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District leaders discussed a possible Phase I of facilities upgrades yesterday evening with members of the Board of Education and Dr. Harley Williams, Director of Facilities and Operations, presented an overview of a possible Phase I recommendation. He also addressed the reasoning behind some parts of the possible Phase I and how they were considered by participating community members during the development of the District Facilities Plan.
The following summarizes the presentation to the Board, including the broader vision of the full Facilities Plan and how future phases may occur.
What Objectives a Possible Phase I Accomplishes
- Fulfills a Strategic Plan Directive
- Provides Remedies for Aging Building Requirements
- Meets the Needs of Students Today and in the Future
Allows District to Develop Facilities that Reflect the Schools’ Mission
- Support Powerful Learning Experiences: variety of multi-use, flexible and adaptive spaces; inspire students; and provide variety of opportunities for curricular, extra-curricular and community
- Foster Well-being and Sense of Belonging: meet the needs of each learner; provide equitable, inclusive and accessible spaces; provide safe and secure space (physically/social emotional)
- Designed for the Future and Be Community Responsive: sustainable and resilient; efficient, fiscally responsible, and built to last
Phase I Priorities
- Student Learning Needs Today and in the Future: STEM labs; collaborative spaces; overcrowding concerns at middle school and high school
- Aging Facilities: average age is 85 years old; HVAC, boilers, roofing, access, and safety
Possible Phase I Recommendation (4 Parts)
1. Construct New Middle School – 71% of Project
- Constructing a new middle school on the current softball field would be the least disruptive option to the learning process with no relocation of students required
- Is the most efficient and most impactful long-term solution as it allows the existing middle school spaces to be repurposed or even demolished.
- Decision considered Bexley’s limited land capacity, along with the time, cost, and disruption that a major innovation would require based on those realities
Design & Specifications for New Middle School
- A possible new middle school has not been designed; images offered by the district are conceptual to show a middle school building on the Cassingham Complex grounds
- Cost of architectural design services is about 9-10% of a project, or about $9-10 million
- Would be fiscally irresponsible for the school district to spend funds on design services before the community votes whether to move forward with Phase I
- If Phase I is approved, there will be plenty of time for community input during the design process
2. Facilities Capital Expenditures – 21% of Project
- Montrose: replace boilers & terminal units, windows, fire alarm system, roofing, and install a backup generator
- Maryland: Replace windows, roofing sections, perimeter fending, and install a backup generator, and rework front yard drainage system from passive to active drainage control
- Cassingham Complex: continue replacing roofing sections, flooring, and begin year-5 phase out of chillers, boilers, and windows
3. Stadium Improvements – 4.5% of Project
- Ensure structural integrity
- Update locker rooms & offices
- Potential Expansion
4. Turf Updates at Maryland & Montrose – 3.5% of Project
- Supports heavy use, year-round and improves overall student and community access to fields
- Replace the softball field currently on space intended for middle school
Why Turf over Grass?
- More access. More availability. A durable surface for everyone who uses the field
- Provides more playable days and fewer rain closures and cancellations
- District has one varsity softball field and one stadium field that is shared by all outdoor sports teams, as well as physical education classes, band, Bexley Recreation, and community use
Commitment to Community Well-being
- High-quality materials, best practices, and trusted vendors will be used to meet established safety standards
Is There a Long-Term Plan to Upgrade All Bexley School Facilities?
- Yes. The Board-approved District Facilities Plan, which was driven by community input over the past two years, presents the vision and options for Phase I, Phase II and Phase III
- This plan is a roadmap for multiple phases, with the vision to develop Bexley School spaces that are resilient, sustainable, and flexible to adjust for learning needs of students and staff for decades into the future
When Will Phase II and Phase II Begin?
- Phase 2 and Phase 3 are future decisions of the Board of Education and the community, and nothing is automatically triggered if Phase 1 moves forward
- The combined Facilities & Finance Committee members recommend revisiting future phases at about five years after Phase 1 is approved; but that’s not a guarantee or a commitment
- The board will evaluate community input, district needs, and conditions at the time to decide if and when future phases move forward after completing the critical components of Phase 1
- It is recommended the schools rely upon the vision and possible options suggested in our robust District Facilities Plan to determine future phases
What Is Happening to the Green Space in Central Bexley?
- While the final middle school design may shift some community-available green space, elementary student green play space during the school day will increase by 31,000 square feet with access to the district’s varsity field during recesses and other outdoor activities
- District is highly committed to preserving and maintaining as much green space on the Cassingham Complex as possible and would charge architects to design a building under this guideline
- Toward the end of Phase 1, there may be opportunities to create additional play space, potentially through demolition of the current middle school and/or portions of the asphalt surrounding Cassingham Elementary
Is the Schools’ Property on Cassady Avenue Part of Phase I?
- No, it is not.
- Cassady Avenue land is recommended to be developed in a future phase of facilities upgrades
You are encouraged to watch Dr. Williams' presentation to the Board from Jan. 14, 2026, which is available below. The video also is available on the district's YouTube Channel. If you prefer to read rather than watch his presentation to the Board, the transcript also is available. You may access the full recording of the Bexley Board of Education’s regular meeting online.
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