At the opening ceremonies for Breakthrough Schools’ new Woodland Hills gymnasium, students got a chance to try out the new facilities (Photo by Ashley Lemley, Jetpack Group). CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE THEM.
Facilities offer hub for community events
Breakthrough Public Schools held a grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony this week for its new gymnasium and multi-purpose space at the Breakthrough Woodland Hills Campus, 9201 Crane Ave. in Cleveland. The new facilities offer a modern, affordable and safe hub for school and community activities.
The ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Jan. 29 at the school, located at Union Avenue and East 93rd Street. There, officials touted the $2.9 million project saying it will enhance Breakthrough scholars’ athletics, foster academic enrichment, and promote neighborhood engagement.
“The Woodland Hills gym represents more than a new facility: it’s a promise to our scholars and our community, said Andrew McRae, CEO of Breakthrough Public Schools, in a written statement.
“This state-of-the-art, fully accessible space expands what’s possible for sports, wellness, and extended learning, while serving as a hub where scholars and the broader Woodland Hills community can come together, grow, and thrive,” he added.
The expansion project, designed and built by Marous Brother Construction of Willoughby, brings to life Breakthrough Schools’ commitment to teaching community responsibility, as the new space will host neighborhood meetings and events, and serve as an election polling site.
As seen along Union Avenue, looking east toward the intersection of East 93rd Street, the new gymnasium and multi-use center provide a new hub for the community (Marous).
The project also aligns with the Breakthrough Public Schools’ goal to provide exceptional resources that foster active, joyful learning for students from kindergarten through 8th grade. NEOtrans broke the story about this project almost exactly one year ago.
“This gym is not just a building — it’s an investment in our students’ health, confidence, and future,” said Dustin Kenn, a physical education teacher at Breakthrough Public Schools’ Woodland Hills Campus. “I’m thankful to be able to teach in a space that inspires kids to enjoy movement and take pride in being active.”
Breakthrough scholars are eager to use the new gymnasium and multi-purpose space, which measures nearly 10,000-square feet, and includes bleachers, a scoreboard, basketball hoops, volleyball inserts, accessible restrooms, and its own entrance for events outside of school hours.
“I like the new gym because it gives us more space and more room to be athletes and students,” said A. Miliner, a seventh-grade student at the Woodland Hills Campus. “I also like the new gym because it is good for our games and other sporting activities.”
The new gymnasium and multi-purpose space was made possible through Friends of Breakthrough Schools’ comprehensive fundraising efforts. It included donations from the Louise H. and Davis S. Ingalls Foundation, the Bruening Foundation and the Thompson Family Foundation.
Cutting the ribbon on the Woodland Hills’ new school facilities are, at center, Andrew McRae, CEO of Breakthrough Schools and, at right, Ron Brownrigg, principal of Woodland Hills, while school students and staff at left look on (Photo by Ashley Lemley, Jetpack Group).
Additional funds came from the Badwater135 Ultramarathon Donors, headed by Friends of Breakthrough Schools Board member Larry Orwin. He raised $250,000 for the new gymnasium by running the Badwater135 Ultramarathon, the world’s most extreme endurance footrace, in 2022 and 2024.
“It is my sincere desire that every Breakthrough scholar who uses this facility will dream big, use teamwork, and apply the lessons learned here in this space,” said Orwin. “Set big, audacious goals and go after them with vigor.”
“This gym can be the spark or motivation for our scholars to pursue their athletic dreams,” added Brian Corathers, another Breakthrough Public Schools physical education teacher.
Demolished for the new facilities were the vacated Gaines Funeral Home and an empty house on Union. They were among nine properties acquired in 2023 for $185,700 by an affiliate of the Breakthrough Schools and razed in 2024 by Snavely Excavating Co. of Chagrin Falls at a cost of $160,000, according to public records.
Breakthrough Schools’ Woodland Hills Campus offers a high-quality education to 100 percent low-income scholars, 89 percent of whom reside in Cleveland. The free, public charter school emphasizes academic excellence, critical thinking and community responsibility. It is one of five Breakthrough Public Schools in Cleveland.
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