen, 27—in the North of Woods neighborhood. “I always brag about how our kids were self-sufficient, biking to and from the [country] club for all their activities, and the various sports that they were involved with, in addition to the school,” says Tariq,

Holley and Matt Rosebaugh traveled a long and winding road to reach New Albany.

As an officer in the U.S. Army, Matt was deployed multiple times to Iraq, Afghanistan and other contingency missions. After marrying Holley in 2009, the couple moved some 10 times in a dozen years. “Every time we moved, I had to transition the business,” says Holley, 40, then a freelance photojournalist.

Finally, the couple, parents to daughters aged 9 and 11, was ready to put down roots. “At our last duty location in Alabama, we made the decision to transition to something a little bit more stable and come back to Ohio,” says Matt, 38, who grew up in Youngstown and remains a reservist in the Army while working fulltime at JPMorgan Chase & Co. (Although Holley was born and raised in New York, her parents are also from Ohio.)

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Thus began their house hunt. “We looked at Grandview, Upper Arlington, New Albany, Dublin, Powell,” says Holley, who now works at a photo editing company.

Pickett Place won out for its proximity to New Albany’s town center and ample leisure trails and parks, especially Rose Run Park. “Rose Run actually runs behind our house—the creek itself,” Holley says.

The couple, who moved last October, bought a house large enough to accommodate multigenerational living; Holley’s parents have moved in with the family of four.

“We wanted something that had the space that allowed us to have our own space, and then have their own space to be able to maintain independence,” Holley says.

One thing is for sure: The Rosebaughs aren’t sticking the “for sale” sign in the yard any time soon. “We are ready to just have a forever home,” Holley says.

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: James DeCamp

Holley and Matt Rosebaugh, Pickett Place

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also 60, the founder and managing director of StrateSphere.

With both children out of the house, the Farwanas thought about downsizing, but then the couple purchased a house in Fenway that Vida had long admired. “I had been in it, and we always appreciated the setting,” she says. “It’s sitting on a pond.” The idea was to renovate the house as an investment, but as work commenced, they started to grow attached to it.

“We more and more and more fell in love with the house,” says Vida, who added about 1,000 square feet, making the house— which they moved into in the summer of 2020—about twice the size of their previous residence in North of Woods.

“Our families are not getting smaller; [they are] potentially getting bigger,” Vida says. “We have adult children, [and] then they can come with their significant others, and who knows what the future holds for them?”

Might that mean grandchildren?

“She doesn’t want to have direct influence on the kids,” Tariq says, “but she’s kind of, by proxy, creating the environment for them.”

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Bonita Ward, Pembrooke was coming from somewhere else,” Bonita says. “I didn’t feel like that outsider.”

Like most New Albany residents, Bonita praises all that the community has to offer, from its leisure trails to the McCoy Center for the Arts, but emphasizes the diversity of the area as a strong point.

With several neighbors, Bonita is part of Cooking With Friends, a group of friends who plan, prepare and (of course) eat meals that reflect global cuisine. Over the years, neighbors who have signed up have included those from Austria to the Philippines.

“It’s always at somebody’s house,” Bonita says. “It’s amazing the menus that we came up with and the different types of food that we [have] had.”

And it’s not just around the dinner table that friends in the community get together.

“Pembrooke is awesome. ... We had that green in the middle of our subdivision, and all it took was one person coming out with a glass of wine,” she says. “All the families would come out, we would order a bunch of pizzas, the kids would be out there playing.”

New Albany Country Club provides additional amenities including golf, tennis, swimming and social activities.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: Top, James DeCamp; Bottom, Courtesy New Albany Country Club

Physician Bonita Ward and her husband, Eric Ward (also a physician), have twice called New Albany home: first in the Hampsted Square neighborhood and, since 2005, in Pembrooke. Over the course of time, the Wards—parents to sons Marcus, 26, and Spencer, 24—have seen the city’s population become increasingly diverse.

