Bellbrook-Sugarcreek district reviews options for downtown Sugar Creek Elementary campus

Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools on Friday presented a status update on the downtown Sugar Creek Elementary campus and invited city, township and park-district partners to weigh options for the 8.4-acre property, including continued district ownership, sale, public auction or transfer to a public or nonprofit entity.

Doug Kozak, superintendent of Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Local Schools, told the joint meeting that the district has not housed its own preK–12 students at the downtown campus for about 14 to 15 years and that the site includes five buildings (a three-story building, a one-story building, an old board office, a bus barn and a two-car garage) on roughly 8.4 acres, much of which lies in a flood plain. "We are losing about 40 or so thousand dollars per year down there," Kozak said, and the district is factoring approaching maintenance needs—roofs, boilers, HVAC and asphalt—into any decision.

Kozak outlined the formal options the board can pursue: a public auction, sale to a government entity (including a college or charter school), an ordinary private sale if auction bids fail, or a property trade. He said the district has sought community input through board presentations in October and December, two coffee chats and a newsletter to households. Kozak also described enrollment trends: district enrollment has been roughly steady for two decades at about 2,700 students, and current capacity in existing buildings could absorb modest additional students but would require staffing and remodeling costs to return the downtown campus to use for preK–12 programming.

Representatives of local organizations and municipal partners emphasized a desire to keep the site in community-oriented hands. Jeff Stewart, president of the Bellbrook Community Improvement Corporation (CIC), described the CIC as a potential intermediary that could evaluate proposals "and make decisions based on the best interest of the community," rather than sending the property to the highest bidder. Kozak confirmed the Greene County Educational Service Center is a current tenant in the one-story building and indicated the ESC has expressed interest in that space going forward.

Speakers raised possible governance or ownership models. A city official pointed out an option under Ohio law for a joint recreational district and referenced Ohio Revised Code Section 755 as the statutory mechanism that could create a separate political subdivision to manage public recreation assets and raise funds for maintenance. Participants also discussed other nonprofit or civic options that would prioritize community use rather than market-rate development.

Community concerns reported to the school board centered on preventing what residents described as inappropriate private redevelopment near homes and preserving public use. Kozak said the board shares that concern and has prioritized soliciting proposals that include plans and financing. He noted the district has not yet decided whether to retain or divest the property and expects to begin more serious deliberations in February.

The joint meeting produced no final decision to sell or transfer the property. The school board adjourned at 6:44 p.m.; board members said they will continue collecting information and meeting with interested parties, including a planned follow-up joint meeting tentatively proposed for May 5 to review progress and proposals.