Photo Provided Bridgeport Exempted Village School District music teacher Ashley Krieger with nieces and nephews as they sign their names on beams to be installed in the multipurpose facility to be dubbed “the Bridge” and under construction.

BRIDGEPORT — Close to 1,000 members of the Bridgeport Exempted Village School District community became part of a new era Nov. 12, when all current students, faculty and staff were invited to sign one of the exposed steel beams to be installed in the multipurpose facility to be dubbed “the Bridge” and under construction on campus.

Educators are excited to have this sense of ownership for the new addition, and the graduating classes will leave knowing their names will forever be written on the bones of the Bridge. More than 900 students are enrolled and signed their names by the end of the day. There were originally two exposed beams planned, but a third was brought out for people to sign.

Younger students in the same class signed their names in groups. Seniors included “Class of 2026” with their signatures.

The nearly 31,000 square foot facility is set for completion in August 2026 and promises to make Bridgeport Schools a hub of education and training, health care and community events, with tens of thousands in Bridgeport and the surrounding communities standing to benefit.

Since announcing the $13.8 million federally funded grant through the Ohio Facilities Construction Commission for the Bridge, the school district has invited input from the public and formed strong partnerships with area stakeholders to offer clinics, daycare, veterinary and other services. This will also offer more hands-on education opportunities for students.

Construction is well underway, with the roof expected to be complete by winter.

Superintendent Brent Ripley stopped by at the end of the school day to sign his name to one of the beams. He is looking to the future and said many will remember this moment in school district history.

“Twenty, thirty years from now, once the district does some remodeling they may expose these beams. You may have a kid working in the construction trades. You may have a kid working on site here as a faculty or staff member or a superintendent, and they’re going to be able to look up and see their name and remember this moment,” he said. “It’s memories that are being formed for our students, faculty, staff, and I couldn’t be more grateful. It just shows the power of the team we have here at Bridgeport and the bright future we have ahead for everybody.”

Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said every student from preschool through 12th grade wanted to be part of the signing, along with faculty and staff across the board.

“It’s very cool to be able to put our signatures on a part of something, to be part of something so big and meaningful within our district and community,” he said. “It really makes the kids a part of it. The kids are really going to love the new programs and offerings we’re going to have. Not only that, but the resources that are going to be a part of this new center as well. The kids are pretty pumped about it.”

Nicole Marple watched one of her children sign. She said the Bridge would be a convenient site for training and services.

“It’s very exciting. I can’t wait for the new building to open,” she said. “It’s a good experience. At least it’s closer and everyone can experience it. It’s especially good for the kids.”

Jana Saunders was touched that the school district would think of the students.

“I just think it’s awesome that the kids get a good education and experience. Overall I just think Bridgeport’s an awesome school.”

“I really like how the Bridge is expanding school. I think it’ll be really good for the school,” freshman Zaydon McNickle-Heil said. He looks forward to medical training in the Bridge, since he intends to go into a medical field.

Senior Isaac Sears’ name will be part of the Bridge long after he graduates.

“It’s pretty cool to have my name be a permanent part of the structure of the school,” he said. He anticipates possibly stopping back to use the indoor track.

Music teacher Ashley Krieger signed her name, along with her nieces and nephews.

“They’re very excited. Eventually they’ll all be high school students, and they’ll get to learn in the new building,” she said. “They’re going to have more opportunities to prepare them for job skills and to further their education for some college classes. It’s an exciting time to be a Bulldog.”

Her nephew, fourth grader Anthony, has heard about the training to be on offer at the Bridge.

“I want to take a drone class when I’m older.”

The moment was a special one for intervention specialist Ashawnna Hunt.

“It’s a historical moment for all of us. I was there when we tore down the old high school that I graduated from in 1992, so being part of not only our new school being built, but also an addition to that school really says a lot about the district and how much we’ve grown.”