Columbus Schools Spent Millions on Buildings Set for Demolition

District invested over $20 million in improvements to schools it plans to tear down

Apr. 1, 2026 at 10:04am

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Columbus City Schools has spent over $20 million in improvements since 2020 on four buildings it plans to demolish, and $13 million more on schools it's closing. The district says the spending was necessary to keep students safe and learning, even in older buildings, but critics question whether it was the best use of funds.

Why it matters

The spending raises questions about the district's long-term planning and whether taxpayer money could have been better utilized. The demolitions also highlight the challenge of balancing the need to maintain aging school infrastructure with the desire to close underperforming or underutilized buildings.

The details

According to records, CCS spent $33.3 million across eight schools it plans to close or demolish, with the majority going towards HVAC system improvements. Over $18 million came from COVID-19 relief funds that expired in 2024. The district says the fixes were necessary, but the teachers union president questions whether it was the best use of money, even if the students deserved adequate conditions.

  • Since 2020, CCS has spent over $20 million on improvements to four buildings it plans to demolish.
  • In December 2025, the CCS board voted unanimously to demolish Broadleigh Elementary, Buckeye Middle School, Moler Elementary and the McGuffey Road school building housing Columbus Alternative High School.
  • The demolitions would not happen before the 2026-2027 school year.

The players

Columbus City Schools

The public school district serving the city of Columbus, Ohio.

Michael Cole

Former president of the CCS board, who said the district wanted to demolish the buildings to avoid blight in the community.

John Coneglio

President of the Columbus Education Association teachers union, who questioned whether the spending was the best use of funds.

Mike Brown

CCS spokesperson, who said the district has a long list of buildings to maintain and that the fixes were necessary to keep students safe and learning.

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What they’re saying

“We wanted to make sure we closed these buildings, and also do the due diligence to demolish. We want to make sure that the neighborhood school footprint is strong and vibrant and at the same time make sure the assets we have to close don't stand as blighted objects in our community.”

— Michael Cole, Former CCS Board President

“Was it the best use of money? Probably not. Do our kids deserve those environments? Yes, they do.”

— John Coneglio, President, Columbus Education Association

“These fixes were necessary to keep our students safe, warm, dry and learning, even in older buildings that many thought should have closed in the past.”

— Mike Brown, CCS Spokesperson

What’s next

The CCS board has not outlined further details about the building demolitions since approving them in December. The district says it will assess the feasibility of salvaging any assets from the buildings marked for demolition.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult balance school districts must strike between maintaining aging infrastructure and closing underutilized buildings. While the spending may have been necessary in the short-term, questions remain about whether the funds could have been better utilized for long-term strategic planning.