Julie Billiart Schools, a network of private, Catholic K-8 schools for children with learning and social differences, plans to open its fourth campus in August 2024. The newest campus will be located at 8611 Wiese Road, Brecksville, in the former Chippewa Elementary School.
Brecksville City Council and Planning Commission voted on Nov. 15, 2022 to approve JBS’ purchase of the building.
The JBS Board of Directors approved JB Brecksville to open in the fall of 2024 to grades K-4. In 2025, the school will open to grades K-8. Like JBS’ campuses in Lyndhurst, Akron and Westlake, JB Brecksville will be strategically designed and staffed to support children with mild to moderate autism, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, dyslexia and other learning differences.
“We are blessed to be able to bring our educational model to families in Brecksville and surrounding communities,” said Lannie Davis-Frecker, president and CEO of Julie BIlliart Schools. “Our existing schools often operate from a waitlist because the need is so great. Now, we’re able to offer our unique education to even more children and families who need a specialized school setting.”
Renovations and environmental upgrades will begin this summer. JBS will renovate the 42,000- square-foot school building to include main classrooms, resource rooms, sensory areas, therapy rooms, specially designed calming zones and plenty of space to learn and play. JB Brecksville will offer a 6:1 student-teacher ratio in primary grades and an 8:1 ratio for grades 3-8, two intervention specialists per grade, an onsite board certified behavior analyst and onsite speech, occupational, music and art therapies.
JBS officials said they are eager to collaborate with the Brecksville-Broadview Heights School District, adding JBS received a warm welcome from the school district and community.
“There are a variety of ways the two schools intend to collaborate, out of care and compassion for our students and staff, including through joint, ongoing speaker series of guests who can empower and inspire our staffs, along with various professional development opportunities we plan to conduct together,” said Joelle Magyar, Brecksville-Broadview Heights superintendent.
JB Brecksville will be accredited by the Ohio Catholic Schools Accrediting Association as part of the Catholic Diocese of Cleveland through the state of Ohio. The school will follow the Cleveland Catholic Diocese and Ohio Department of Education course of studies. Julie Billiart Schools are providers of the Jon Peterson Scholarship and the Autism Scholarship Programs. All JB students in Akron, Lyndhurst and Westlake receive some form of tuition support.
JBS will begin hiring intervention specialists, therapists and support staff this year. JB Brecksville will have open houses for interested families later this year. To learn more, click here.