Facilities committee leans toward new high school, favors phased 'Option A' to retain OFCC 80/20 funding

The Bethel Local Board of Education facilities subcommittee reviewed OFCC and FMD master‑plan options at a special meeting April 8 and said it will recommend the district pursue a new high‑school build using a phased approach (Option A) so it keeps eligibility for OFCC’s 80/20 funding. Committee members said OFCC told them the district was advanced in the state queue and emphasized a tight schedule between now and July to finalize a master plan and secure approvals.

Committee members said two core options were presented: a new high school with later renovations and repurposing of the existing campus, or a new middle school with additions to the current high school. The high‑school option includes new academic spaces, athletics areas and a two‑story layout; cost estimates presented for a new high school were in the range OFCC described as approximately $62.9 million (the OFCC 80% share), with the district covering the local portion and potential locally funded initiatives (LFIs) to supply additional elements such as a fieldhouse or auditorium.

Why it matters: members argued that accelerating the new‑high‑school option while keeping the OFCC project open preserves the district’s ability to get state funding on future phases if local growth continues. Several members flagged rapid housing construction in nearby Carriage Trails and other developments as drivers of student growth that justify staying in the OFCC program rather than closing the project after a single phase.

What the committee discussed: members debated practical tradeoffs — building everything at once (Option B) would finish the master plan but could close out OFCC eligibility, while Option A stages work and leaves the district eligible for future OFCC support. Committee members also discussed enrollment projections from OFCC and FMD, requested final projection documents for distribution, and stressed that the OFCC enrollment number is the determinative figure for state funding.

Next steps: the facilities subcommittee will prepare a recommendation for the full board ahead of the board’s April 21 meeting and will gather further community input at the April 14 town hall where OFCC and FMD will present the plan publicly. The committee emphasized that any recommendation will be accompanied by pros‑and‑cons and that the full board will make the formal decision.

At this meeting the committee did not adopt a formal ordinance or binding contract; it said it will forward a recommendation to the board for action at the regular meeting.