“There were more and more African American families moving in— and [people] of other backgrounds,” says Bonita, 57. “We liked that: The diversity was growing.”

In between their time in New Albany, the Wards—Bonita is a soon-to-be-retired pathologist with the Franklin County Coroner’s Office; Eric, 56, is a urologist with OhioHealth—lived in another Central Ohio suburb, one they found less welcoming than what has become their longtime home.

“We were the outsiders,” says Bonita. “Also, being Black, it wasn’t the most friendly. My sons were the only [Black students] in their class.”

In New Albany, by contrast, the family found neighbors who had come to the community from every background. “Everybody

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Chris and Mitch Mink, Courtyards at New Albany Nearing the ages when many of us start to think about retirement, Chris and Mitch Mink began to imagine a future without leaf-raking and grass-cutting.

The Minks moved from Cincinnati to New Albany in 1998, settling in the Planters Grove neighborhood. “We really liked the planned community aspect, with the paths and the country club being sort of the center of the community,” says Chris, 60, who works at 101 Mobility. Mitch, 61, is a sales manager at Mid-State Basement Systems.

“We love Planters Grove,” Chris says. “It was a wonderful place to raise kids.”

But, with grown sons Alex and Andrew now out of the house, the Minks began to reevaluate the need for a high-maintenance home. “We no longer needed the basement and the extra space,” Chris says. “And my husband was ready not to have to take care of a beautiful yard with 55 trees.”

But leaving New Albany? It wasn’t even a consideration.

In the spring of 2020, the Minks moved to the Courtyards at New Albany, a new community tailored to residents age 55 and older.

“We were looking for a maintenance-free home with a great layout that had really nice, useable outdoor space,” Chris says. “We wanted amenities—a pool, a pickleball court, a clubhouse. And we were able to find all of that right here in New Albany.”

Wait a minute: pickleball? It turns out that the game, which bears a passing resemblance to tennis, dominates much of the Minks’ time.

While members of the New Albany Country Club, Mitch and Chris both were avid tennis players. Then they discovered pickleball, and one thing led to another. “It’s very addictive,” Chris says.

But, with their new home, the Minks can go out of town without worrying about who will cut the grass.

“We like to go to Florida and play in pickleball tournaments,” Chris says. “But this will always be our home base.”

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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Education

A Vibrant Learning Community New Albany-Plain Local Schools sets its students up for success.

By Superintendent Michael Sawyers A fall evening sitting in Eagle Stadium cheering on your favorite team, a stroll through the learning campus to connect with the leisure paths, taking in a performance from one of the many talented student groups, the sounds of laughter and joy of kids playing, and, of course, observing students hard at work learning in our schools daily—the New Albany-Plain Local Schools (NAPLS) is truly a special destination grounded by our community.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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Photos: Clockwise from left, Mark Wilson; COurtesy New albany-Plain Local Schools; James DeCamp

Now more than ever, thanks to the recent completion of Rose Run Park and the Charleen & Charles Hinson Amphitheater adjacent to the NAPLS campus by the city of New Albany with support from The New Albany Community Foundation and others, the school district is truly at the heart of the community. The Raines Crossing bridge and the restructuring of Dublin-Granville Road provides students, staff, parents and community members with easy access to the shops, restaurants and amenities at Market Square, the New Albany branch of the Columbus Metropolitan Library, symphonic concerts

and events in Rose Run Park, The Philip Heit Center for Healthy New Albany, evening and weekend picnic pavilions on the playground, ice cream and so much more. The phrase “community connects us” is truly alive in New Albany.

The Learning Community The school district welcomes nearly 5,100 students and more than 600 staff to a vibrant and beautiful campus each day—a “micro-city” serving 26 miles of greater New Albany. Our district mantra, “Students First,” is grounded by our statement of purpose:

to create a culture of accountability that achieves the best academic and developmental outcomes for each student. This purpose drives our daily efforts to support student achievement, student growth and student well-being by providing access to high-quality instruction, a guaranteed and viable curriculum, assessments to measure progress, and social-emotional programs and services for all students.

