Plans for the old Ledgemont Schools property were revealed during the Geauga Growth Partnership, Kent State University – Geauga and Leadership Geauga “State of the County” breakfast Feb. 3 at Berkshire Schools’ campus in Burton.
Plans for the old Ledgemont Schools property were revealed during the Geauga Growth Partnership, Kent State University – Geauga and Leadership Geauga “State of the County” breakfast Feb. 3 at Berkshire Schools’ campus in Burton.
Over breakfast, Lucie Liang, representing Global Connections Academy, filled local business and community members in on plans for the former Ledgemont Elementary School building, which she purchased at auction in 2021.
“Fast-forward and we are establishing a new school at the same location under the name Global Connection Academy,” Liang said. “Also at the same time, we are renaming the building Geauga Innovation Center.”
Plans include a K-12 private school offering immersive global exchange experiences for both local and international students, as well as a daycare for ages 3 to 5 that focuses on “unplugged play” to foster critical thinking, problem-solving and collaboration skills at a young age.
There are also plans for adult learning, Liang said, as well as business incubators.
“The ultimate goal of education is to inspire students to find their intrinsic motivations and help them turn their passion into decisive life advantages,” she said.
Liang, originally from China, touted her heritage as a key to her ability to recruit and house international students. In her previous corporate work, Liang said she worked in global sourcing.
“I worked with suppliers all over the world. Even though I might be new in the realm of education, I do see a certain part of my skills can be transferable as a supply chain person,” she said. “If we run a good school, I hope that appeal will be there for all students looking for a quality American education.”
Liang said with tuition coming from international students, her hopes are the school will make education accessible and affordable to local students with a goal to keep tuition for area students under $5,000 per year.
“Einstein said imagination is more powerful, more important than knowledge,” Liang said. “We want to make it affordable to local students.”
She said the school will be launching a few programs. — including an automotive program and book club — and people are excited and already asking when the program will begin.
“We are going to convert a bus garage into an automotive workshop,” Liang said. “The pressure is on me because our bus garage is full. I need to leave it empty.”
Liang added the school’s pre-kindergarten program is already up and running.
“We are thinking that the focus will be building (kindergarten to grade) two first because now we can ensure those young children have a place to move up to,” she said. “We can ensure that continuity.”
Liang said she has been humbled and overwhelmed to see the school receive so much support and help from the community.
“We’re so grateful,” she said, adding she hopes the school will bring people together.
“This is a place for each of us to discover what we have inside — because that’s where the real wealth is located,” Liang said.
The breakfast featured a period for networking and included short talks from other Geauga business owners, including Bob Rogish, of Rogish Farm in Chester Township; Michelle Maneage, program director at Doors of Hope Geauga; Jennifer Jones, of the Geauga-Trumbull Solid Waste Management District; Jake Kouwe, leader of the nationally known Chardon Polka Band and owner of Chip’s Clubhouse; Felicia Timas, owner of His Daughter retail shop and Candice Zinner, owner of Salty-Salt Cave in Chardon.
