Brown Local Schools opens Malvern Community Learning and Wellness Center

Brown Local Schools celebrated the official opening of the Malvern Community Learning and Wellness Center Oct. 30 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by state and local officials, educators and community partners.

Superintendent Danielle Hawk opened the event by welcoming guests and thanking the many organizations that helped make the center possible. She described the new facility as a cornerstone of the district’s mission to serve the “whole child.”

“Today, we celebrate more than the opening of a building,” Hawk said. “We celebrate a powerful commitment to the success of every student, every family and every member of our community. Education is about more than academics—it’s about ensuring our students are healthy, safe, engaged, supported and challenged.”

Hawk said the new 6,880-square-foot wellness center will provide access to health care, mental health, addiction recovery and family support services through partnerships with Aultman Health, Springvale Health and Pathways Caring for Children. It will also include a preschool classroom, early-learning programs and public fitness opportunities for staff and residents.

“This center stands as a symbol of what happens when schools and communities come together with a shared purpose,” she said. “Together, we are building a healthier, stronger future for all.”

Gov. Mike DeWine, who addressed the crowd as the keynote speaker, congratulated the district for what he called “thinking big.” He explained that the project was made possible through the Appalachian Children’s Health Initiative, part of the state’s broader effort to improve access to health services in Ohio’s Appalachian counties.

“This wellness center brings together so many important things—health, early learning and community access—all in one trusted place,” DeWine said. “Schools are the center of small communities, and it just makes sense to put health clinics where families already feel comfortable.”

DeWine noted that Brown Local’s project received about $3.5 million in state funding, provided in two phases through the Appalachian program. He said the initiative uses federal COVID relief funds to make lasting, transformative investments in underserved areas.

“When a child can see a doctor right here at school, it means they don’t have to miss a whole day of class,” DeWine said. “That keeps kids learning, keeps families supported and makes communities stronger.”

The governor also tied the initiative to his administration’s larger goal of helping every Ohio child reach their full potential through literacy and early-learning programs. “We want every child in Ohio to find something they love, something they’re excited about and to have the opportunity to live up to their full potential,” he said.

Other speakers included Tami Hulit, president of the Brown Local Board of Education; Joy Bledsoe, executive director of the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission; Robert Mullin of Aultman Health; Theresa Hatton from Nationwide Children’s Hospital; Elizabeth Jones of the Appalachian Children’s Coalition; Justin Leonard, senior project manager with Beaver Constructors; and Mark Moore and Tim Ruzic of FMD Architects, the firm that designed the building.

Following the ceremony, light refreshments were served and guests were invited to take self-guided tours of the new wellness center to explore its spaces and services.

The Aultman Clinic is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. To schedule an appointment, call 330-863-6114. The fitness center is open Monday through Sunday, 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.