BEDFORD — The Bedford City School District Community Facilities Committee continues its work determining a recommendation to the Board of Education for the BCSD master facilities plan.

 

The committee of dedicated community members has been meeting since October, reviewing options and discussing priorities to best meet the needs of our students today and into the future.

 

At the latest meeting, the committee learned about space needs for buildings to ensure the best educational opportunities for our students, as well as possible building configurations on existing district land.

 

The district currently operates six school buildings: Bedford High School, Heskett Middle School, Carylwood and Columbus Intermediate schools and Glendale and Central Primary schools.

 

The existing buildings are inefficient and costly to operate. The committee and district leaders will make recommendations regarding school locations, grade alignment, and locally-funded initiatives for amenities such as a natatorium.

 

The recommendations will be presented to the school board this spring and the board will then decide the best plan to ask the community to support this fall.

 

The District is working with an architectural firm and participating in an Ohio Facilities Construction Commission program, called the Expedited Local Partnership Program (ELPP), that would pay for a portion of the building project costs within certain guidelines.

 

The District is reviewing options that will provide the best educational opportunities in a cost-effective way. The District is eligible for potential ELPP funding but has not yet analyzed if the program will make sense in the final plan.

 

If the District participates, the state of Ohio will reimburse the district for 22% of eligible costs.