Bexley schools prepare to purchase nearly 30 acres of land for sports fields

BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) -- Bexley City Schools will purchase more than 28 acres of land 2.5 miles away from the high school to develop an outdoor campus, building new sports fields and possible outdoor learning spaces.

The Bexley Board of Education approved a resolution on Sept. 11, authorizing a $6.03 million purchase agreement to acquire more than 28 acres north of Bexley at 935 Cassady Ave. The agreement was signed two days later.

Within the agreement, the district has a 75-day period where it is able to conduct site inspections, review the details and hear from the community about the purchase. The district is able to negate the agreement for any reason within these 75 days.

“The conversation of acquiring new land for Bexley Schools’ use has been ongoing for decades,” Superintendent Jason Fine said. “This land purchase – of nearly 30 acres – is a once-in-a-generation opportunity, which is why we’ve worked so diligently to negotiate in confidence to agree on terms of the sale that are beneficial for Bexley Schools. We cannot be more excited about the possibilities this land would open for us, but we take the task of completing our due diligence very seriously and will ensure this purchase is right for our schools.”

While no decisions have been completed, Public Information Officer Carol Taylor said it is expected that some sports venues would be moved to the site. Baseball and softball fields, a track, a practice field and tennis courts are all under consideration. The district has confirmed the football field would not be moved.

The site, which was previously used for Lutheran Senior Services, currently includes a large building with around 260 rooms and offices. Again, Taylor said no decisions have been made, but the building has been considered to support nonacademic needs like offices or storage.

The pending purchase comes as the district is considering construction within Bexley city limits as well. The district is working with architects, and heard several construction and renovation proposals on Aug. 21 and 22, resulting in the rescheduling of several community feedback sessions from September to November so architects can adapt to new feedback.

The planning process is scheduled to wrap up at the end of this year or in early 2025, with the Board of Education then voting on the recommendations.

None of these potential changes would be funded by a levy on the ballot this year, which asks for a five-year property tax levy. The levy would cost taxpayers $175 per $100,000 of homeowners' property value in 2025, and then $88 per $100,000 each following year. The district said this levy is to fund daily operation costs, not possible construction or land purchases.

Treasurer Kyle Smith said the district has saved some money from a 2016 levy that would cover about half of the purchase expenses. The remaining half would come from an issuance of a tax anticipation note, or a short-term debt security issued by a government for a public project that allows operations to begin before tax revenues are received.

Taylor said a presentation about the new land and purchase agreement will be made at the Oct. 9 Board of Education meeting.