By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
With cups of coffee and a creamstick or two, the regular retirees congregated in the comfy couch area at the front of Juniper Brewing Co. in downtown Bowling Green. On this particular morning, Bowling Green Superintendent Ted Haselman grabbed a cup of caffeine and pulled up a chair with the group.
This was the first of several “Coffee and a Chat” events scheduled in Bowling Green by the new superintendent.
“Nobody can say I’m not here to listen,” Haselman said.
Much of the conversation revolved around the plans for a new high school and the bond issue that would make it happen. That was only natural, since the regulars at Juniper every morning are retirees from the BG school system.
Their normal conversations focus on sports and Seinfeld type topics. “It’s a whole lot about nothing,” retired BG athletic director Mike Vannett said. He was joined by fellow school retirees, Phil Laabs, Bob Rex, Larry Ensinger, Neal Allen and Brent Fahrer.
After a while, a few younger people joined in, all supporters of the new $72.8 million high school and bond issue.
Haselman worked to remain neutral as he answered questions about the new building plans.
“There’s not one ultimate plan that everyone can love everything about,” he said. “There’s no one single plan that’s going to appease everyone.”
The retirees were united in believing a new high school is long overdue.
“Usually your high school is your crown jewel,” Vannett said. “It’s the lighthouse of the district.”
The retirees lamented the fact that voters didn’t support a past ballot issue that would have paid for a new high school and elementary for the same cost as just the high school now.
“We had a chance and we blew it,” Vannett said.
Several of the former teachers were critical of voters rejecting the plan because they wanted “neighborhood schools.”
“They used the argument that they wanted neighborhood schools. We haven’t had neighborhood schools since South Main,” one said.
“That was just an excuse for people not to vote for it,” another added.
The men also asked Haselman about the continued shortage of bus drivers, so the district limits busing for elementary students outside a one-mile radius, and for older students outside a two-mile radius.
That discussion led Ensinger to start in about his six-mile walk to school when he was a kid. “We know, Larry,” Vannett said, with the other retirees letting out groans.
As for bus driver prospects, Trevor Jessee, with BG Families for Schools, piped up with, “I know a few guys who hang out at Juniper every morning …”
Though they no longer clock in each morning, the men have stayed interested about the district. They asked questions about the proposed activity center, which would consist of space currently used for music, cafeterias, the regular gym and the auxiliary gym.
Haselman explained the space could house a family resource center. “We provide more support and more resources to the community than ever,” he said.
New music, gyms and FFA space will be included in the new high school. But the old gyms would provide extra practice space, so teams don’t have to practice so long into the evenings.
There will be no need to relocate students during the construction of a new building since the existing high school will remain intact until the new structure is complete, Haselman said.
Haselman also explained why the new high school building would not be attached to the activity center, which will include the Performing Arts Center. If connected, the state would factor in the square footage of the existing space – leading to either less space or less state funding for the new school.
“They shouldn’t be walking back and forth regularly,” between the two buildings, Haselman said of students.
Based on suggestions bandied around in the community, Haselman was asked about the feasibility of using fundraising to finance the new high school.
“It would be very, very difficult to raise $72.8 million,” the superintendent responded.
And he was asked if the recent average residential revaluation increase of 25% means residential landowners will see their property taxes bumped up 25%.
“The percent of increased valuation does not equate to the same tax increase,” Haselman said. A bond issue will only raise as much as it states on the ballot – so taxes won’t continue to increase creating a windfall for the district.
Parents and community members are invited to join future informal chats with Haselman over cups of coffee. The superintendent wants to meet attendees, answer questions and have open dialogue on the topics relevant to the Bowling Green Schools and the community.
Future chats are scheduled for:
- Wednesday, Nov. 1, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., at Grounds for Thought, 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green.
- Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at Novel Blends, 116 S. Main St., Bowling Green.
- Tuesday, March 5, 2024, from 8:30 to 10 a.m., at Grounds for Thought, 174 S. Main St., Bowling Green.
- Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 8 to 9:30 a.m., at Juniper, 145 S. Main St., Bowling Green.
