Excitement surrounds the start of the Bellefontaine High School fall sports season and fans watching the 2024 Chieftain athletes will be able to see them a little better during home games this season at AcuSport Stadium.
Upgrades this summer to Bellefontaine City Schools facilities included a new LED lighting system at AcuSport Stadium as well as work to restore the goal posts, Superintendent Brad Hall announced recently during a quarterly “BCS Chat with the Superintendent” at the Distance Learning Center in Bellefontaine High School.
The regular forums are an opportunity for community members to hear about recent developments and address their concerns.
Additional BHS stadium work involved removing two areas under stadium storage. Rusting I-beams were sandblasted and painted.
Hall also mentioned improvements at the BCS maintenance building and bus garage, including asphalt work, new ventilation systems in the ceramics room and the installation of security cameras.
Other permanent improvement projects completed over the summer, included:
Bellefontaine Intermediate School — Sidewalk repair, classroom and hallway plaster and painting repairs, several classroom tile floor repairs, and the Principal’s Office was painted.
Bellefontaine High School — Upgrades included office flooring in the weight room, modifications to the auditorium for additional handicap seating, repainting room 205, paving Sycamore Island, installing LED clocks and message boards, fiber optics for the press box, new dry erase/magnetic whiteboards in the band room, sanding and refinishing the auditorium stage floor and various maintenance and security enhancements.
Bellefontaine Elementary School — The front entrance now has a security video intercom, additional security cameras in preschool areas, new playground fencing, and four new outdoor playground benches.
In response to community questions about the district’s budget and fiscal management, the superintendent provided an overview of the school district’s financial health.
The fiscal year ending on June 30th saw the district complete the year with revenues surpassing expenditures by $38,549. Hall highlighted that the district successfully reduced spending by approximately $1 million over the past year, underscoring a commitment to sound fiscal management, the superintendent said.
Attendees were particularly interested in the budget’s impact on tax abatements, the district’s strong relationship with the Bellefontaine Police Department and other financial and operational concerns. Each participant received a copy of the district’s five-year forecast.
Hall stressed the importance of open dialogue between the district and community members.
“I enjoy the opportunity that the Chat with the Superintendent gives me to meet with community members to discuss any topics related to the school district they wish to discuss,” he said.
Hall encouraged residents to reach out at any time, not just during these scheduled chats. “Community members do not need to wait to speak with me at one of the Chats. They’re always welcome to call the board office (937-593-9060) to talk with me.”
The next “BCS Chat with the Superintendent” is scheduled for 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, Oct. 23, at the Distance Learning Center.