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Yesterday evening’s special meeting of the Bexley Board of Education focused on the district’s facilities and the intensive facilities-planning work that has taken place over the past two years.
“We are now at the point in our facilities planning process when it will be determined whether to move forward with a Phase I project to upgrade our school facilities,” said Superintendent Dr. Jason Fine. “The purpose of this meeting is to help provide the Board of Education with information needed to inform some really important upcoming decisions.”
Community Survey Data Presentation
The first presentation to the Board was by Paul Fallon, whose company Fallon Research and Communication conducted a confidential public opinion survey of Bexley residents about the District Facilities Plan from Oct. 29 to Nov. 4. Dr. Fine said the purpose of the survey was to ensure the school district is developing priorities that align with community values.
Mr. Fallon presented highlights from the survey’s data analysis. Much of the data showed the breakdown of respondents who are school parents/guardians, future school parents/guardians, and non-parents.
To begin his analysis presentation, Mr. Fallon said 74% of respondents said they are satisfied with Bexley Schools and 86% of respondents agreed that “everyone benefits from being in the Bexley City School District because it is one of the primary reasons for stable property values and a good reputation as a strong community.”
Mr. Fallon’s presentation continued with a breakdown of respondents’ opinions on the need for new or upgraded facilities. You are encouraged to watch Mr. Fallon’s presentation. His presentation slides and survey reports are linked below. The video is available on the district’s YouTube Channel beginning at 20:08 of the meeting video. See also Survey Study Report; Survey Cross Tabs; and Verbatim Responses.
Combined Facilities/Finance Committee Recommendations
Two longtime community members, Larry Helman and Ted Cahill, made a presentation to the Board that culminated in a recommendation to move forward with the development of a Phase I of facilities upgrades.
Their presentation was representative of the work of nearly 50 Bexley residents and staff members who make up a combined committee from the district’s Finance Advisory Council and Facilities Advisory Committee.
Before Mr. Cahill presented the combined committee’s Phase I recommendation to the Board, Mr. Helman focused on the history of how Bexley school buildings have been utilized and expanded over the past 100 years.
“We’ve gotten 100 years out of (the Cassingham) campus,” Mr. Helman said. “We will not get a second 100 years unless we figure out how to deal with moving and a redevelopment for that campus over time.” He went on to say, “We need to create sites and create options, and have a clear understanding of the steps we need to take to make that campus viable going into the next 100 years.”
You are encouraged to watch Mr. Helman’s and Mr. Cahill’s presentation to the Board and view the presentation slides online. The video is available on the district’s YouTube Channel beginning at 1:00:52 of the meeting video.
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