By: Claire Cutting

For months, Sugarcreek Elementary’s future has remained uncertain. The 100-year-old building holds deep sentimental value for many in the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek community, but its maintenance costs, which exceed $40,000 per year, continue to weigh on the school district. With the building no longer in use for students, the Bellbrook-Sugarcreek Board of Education is now tasked with making a difficult decision about what to do next.

Under Ohio law, the Board has several options, including selling the property, trading it, demolishing it, or donating it. Each possibility carries its challenges, and with strong opinions on all sides, the decision is far from simple.

One option the Board is considering is selling Sugarcreek Elementary through a public auction, where the property would go to the highest bidder. This would provide an immediate return on the district’s money and eliminate the ongoing maintenance costs.

An auction comes with uncertainties, though. There is no guarantee a buyer would preserve the building, and the highest bidder may choose to demolish it or redevelop the land for purposes that don’t align with community interests. If no one places a bid, the district would need to explore other solutions.

Another possibility is selling the property to a government organization, such as the city of Bellbrook, Greene County, or a local college. This would allow the building to be repurposed for public use, keeping it available to the community.

The possibility of selling the property depends on whether a government entity or educational institution has the interest to purchase and maintain the property. Additionally, because Sugarcreek Elementary is located in a floodplain, repurposing the building would come with additional safety issues.

If a public auction does not attract buyers, the Board could attempt to sell Sugarcreek Elementary through a private sale. This would give the district more control over the buyer and allow for negotiations on how the property will be used.

While a private sale could result in a higher selling price than an auction, finding a buyer may take time. Even if a buyer commits to preserving the structure initially, there would be no legal guarantee preventing demolition down the line.

The Board could also consider trading the property for another piece of real estate that better serves the district’s needs. This would allow the district to exchange Sugarcreek Elementary for land or other facilities that provide long-term value to students and staff.

Finding a fair trade partner could be difficult, especially given the building’s location. This is the most unrealistic option.

One of the more controversial possibilities is demolishing Sugarcreek Elementary. While this would immediately remove maintenance costs and prevent the risks associated with an old structure, it would also mean permanently losing a piece of Bellbrook’s history.

Kelli Fromm, a principal at Franklin High School and a former Sugarcreek Elementary student, has experienced similar situations. In 2021, Franklin City Schools tore down a former junior high school due to high renovation costs.

“By demolishing the old Junior High and Hampton Bennett, we had the land to build the new high school without having to purchase any additional land,” Fromm said. “Plus, to bring either of these buildings up to code was far more cost-prohibitive than building new.” 

While the old Franklin Junior High was torn down, the district found ways to keep the old building’s memory alive. “There are some items from the old junior high that we saved and have them on display at the new high school,” Fromm said. “In addition, we included some architectural features at the new high school to mirror the old junior high.” 

Unlike Franklin, though, Bellbrook would not be able to replace Sugarcreek Elementary with another large building due to site restrictions. If the site were cleared, its future use would be very limited.

Under Ohio law, if the property is valued at less than $2,500, the district could donate it to a nonprofit organization. However, given the size and condition of Sugarcreek Elementary, it is unlikely to meet that requirement. Even if a nonprofit were interested in taking over the property, they would need a lot of funding to maintain and restore it.

While the Board has multiple options, none come without challenges. District Business Manager Jeff Eckley emphasized that while the district has kept the building in working condition, ongoing maintenance is costly.

“We are currently running in a deficit of about $43,000 per year,” Eckley explained. “But, we are also exploring how to keep costs down and do what we can.”

For many in Bellbrook-Sugarcreek, the idea of losing Sugarcreek Elementary is difficult to accept.

“The building is so special to so many people,” said Barb Siler, a former Sugarcreek Elementary band director and current Bellbrook High School band director. “I’d be so sad to see it go, but I’m sure there are parts of it that would need significant improvement to make it safe and completely usable again.”

The Board has been gathering input from community members, and upcoming meetings will provide additional opportunities for public discussion. While no decision has been made yet, the future of Sugarcreek Elementary will soon be determined.