By: Claire Cutting

The Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Board of Education is facing difficult decisions regarding the future of the old Sugarcreek Elementary School in downtown Bellbrook. The district no longer utilizes the building for educational purposes, and with maintenance costs continuing to increase, the financial burden has become unsustainable. While various organizations, such as the HAM radio club, the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Community Support Center, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, and the Greene County Educational Service Center lease space within the facility, their rental payments are not enough to offset the district’s losses.

Henry Conte, the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek District Communications Coordinator, elaborated on the budget challenges caused by the aging building. “We lose about $40,000 a year in maintenance costs,” Conte said. “It costs a lot to keep a 100-year-old building alive.”

For many in the community, Sugarcreek Elementary is more than just a building. It is a place filled with memories. Former student and current Bellbrook High School English teacher Katie Bills-Tenney fondly recalls her time there. “I remember gym class with Mrs. Black in the gym, and if we won a game of dodgeball, we would get to go into the scary basement,” she said. “It was a moment of pride for me and one of my fondest memories in that building.”

Bellbrook High School math teacher Tess Rivero, also a former Sugarcreek Elementary student and daughter of Mrs. Black, reflected on the building’s personal importance. “I remember dreading being in the same school as my mom but looking back, those were some of the most special moments I got to share with her,” Rivero said. “Because of that, the old Sugarcreek building will always be important to me.”

The Board of Education is currently reviewing multiple options for the building’s future. Superintendent Dr. Doug Cozad emphasized the importance of community input in making this difficult decision. “What we are doing right now is taking a comprehensive look at our facilities, laying out the facts, and then inviting the community to share their thoughts. We want people to have a say in what happens next.”

Under the Ohio Revised Code, the Board has several legal options to consider regarding the handling of the property, including:

• Selling the property at a public auction

• Selling it to a government entity, college, or charter school

• Conducting a private sale if a public auction fails to secure a buyer

• Trading the property for real estate needed by the district

• Demolishing the building

• Donating the property to an eligible nonprofit (if its value is under $2,500)

While no official decision has been made, the Board is discussing the short-term and long-term costs of maintaining the building. With potential costs exceeding $500,000 for major repairs, such as roof replacements, HVAC system updates, and asphalt improvements, the district must weigh the pros and cons of keeping the structure considering the financial burden it presents as well as its place in the community.

The Board has had several open discussions at board meetings, including the most recent one held on February 3. The possible sale or demolition of Sugarcreek Elementary has received mixed emotions from former students and community members. 

Board of Education member, Audra Dorn, expressed her hope to the community that the building could remain a benefit to the community. “My take is that those properties should continue to be used by the citizens of Bellbrook-Sugarcreek,” Dorn said. “We want to be able to turn it over to the hands of a trusted entity that’s going to use it in a way that benefits the community.”

Bellbrook High School government teacher Perry Caldwell, who once attended Sugarcreek Elementary, expressed his hope for the building to remain intact. “It is a shame that there isn’t another use for a building that holds such significance for so many people,” Caldwell said. “I hope they find a way to repurpose it for the benefit of the entire community.”

Bills-Tenney had similar sentiments. “I would hate for the building property to be turned into a residential or commercial space,” she said. “I would love to see it continue to serve the community in some capacity.”

Rivero, on the other hand, offered a different perspective. “The memories I made there will always stay with me, regardless of what happens to the building,” she said. “Ultimately, it’s up to the Board to decide what is best.”

While there still has not been a final decision made, conversations regarding the property’s future are expected to intensify this month. A final decision can be expected in the coming months.