A Chili Cook-Off was hosted by the Bexley Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) Sunday, Nov. 6 outside the Cassingham playground to raise money for a renovation to the current high school teachers’ lounge.
PTO President Leigh Phay said upwards of $1000 was raised from selling entry tickets. She explained people could sample chili from the 16 vendors and vote for their favorite through a QR code.
Math teacher Laura Resnik, who helped work the cook-off, said people were very engaged with the event.
“It’s a really good idea because ultimately you’re raising money for a good cause, but it was also fun and camaraderie building for everyone there,” Resnik said.
Phay explained the district and the Bexley Education Foundation decide what kind of construction occurs in the school. She said the money raised from the cook off will go to whatever work is decided to be done to the preexisting high school teachers’ lounge.
“We will have a committee where the teachers can all come and let us know what their wishes are for the renovation and see what we can accomplish from that,” Phay added.
Principal Kristin Robbins explained the idea of improving the lounge has always been a plan, but hasn’t been acted on until this year.
“Since I’ve been here, we’ve dabbled at making the lounge nicer,” Robbins said. “This year is the first full blown ‘we’re taking it down to the studs and starting over.’”
Robbins said the overall goal of the renovation is to improve the lounge as a whole, which could include repainting the room, buying all new furniture or tearing down and rebuilding the cabinet space.
“Right now, it’s just not an inviting place to be; it has old furniture, it’s not updated and it’s not really cheerful,” Resnik explained. “I think when a space is inviting and user-friendly, organically more people will use it.”
Substitute teacher Jane Peden explained she eats lunch in the lounge everytime she substitutes in the high school, which is at least two days of the week.
“I’m in there a lot, but I think people avoid it because it’s not a very pleasant place to be,” Peden said. “It could definitely use some freshening up.”
Peden explained her experience substituting at other Bexley schools has allowed her to see the renovations that have been made to other lounges within the Bexley district.
She added the spaces have been nicely decorated, and could be a source of inspiration for the renovations to be done to the high school lounge.
“The lounge’s environment makes subbing a little less enjoyable,” Peden said. “There have been comments from subs and regular teachers that it’s state doesn’t say that we’re valued.”
Robbins added there is a need to have a space where all the teaching staff can be together, such as professional development days, but the current state of the lounge keeps a lot of staff away.
“There is value in the opportunity to be together and have that community, and a nicer space is going to draw people in,” Robbins said.
Phay explained the PTO planned the event separate from the school and made it a community block party, but would like to get students and staff more involved in the future cook-offs they plan to host.
Robbins said because of COVID-19, events like the cook-off haven’t been able to happen in the past three years.
“I love opportunities for not just the school, but the community, to pull people together,” Robbins said. “It’s nice to start getting back to events where you can see your neighbor or your teacher.”
Phay added the PTO hopes to do an event like the cook-off annually to help raise money for whatever the school may need in the future.
“I think everybody had a lot of fun and there was just a really positive environment,” Phay said. “Hopefully in years to come, we’ll find out whatever brings the community in even more.”