Situated on 120 acres, connected by treelined walkways and surrounded by an 80-acre nature preserve, the NAPLS campus is one of the most remarkable public school districts

Clockwise from left, New Albany High School’s football team; a New Albany Primary School student shows off her artwork; the New Albany High School robotics team New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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The Class of 2021 celebrates their achievements.

Photo: COurtesy New albany-Plain Local Schools

in the state of Ohio. The district includes five school buildings: New Albany Early Learning Center, New Albany Primary School, New Albany Intermediate School, New Albany Middle School and New Albany High School.

But, according to Class of 2021 valedictorian Aditya Akula, among others, it’s the personal connections that make NAPLS special.

“New Albany’s kind of cool in that everyone’s been together forever,” Akula noted in his speech. “I was in Mrs. Clouse’s a.m. kindergarten, and I’m still friends with people from that class.” Students in New AlbanyPlain Local Schools form special bonds from their time in the classroom, on the playground, on the athletic field or on the stage.

From our classrooms and communities to gymnasiums, theaters, cafeterias, wetlands and land lab, enriching opportunities to grow and learn are everywhere.

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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with academic and social-emotional support, enables the district to demonstrate growth in student learning on formative and summative assessments. While the coronavirus required us to respond to student needs in a variety of ways, learning remained a constant; student data during the 2020-21 school year does not reflect any significant “slide.” We can and will continue to identify opportunities to better meet the needs of all of our students daily.

Connected and Committed Beyond the Classroom From the vibrant impact of the vocal, instrumental and performing arts on our stages to the impact of interscholastic sports on the courts, courses, fields or in the pool, learning continues beyond the classroom walls. Nearly three-fourths of all students

in grades seven-12 actively participate in at least one team, club, group or organization, while other students actively fulfill service requirements to benefit our greater community. Additional collaboration with our local government and businesses provides students with authentic learning experiences and internship opportunities to meet Senior Seminar requirements as we look to expand career pathways for students in the future.

The performing arts at the McCoy Center for the Arts hosts numerous events—high school, middle school and elementary choir, band and orchestra students; middle and high school theater programs; events like the National Honor Society Induction, Junior Achievement BizTown for fifth grade, Entrepreneur Day for fourth grade, sixth grade Sidewalk Chalk Celebration, Carnival

of the Animals for first grade, Lunch on the Lawn, Clap Outs, Bubble Day, Dance Party and other celebrations for our kindergarten and preschool students; and so much more— clearly illustrating how our students connect and commit beyond the classroom.

In fact, the determination and success of our student athletes resulted in state championships during the 2020-21 school year for boys baseball, girls golf, girls swimming and boys tennis doubles, as well as state runnerup in boys soccer, boys tennis and girls lacrosse, and district or regional championships for other student athletes. Our Eagles are truly talented!

Lessons Learned This is an exciting time in New Albany-Plain Local Schools as the district continues

Our Schools

(Enrollment data as of July 2021) New Albany Early Learning Center Pre-K–kindergarten Enrollment: 461 5101 Swickard Woods Blvd., New Albany 614-413-8700 Get involved: elcpto@napls.us

New Albany Intermediate School Grades 4–6 Enrollment: 1,077 177 N. High St., New Albany 614-741-3000 Get involved: naispto@napls.us New Albany Middle School Grades 7–8 Enrollment: 796 6600 E. Dublin-Granville Road, New Albany 614-413-8500 Get involved: mspto@napls.us New Albany High School Grades 9–12 Enrollment: 1,617 7600 Fodor Road, New Albany 614-413-8300 Get involved: nahsptopresident@gmail.com

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New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

Photos: COurtesy New albany-Plain Local Schools

Top, New Albany Primary School students; bottom, the New Albany High School band

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Clockwise from top left, New Albany state championship girls swimmers, state championship boys baseball team, state championship girls golf team and boys tennis doubles state champions.

