Bexley schools outline facilities plan, note purchase of 30-acre Cassidy Avenue property

Superintendent Jason Fine and Treasurer Kyle Smith of Bexley City Schools told the Bexley City Council on Feb. 11 that the district is moving from an options phase to a decisions phase in a community-driven facilities planning process and confirmed the district recently purchased 30 acres on Cassidy Avenue.

The presentation summarized academic performance, financial stewardship and next steps for facilities. “Learn with curiosity, demonstrate kindness, and embrace equity,” Fine said, reciting the district’s mission from its strategic plan and describing the plan as community driven.

The update matters because the district’s buildings average 84 years old and the board soon must decide whether to accept a facilities plan that could trigger a funding conversation, including whether to seek voter approval. Kyle Smith told council that about 74.5% of the district’s funding comes from local sources and that the district’s five-year forecast is the primary tool for assessing fiscal health.

Fine and Smith said the facilities planning process began about a year ago and has included roughly 12 community engagement sessions and more than 25 building-team meetings. Fine said the process is in phase 2 of 3 and that the board of education is expected to consider proposed plans in April or May 2025; any funding decisions would follow that board decision. “If we determine and we accept a facilities plan, funding must be determined,” Smith said, adding the board’s finance advisory would examine options similar to prior local funding measures.

Fine described educational outcomes and extracurricular participation as context for the facilities discussion. He said the district is ranked highly in state measures and that about 88% of middle- and high-school students participate in activities outside regular classes. Fine named recent student achievements and credited teachers and school leaders as primary contributors to student success.

Fine also confirmed the district’s purchase of a 30-acre parcel on Cassidy Avenue and described the site as a potential long-term asset for shared facilities and extracurricular space. “We believe this is a transformational opportunity for our community to take a look at what’s possible,” Fine said, adding that any design or programming for Cassidy Avenue will be community driven.

Council members asked about timing and fiscal impacts. Council Member Marcelino asked when the board would decide on taxes for facilities; Smith responded that funding decisions come after the board accepts a facilities plan and that state capital support for Bexley is limited, making local funding likelier. Council Member Silverman asked about the possible effect of federal or state funding changes on operations; Smith said federal revenue is roughly 3–4% of total revenue and that a hypothetical loss of about $700,000 in federal funds would require local discussions on budget adjustments or alternative revenues.

Several council members raised school resource officers. Fine said he would not speak for the board and reminded council that the board made a decision on school resource officers in 2018; he said the district continues conversations with police and community members and recognizes differing views and concerns.

Fine and Smith thanked local partners including the Bexley Education Foundation, Bexley Parks and Recreation and the Bexley Police Department and described ongoing coordination with city leaders. Fine specifically referenced collaboration with Ben Heckman and Chief Lewis in responding to student safety and facilities issues.

The presentation ended with council members offering to raise specific items at quarterly meetings with school and city leaders. No formal council action or vote on the facilities plan or Cassidy Avenue purchase was recorded during the Feb. 11 meeting.

Looking ahead, the school board’s April or May meeting is the next formal decision point for any approved facilities plan and for subsequent funding discussions; the district said it will notify the community promptly when a board decision is made.