At a special Board of Education meeting Nov. 20, Board members heard presentations on the possible facilities upgrades, a cost breakdown estimate, proposed financing methods and the results of the district’s community survey.
Facilities Advisory Committee member Larry Helman gave a presentation explaining the history of renovations and expansions of the Cassingham Complex. Helman said a goal of the proposed facilities plan is to extend and maximize the building’s lifespan.
“We’ve gotten 100 years out of this campus,” he 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.”
The district will need an estimated $120 million to complete the facilities plan. The funding will come from a combination of property and income taxes.
Originally, the new middle school, which will be built on the current softball field, was estimated to cost $76 million but is now estimated at $85 million.
The updates to both the Montrose and Maryland Elementary outdoor activity spaces will cost a total of approximately $6 million.
District treasurer Kyle Smith explained the projects will be funded through a hybrid of property and income taxes.
The proposed and estimated financing plan includes raising school district income tax by an estimated 0.5% to generate $92 million. Also, a property tax rate of approximately 1.5 mills would raise an additional $21.4 million for the projects. The property tax portion is more variable than the income tax, Smith said.
Superintendent Jason Fine said he will make a recommendation to the Board at the December meeting whether the bond proposal for the property tax should be on the May or November ballot, and residents will vote on implementing the additional tax.
“I want to make sure that we expect a formal recommendation on that timing,” he said.
Fine said he is leaning toward recommending putting the issue on the November ballot, and he added the final timeline being voted on at the December meeting will initiate the facilities and financing process.
The Finance Advisory Committee is recommending the opposite, believing the bond issue should be put on the May ballot.
“We voted twice on this,” Finance Advisory Committee member Ted Cahill said. “A majority ultimately said that we should go forward in May.”
Fine explained he would prefer the issue be on the November ballot in order for the Board and district to have enough time to inform Bexley residents and encourage support for the project.
Paul Fallon of Fallon Research & Communication, the company contracted to conduct the polling, shared findings from the anonymous October telephone surveys.
Residents were asked during the telephone surveys if they believe it is a good idea for the district to implement the facilities update plan. Forty percent of respondents said yes, 34% said no and 26% were unsure.
Residents among the 34% who said no identified similar concerns. Twenty-seven percent felt the district should prioritize other issues, and 10% worried about the limited space available for the project. Twenty-six percent expressed concerns about the financial burden increased taxes would bring.
Six percent indicated in the survey that they want the district to provide more information regarding the project before any final decisions are made.
Additionally, 1% said the district should focus on repurposing existing buildings and land rather than constructing new facilities.
Residents were also asked whether they believe it is a good idea for a new middle school to be built where the current softball field is located. Forty-six percent of participants answered yes, 30% said no and 24% were unsure.
After being given additional information about the plan, 50% of the respondents thought building the new middle school was a good idea, 29% were against it and 21% remained unsure.
Fallon said Bexley residents’ satisfaction with the school system will contribute to the success of the district in raising funds.
“Impressively, the community seems attuned to facilities planning, although frankly they’re probably not fully informed,” he said
Published and digitized December 2025