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While COVID-19 challenged us, we did discover opportunities—like one-way stairwells for better student traffic flow, zoned areas on playgrounds to take advantage of the play space and make it more accessible to kids, hand sanitization as a best practice for all and teleconference technologies for greater efficiency and workflow—that will now continue to benefit our schools.

The pandemic provided a real-world example to practice the R Factor— a culture, behavior and decision-making framework wherein events (E) + response (R) = outcome (O)—and the six disciplines we teach our students. Specifically, the district was not in control of all the events that occurred or the timelines of when information was available to schools; however, we could control how we choose to respond to directly influence the outcomes produced to meet student, staff

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

and family needs. Together, as community partners, we successfully navigated the coronavirus roller coaster in NAPLS. Community Connections Fortunately for NAPLS, we continue to reap the rewards of thoughtful and deliberate planning with local government officials to benefit our schools and taxpayers alike. From the community master plan when it all began to routine present-day discussions with local partners about economic development and financial or enrollment impact to the school district, NAPLS remains at the forefront of community planning.

The district is also fortunate to have the support of a highly engaged parent community and the partnership of many organizations and businesses. Students and teachers are supported by a strong parent-teacher

Photos: COurtesy New albany-Plain Local Schools

its journey to become one of the highestperforming school districts. We successfully navigated the coronavirus roller coaster ride during the 2020-21 school year, when the learning model, operational needs and health and safety protocols were not in our direct control. Regardless of format—a hybrid model, entirely working and learning from home in a virtual learning program or having all in-person learners back on campus—our students, parents, faculty and staff navigated it together as a community.

We welcomed all students, including 1,264 who went to school 100 percent virtually last school year, back to in-person learning on our school campus in August with confidence. We remain committed to providing our students with a “normal” school year, but are prepared to adhere to any public health orders required for pre-K–12 schools.

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Photos: Top, Courtesy Columbus Jewish Day School; Bottom, Courtesy Marburn academy

Making the Grade: Private Schools Offer Options With such a strong public school system, New Albany at first glance doesn’t want for alternative educational options through private facilities.

The two private schools within New Albany city limits—Marburn Academy and the Columbus Jewish Day School—each offer alternative educational options for a unique niche of students.

Since 1981, Marburn Academy has opened its doors to students who have ADHD, dyslexia and other executive function difficulties. It has called New Albany home since moving to a larger, newly built facility there in 2017. As one of only three schools in Ohio that offer specialized classes for students with learning differences, Marburn strives to provide a curated educational experience that prepares its students for life outside of the classroom.

“We like to think of ourselves as a school that specializes in a specific student profile that may need additional support or a different way of thinking about education,” says new head of school Eldrich Carr. Specialized facilities, like a black box theater space and science labs, help support that, he adds.

In addition, Carr notes, Marburn has a plethora of resources available for students that other schools may not be able to offer, including low teacher-student ratios—1:8 for younger children and 1:16 for older children—and up to $1.2 million in financial aid for its families.

Marburn’s holistic approach has even expanded to support students in their post-secondary plans, regardless of whether they include formal education.

While four years ago the school boasted a 100 percent college acceptance rate, Carr says newer approaches help students pursue a personalized experi-

Outdoor learning at Columbus Jewish Day School

Marburn Academy

ence, whether that be military, trade school or college.

Less than a mile away is Columbus Jewish Day School, a religiously progressive kindergarten through fifth-grade Jewish day school that emphasizes integrated learning, holistic teaching and hands-on classroom experiences.

Since 1998, the school has

aimed to teach from a whole-child perspective, incorporating both social-emotional and religious education into its curriculums.

