Mayor's Report

This month begins the last of the summer concert series on Thursday evenings at the gazebo in Downtown Willoughby and the season’s final concert at Osborne Park on August 30th. We hope you will be part of these great summer traditions before the school year begins.

And speaking of schools, I would like to thank the students, teachers, and volunteers from Edison and Grant Elementary Schools for visiting City Hall, our Police and Fire Departments, and the Willoughby Municipal Court to learn more about city government. We hope you enjoyed your day as much as we enjoyed your attention, questions, and for some of you, being Mayor for the Day!

Another school worth mentioning is the former Willoughby Union High School. We are happy to announce that the developers for the conversion of this landmark building received an Ohio Historic Preservation Tax Credit of $2 million that will help move this project forward. The total renovation represents a $21 million investment in our city and, as importantly, saves and preserves an iconic historic building facing Wes Point Park. As the plans for this development are further refined, the developer has committed to hosting public meetings to review his design and project schedule.

And in other school-related news, we would like to remind you that, at the beginning of the school year, we will see an increase in pedestrian and vehicle traffic near all the school district facilities. Please obey speed limits and remain watchful for students, parents, and buses.

Finally, the mayors of Willoughby, Eastlake, Willowick, and Willoughby Hills, along with County Commissioner Rich Regovich, recently shared lunch with our new school superintendent Dr. Patrick Ward. Dr. Ward holds two Masters of Science degrees and a Doctorate in K-12 leadership. He is well known in the academic community, former principal of Willoughby South High School, and is a Willoughby resident. Our conversation was open, candid, and honest. Dr. Ward shared his short and long-term goals with an emphasis on listening, understanding, and implementing. His cabinet reorganization and leadership approach are refreshing, and we are confident he will quickly gain the confidence of the parents, teachers, staff, and, most importantly, our students. We look forward to the many exciting changes he and his team will bring to Willoughby-Eastlake Schools.

Please enjoy the remaining summer days safely. We hope that students and parents look forward to the first day of school, as author Jenny Han does when she says, “I’ve always loved the first day of school better than the last day of school. Firsts are best because they are beginnings.”