Bridgeport Exempted Village School District Superintendent Brent Ripley introduces educators to the full range of services the multipurpose “Bridge” facility will house once it is complete in August.(Photo provided)

BRIDGEPORT – Educators at Bridgeport Exempted Village School District took a virtual walkthrough and site tour of the nearly complete multipurpose facility that promises to benefit their educational mission and make the school district a hub of services and opportunities for the community.

Superintendent Brent Ripley found the professional development day Feb. 9 a perfect opportunity to present the 31,000 square foot addition to be dubbed “the Bridge” to his teachers and staff. The grant-funded $13.8 million Bridge will be a boon to the area, carrying no increase to property taxes and no additional levy. Ripley pointed out in 2031 the levy for the present building will expire, meaning a reduction in taxes for the Bridgeport Community.

“The community’s been great for us here in Bridgeport for a long time and we’re thankful. But this project is our way of giving back to our community as well.”

The crew from Beaver Constructors is working hard through the bitter cold, but on track for an opening ceremony this summer. Ribbon cutting has been narrowed down to Aug. 13 or 14, likely beginning at 5 p.m. While there has been some noise recently, Ripley said the heavy work is nearing completion and Beaver will soon shift effort to the interior.

The project also ran into a few hurdles along the way, such as raising the height five inches as a barrier against flooding, additional foundational support by driving 185 grand aggregate piers into the ground along the perimeter of the building footprint, underground storm detention chambers and an elevator for access to the second story.

“We have seen a price increase with this but continue to press forward applying for every eligible grant that we can to offset construction costs,” Ripley said. “We are not going to our taxpayers for an additional levy.”

Ripley outlined the project. The Bridge is designed to provide for fields of education, workforce development and health and wellness along with other extensive services for the public.

Planners took a holistic approach. For example, daycare dovetails with workforce training for adults who want to seek out additional credentials, but who need a nearby place to watch their children.

The WVU Medicine clinic and a dental office both have potential for growth. Ripley said health and fitness services are also expected to be popular. Alumnus and trainer Cole Smelley will open his Dog Pound gym for student athletes and the public, and the gym will hold a walking track and Silver Sneakers program for senior citizens. The golf simulator will be a draw for the public and for students as well.

Ripley added the medical and dental clinic, daycare provider and wellness area will have a free lease their first year.

“We want those partners to build that trust, get their constituents in the building and really establish their business.”

Meanwhile, the Bridge will begin generating revenue from convenient and affordable amenities such as the Silver Sneakers program, the golf simulator and from groups who rent the facility for events and celebrations.

The district also looks forward to growing student enrollment. Bridgeport Schools currently has an increase of 60 students this year.

“We have pressed forward futuristically while reprogramming what we do educationally,” Ripley said. “Our enrollment’s grown, and it’s because of the good work that we do here. We genuinely care for every kid. We do what’s best for every kid.”

The district will be hiring an administrator for the Bridge, a veterinarian assistant, an engineering and science technology teacher, a health occupations technology teacher, and a middle school classroom teacher. Ripley noted the middle school has seen impressive growth.

Ripley’s passion for education shone through, with education and training providing the means to fight poverty. Bridgeport Schools’ philosophy is helping students find their strengths and graduating them with tools for success.

The Bridge will enable the district to expand career-technical education pathways with additional options based on student data from YouScience assessment of high schoolers. Students are making the best use of their time in school and will have more options for credentials in science, technology, engineering, art and math, EMS/public safety, interactive media, exercise science, veterinary assistant credentialing and more. Through the College Credit Plus program there are opportunities for 42 college credits on site with options increasing for students who want to get an early start pursuing higher education.

“Every one of these links into a workforce credential or job training, so when they graduate from us, they go straight into a career or college,” Ripley said.

“Our goal is to be able to offer our students an associate degree,” he said. “Every kid will be able to link into a CTE pathway and/or College Credit Plus while they’re in high school. We’re also going to link middle school students into these pathways so they can explore some of them.”

Bridgeport High School Principal Jack Fisher said his teachers saw the possibilities.

“They’re excited for all the opportunities coming, not just academic but the community development, the wellness, there’s a lot of excitement about everything this is going to offer our students and our community and our district.”

This includes Hannah Boyer, who coaches softball as well as teaching Social Studies at the high school.

“The extra gym will be great for the high school, and all the extra classes will be great for our CCP students, and I think our kids will get a lot of good credentials out of this.”

Technology Director Lisa Clark said the student interns are also interested as they see the technology being installed in the Bridge. She noted There will be video conferencing equipment in all education areas.

“We’re making a lot of progress in the new building,” she said. “We really are looking at how can we make these spaces flexible. How can we make them accessible. One of the main things is making sure that kids have different opportunities to receive in-person instruction but also to receive instruction for someone outside of the campus or experts in the fields.”