Current head of school Rachel Arcus-Goldburg, who has been in her position for three years, says CJDS is always trying to find ways to access different areas of learning. “One of the

ways that we do that is through integrated learning, which means we really work hard to make sure that we’re connecting dots for our students in as many ways as possible,” she explains.

And as a certified Project WILD school through the Ohio Department of Natural Resources, CJDS’s education expands beyond the classroom.

Students enjoy on-campus flower and vegetable gardens, and hands-on learning experiences bring the classroom outdoors throughout the year.

Butterflies are raised in the classroom and released into the butterfly garden to teach a lesson on life cycles, vegetables in the garden are farmed and then either cooked or donated by students, and courses like biology and ecology have entire curriculums based in the outdoors.

A small teacher-student ratio of just 1:5 allowed for in-person learning during the pandemic, with an even greater reliance than usual on the outdoors as activities like morning prayer moved outside, says ArcusGoldburg. “They could be by the pond praying, or in the butterfly garden, or sitting together and watching the sun come up over the hill, and it was just beautiful.”

CJDS believes in involving the whole child in its teaching curriculums, as well as helping them to understand their role in their religion and life. “We really believe in teaching Judaism as part of an identity, so there’s no wrong way to be practicing Judaism in our mind,” Arcus-Goldburg says.

Marburn Academy, 9555 Johnstown Road, New Albany; 614433-0822, marburnacademy.org; Columbus Jewish Day School, 150 E. Dublin Granville Road, New Albany; 614-939-5311, cjds.org —Eiliana Wright

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

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A recent example includes grant funding from Facebook to support and grow the environmental learning lab on the nature campus to continue to foster programs to benefit students while sustaining the wetlands as part of the preserve.

Building an Inclusive Campus Culture Creating safe, supported and connected schools is paramount and requires daily effort in our school district and the community at large. Local, state and national events often impact our students at school.

While the personal and political beliefs may vary among adults in our community, I believe we have common ground for all to expect that our students have the right to come to school daily in a safe, welcoming and nurturing environment—an environment where all students belong and are treated with kindness.

Our school district is committed to building an inclusive campus culture where all students are safe, supported and connected. We

Clockwise from top left, New Albany High School’s orchestra plays with visiting artists; New Albany High School Debate Team; actress Glenn Close speaks at the 2019 New Albany Student Lecture Series presented

by The New Albany Community Foundation.

46

New Albany: A Columbus Monthly Suburban Section September 2021

will learn from survey data, school committee feedback and professional development sessions completed last school year to inform our path forward in cooperation with our students, faculty, staff, parents and community. The academic and developmental needs of our students are impacted by the culture we define as a school district and community. We must actively listen and continue to engage in open and honest communication about what’s working, what’s not and how we may improve for the betterment of all students and our entire community. We can and will improve, and we need to do so together.

We invite our community to join us in working together to build an inclusive campus culture where all students belong, treat each other with kindness and feel safe, supported and connected.

Michael Sawyers has served as superintendent of New Albany-Plain Local Schools since the 2016-17 school year. Before that, he was the district’s chief of operations and strategic development.

Photos: Top, left and right, COurtesy New albany-Plain Local Schools; bottom, Lorn Spolter

organization in each school. Booster organizations for athletics, band, orchestra and theater help drive and promote the athletic and artistic talents of our students.

New Albany students benefit from the generosity of organizations that help extend learning beyond the classroom. The district partnerships with The New Albany Community Foundation and the McCoy Board of Directors are perfect examples of win-win opportunities for students and the community.

Each year, both organizations award grant dollars to support programs that enhance learning opportunities for our students based on the generosity of community donors.

Programs include the New Albany Student Lecture Series, which has brought worldrenowned speakers, authors, artists and athletes to lecture on specific topics, guest performing artists to instruct and perform with our students, artists in residence and more.

Business partnerships provide a multitude of resources for students to obtain real-world opportunities, internships or resources to support student organizations and activities.

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