Three events were held this week to update Building Team members and the community on Bexley Schools’ continuing Facilities Planning work, including newly revised building options and the possibilities that could be included in a Phase 1 budget.

The video includes the presentations by two Perkins&Will architects who progress school-by-school to describe the plans, often with the rationale for why updates are needed in a particular building. 

 

Dr. Jason Fine opened the meetings by explaining that the district's Facilities Planning work has a 3-stage process – assessment, options, and decisions – and is now near the end of its options phase, which is the time when community stakeholders offer feedback. 

 

“In exiting the options stage and moving into the decisions stage, we will take all the great feedback from our community and start to develop recommendations for a Facilities Plan. Our goal is to have a Facilities Plan presented to our Board of Education in late spring,” Dr. Fine said.

 

A Building Team Summit of nearly 40 members from the community Building Teams established at each school was held on Monday to receive the latest update and provide input on building recommendations to architects from Perkins&Will. This Summit was followed by two Community Engagement sessions on Tuesday and Wednesday, attended by nearly 100 community members.

 

This week’s update included adjustments to the options presented by Perkins&Will in August to the Building Teams and Board of Education. The August options included Building Team recommendations at a $330 million price tag. The Board members at that meeting asked the architects what updates to each school might be able to occur with a budget of $120-$130 million. Perkins&Will architects said they would develop options under that budget scenario and report back to the Board. A second working meeting was in late October to inform the Board of building possibilities that could fit within their suggested Phase 1 budget.

Since the beginning of our Facilities Planning work, we have shared that there is no zero-cost option in relation to the upkeep of our facilities. 

The average age of Bexley school buildings is 84 years, and the updated physical assessment cost completed at the beginning of this year shows we are looking at more than $23 million in maintenance repairs needed within the next five years.

 

It also is projected that, within 15 years, the current facilities will need nearly $146 million just for maintenance and/or physical system repairs, such as HVAC, electrical, mechanical, and roofing. (See graphic.)

 

It is possible that some maintenance repairs could be folded into the cost of renovations, potentially making repairs less costly. In other situations, new construction may be a less-costly option.

 

It is expected that the Board will consider a proposed Facilities Plan in the Spring of 2025. At that time, the Board may accept or not accept the plan to move forward with upgrades to Bexley’s current school facilities. Most importantly, no decisions have been made.

All Buildings – While ideas and details may change, priorities are to improve availability of restrooms and add some unisex restroom facilities; correct ADA-related issues; improve and/or add secure entries and vestibules; and address maintenance issues needed within 5 years.

Maryland Elementary – Fix water infiltration issue; move cross-category classrooms to the main floor where they can be centrally located and accessible to any students who may have disabilities; expand and renovate the existing kitchen; construct a north-side addition of mostly classrooms, as well as right-size classrooms where possible. Estimated Duration: 12-15 Months. Estimated Cost: $16.7 million.

A possible Phase 2 could include an addition on the west side of the building for mostly classrooms, and the repair or renovation of other spaces that were not touched in Phase 1.

Montrose Elementary – Renovate existing space to create 3 new classrooms on the 1st floor; build a new 1-story addition on southwest side for a new stage, music room, storage, and restrooms; right-size the kitchen and cafeteria space; create a secure and improved entry and vestibule on the lower floor on the east Remington Road side, which is the most-used entry; and move the administrative office to be adjacent to the entry/vestibule. Estimated Duration: 12-15 months. Estimated Cost: $17.8 million.

A possible Phase 2 could include reconfiguring the Main Street façade stairs to create an entry to both the lower level and the 1st floor; renovating spaces and adding 4 small additions in order to create rectangular classrooms and commons areas; add windows to limited-daylight classrooms; and repair or renovate other spaces that were not touched in Phase 1.

Phase 1A - Build a new 3-story Bexley Middle School on land currently occupied by the softball field, with a connector to the current arts wing in order to share physical education, music, and kitchen space. The new building would have its own serving and cafeteria space. The softball field would be moved off-site. Estimated Cost: $65.8 million

 

Phase 1A would also selectively renovate the current Cassingham Complex building and allocate the more than 35 classrooms vacated by the middle school to Bexley High School and Cassingham Elementary.

Phase 1B, Cassingham Elementary – Create a dedicated secured entry and a dedicated elementary corridor to the cafeteria; ensure all core classrooms have windows; expand the library; add collaborative spaces; add dedicated music room and cafeteria space, which could allow Cassingham to operate under an independent school-day schedule. Estimated Cost: $10.2 million

 

Phase 1B – Bexley High School – Expand the library and cafeteria; add commons spaces; expand storage space, as well as expanded music and theater support spaces; create a High School Learning Hub for studying, tutoring, and group collaboration. Estimated Cost: $16.2 million

Based upon community input and feedback from our working Building Teams, Perkins& Will architects have developed possible Phase 2 options for the Cassingham Complex, affecting the high school, elementary school, and athletic venues. Phase 2 does not have a timeline and likely would be several years into the future.

 

One possibility is to continue an extensive renovation, including some new construction, on the current Cassingham Complex building, by focusing on the remaining needs of the high school and Cassingham Elementary. There is no estimated cost on this yet.

Build a new Bexley High School next to the new Bexley Middle School on the east side of the Complex property, with both schools sharing certain services, including kitchen and cafeteria.

 

Only the current BHS portion of the Complex would be demolished, and the turfed field and stadium would be rebuilt next to Cassingham Elementary, on the west side of the property. (Cassingham Elementary would maintain the new space gained by acquiring former middle school spaces.)

The purchase of land at 935 N. Cassady Ave. is not complete and the purchase agreement permits the school district to negate the agreement for any reason. Currently, the schools are working through a 75-day due-diligence period, which ends on Dec. 2. At that point, school leaders will make a decision on whether to move forward with the purchase.

 

 

Watch for an update on the purchase of the Cassady Avenue land in early December.

Funding for the facilities work will be considered at a later time if the Board decides to move forward with the proposed Facilities Plan.

 

Typically, school construction work is funded through bonds. If the Board decides to place a bond issue on the ballot, then the Bexley community will make the decision, via the ballot box, on whether to move forward with facilities upgrades.

Developing a Facilities Plan creates a roadmap for the future – to benefit future students, faculty, and staff members for the next few decades. Regardless of whether they choose to adhere to the Facilities Plan being developed now, it is our hope that 20, 30, or 40 years from now that this important community-driven work will help inspire and guide future students, community members, school leaders, and Board members of Bexley Schools.