BOWLING GREEN — Voters in the Bowling Green City Schools district are again being asked to decide on a plan to build new facilities.
After the rendering reveal of a proposed new high school on Wednesday, school leaders are hopeful this vote will have a different outcome.
“This is the first time that we’ve really got into the weeds with showing people exactly how it’s going to benefit students,” said Ryan Myers, board of education president. “I’m really excited for people not to just see the rendering, but how we’re going to use the space,”
The three-story, 150,000-square-foot school is part of a $73 million bond issue, over 30 years, on the Nov. 7 ballot.
The new school would cost $62 million, with the rest of the money being used to renovate some of the existing high school into a community space, which will cost $5 million, and demolish the rest of it, which will be $1.2 million.
“There’s a ton of things that are going to be beneficial, for students, staff, taxpayers,” said Superintendent Ted Haselman.
Nate Rosebrock, a parent of three who’s on the committee promoting the levy, said that a new high school is long overdue.
“Your high school is supposed to be your crown jewel,” he said. “I think it’s a good project. Hopefully, the community gets on board and we start to move forward.”
Mr. Rosebrock said that the best part of the design is the use of part of the old high school for a community center.
“That’s going to be a cost savings,” he said.
Sharon Stratmann said that she would like to see more of the design. The exterior details were provided on Wednesday.
“I think I’m just waiting for the next renderings,” she said. “I am glad that they’re saving the newer part of the high school and making use out of that.”
Char Scherer said that she would like some details clarified. For example, she said that she likes the proximity of the new music room to the existing Performing Arts Center but hopes that the path between them is enclosed.
“In general, it’s exciting. I’m impressed with all the thinking behind what they’ve done,” Mrs. Scherer said.
Using geothermal for heating and cooling, which she has in her home, is also impressive, she said.
“They said they can get the money back in a year,” Mrs. Scherer said.
All of the learning spaces will be in the new building, Mr. Myers said, but 53,000 square feet of the current high school building will be repurposed into a community space.
“It was really done with a lot of fiscal responsibility,” he said. “We really wanted to get the biggest bang for our buck.”
Last November, voters rejected a combination income-property tax that would have raised $70 million to build the new high school and expand existing facilities.
The annual income tax of 0.5 percent on individuals and estates for seven years, as well as a 3.95 mill-levy that would’ve lasted for 30 years, failed by 52 percent.
This time is different, Mr. Myers said.
In addition to showing the actual physical building plans, other concerns have also been addressed, he said.
The board has been criticized for not using state money.
“We’ve applied and plan on using it,” Mr. Myers said.
There have been concerns about the former superintendent and the same board of education members, he said.
“We have a new superintendent,” Mr. Myers said, adding that there will also be new faces on the board. “We have three seats open this fall, which is the majority of the school board.”
The board will also unveil a master facilities plan next month, he said.
“We know it’s needed and we’re trying to do everything we can,” Mr. Myers said. “We’re trying to make this a big picture, long-term plan.”
The design precedent for the new high school was taken from several buildings on the Bowling Green State University campus. They include the Wolfe Center for Arts, the Stroh Center, and the Maurer Center for business education.
The 150,000-square-foot building will have a “Great Black Swamp and Agriculture” theme.
The school will feature scarlet and “mine shaft” gray colors. A red walkway will connect the new high school and the new community center.
The 1,750-seat gymnasium will be able to host national tournaments. There will be a walking track above it, concessions area, weight room, and ceremonial hallway.
The three-story cafeteria will be the heart of the building.
The community and school community will love the school, said Dusty Lake, with DLR Group, Columbus, which did the design.
“What I really love about this design concept is it draws you in,” she said. “This should be a really exciting space for students to want to come to, to want to hang out. ... Community members are going to want to come into this building.”
The new high school renderings and Wednesday’s presentation are on the school district website. Concepts of the inside of the school will be revealed later.
The school district, which serves students who live in the city of Bowling Green and the villages of Custar, Milton Center, Portage, Rudolph, and Sugar Ridge, has about 2,900 students and 450 staff members.
First Published September 3, 2023, 6:07 p.m.
