Superintendent

Mr. Mark Rairigh
Superintendent

419-636-6973
mrairigh@bryanschools.net

BCS has the continued goal to provide the very best for our students in the now, while focusing our efforts and planning on how to enhance, grow, and progress into the future.

As strategic planning is continuous, plans come to fruition as a result of the many collaborative efforts within the school district, its many partners, and the community as a whole. In the recent months many plans are coming together that continue to lead our BIG 3......the Academics, the Arts, and the Athletics......toward new heights and advancements!

Although a wealth of details are in the process of being finalized and reviewed, please check out the newest strategic planning updates for the district by reading below!

Academics

Bryan City Schools has been awarded $2.5 million by the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce to add new facility space for a STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Math) and Innovation Center at Bryan Middle and High School.

The facility addition will allow BCS to place an emphasis on the vocational arts, including curriculums that teach the foundational skills of design and production with woods and metals, while also adding classes that focus on engineering, precision machining, computer aided design (CAD), electrical, plumbing, and robotics.

BCS is in the infant stages of designing the facility addition and coursework. As a first step, the district approved to partner with Beilharz Architects for the design and build process. In the near future, design committees and key stakeholder meetings will begin to take shape to make plans for this exciting opportunity to be the best it can be.

Arts

BCS is pursuing a Brownfield Remediation Grant in an effort to initiate a revitalization and rejuvenation process of the district's Central Building, known on the performing arts side as the Arts and Education Center.

Bryan's pride and tradition in the Arts is strong, and has been built upon the outstanding work and talented showcases by so many outstanding individuals, casts, ensembles, full choirs, orchestras, bands, artists, directors, teachers, community members, and more. In an effort to continue the excellence, BCS is aiming to navigate a 2 phase process with the Central building.

Phase 1:

Apply for, review and evaluate, and potentially pursue a demolition permit for the classroom side only of the Central Building.

The classroom side of the facility has provided limited use to BCS since 1987, when the attached 1903 original build of Bryan High School was razed. Since 1987 the classroom side of the facility has been sparingly used to serve a grade level at a time in the late 80's and early 90's, while also providing limited use for special education services, some arts programming, and the district's preschool program. One of the more recent uses of the classrooms was from 2007-2020 as the 2nd and 3rd floors were rented by Fountain City Christian School.

However, since the closure of FCCS in 2020, the classroom side of the Central building has sat vacant, and has proven to provide costly maintenance challenges with the aging infrastructure.

Brownfield Remediation Grants provide funds to Ohio's 88 counties to assist with land restoration. If the district moves forward with full implementation of the grant through it's 2 step process, the grant would cover 75% of the cost to demolish the classroom side of the Central Building, which would prove to be a large savings. The grant funds would also assist in "closing in" the building to allow for the maintenance and potential upgrades to the back stage/gymnasium and auditorium portion of the building. This would allow BCS to maintain and upgrade its beautiful, yet aging (built in 1917) performing arts auditorium in Bryan's historic downtown.

The district has met the first deadline of April 1 to allow the Brownfield grant's organizers to test and evaluate the classroom side of the facility for hazardous and/or EPA regulatory challenges. This is a qualifying component of the grant.

Phase 2:

Pending the evaluation of the property goes as anticipated, Bryan Schools could then choose to move forward with the demolition permit request for the classroom section of the facility, with eligibility for the permit request opening on December 5, 2024. Pending everything moves forward, the district could be looking at a 2025 project to demolish the classroom side of the facility, thus allowing visions and plans to then move forward with the revitalization and rejuvenation of the auditorium and the attached back stage/gym space.

If and when Phase 2 of the planning begins, BCS is more than excited to parter with the community to seek input on the best ways to enhance the auditorium, the experience for guests, and for the ability to host the best performances and events possible.

We look forward to pursuing the best possible plans for a facility of this age to be revitalized and to provide the most opportunity for our students and the community!

Athletics

Phase I of the Community Athletics Capital project – the completion of turf, the video scoreboard, and the new stadium lights – has been a tremendous investment in our students and the community. The turf, lights, and video board have been utilized more than ever anticipated! A continued thank you to our Athletic Boosters and the amazing community support for partnering with BCS to make those visions a reality!

Phase II is underway, which includes a wealth of upgrades (see informational photos) to the fields at Rec Park and the former Washington School site. Many of the projects require mother nature to assist, most notably the grass seed needing more rain and sun to help the recently "overseeded" (week of April 15) Washington site begin to take shape for the youth and MS/HS soccer fields and the youth softball field being added to the lot.

Phase III of the Athletics Campaign may arrive quicker than anticipated. Phase III will aim to address gym space and indoor athletic training opportunities for our student-athletes. Timing, funding, and visions are being discussed and are in the works by district officials. More to come on this topic as the planning continues.

Until then, please be sure to keep up on the many aspects of the Community Capital Athletics project phases and be sure to check out all of the progress! Go Bears!