|Photo by Joselyn King| Bethlehem Elementary School PTO President Melanie Trabert, left, Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton and Bethlehem Mayor Matthew Saseen attend Monday’s meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education. The county and the village each agreed to provide $26,000 toward a playground project at Bethlehem Elementary School.
WHEELING – Sometimes it takes a village, a county commission and a board of education for an elementary school to get a new playground.
Bethlehem Elementary needed about $190,000 to build a place for student recess, and over the past two years the school raised $111,116 through everything from pepperoni roll sales to Sarris candy sales to raffles, Principal Drew Vilani told Ohio County Board of Education members Monday night.
Recent weeks saw the Ohio County Commission and village of Bethlehem each contribute $26,000 in American Rescue Plan Action funds to the project.
On Monday, Ohio County Board of Education members unanimously agreed to fund the remaining $27,378 needed to make the playground a reality.
Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, Bethlehem Mayor Matthew Saseen and Bethlehem Elementary PTO President Melanie Trabert all were present at Monday’s board of education meeting to show their support for the project. County Administrator Randy Russell also was seen peeking in later in the meeting.
“As you know, recess is the central component of a comprehensive school physical activity program, and is part of the total education experience for elementary students,” Vilani said.
There are many physical benefits, including cardio-respiratory endurance, muscular endurance, and strength, flexibility, balance and spatial awareness, he continued. Social benefits include the learning of cooperation and sharing through experiences on the playground.
Then there are the cognitive benefits, such as language development, and a decrease in boredom and restlessness, and the emotional benefits of eliminating stress and anxiety, Vilani said.
There has never been a playground at Bethlehem Elementary School.
Most recently, the city of Wheeling has given schools ARPA funds to build playgrounds that would be open to the public, but Bethlehem is not within the city of Wheeling, Vilani explained. As such, school officials approached village officials and the county commission for assistance.
The Ohio County Commission is next scheduled to meet on April 16, and is expected to approve their $26,000 contribution. Likewise, the village of Bethlehem is set to meet April 15 to pass their share of the funding.
“This playground will be open to the public during after-school hours,” Vilani told the board.
Wharton explained Bethlehem Elementary made an application to the county for ARPA funding, but was not among the county’s initial list of recipients.
Since then, the county discovered they had more funds available, he explained.
“It seemed a perfect use for a project like this since ARPA projects have to be bid out and completed by the end of the year. It seemed a perfect project for us to get involved with,” Wharton said.
He noted that board president Andy Garber gave him “a very compelling argument” on the benefits of recess.
“The county commissioners are very grateful to have the ability to partner with the school district on anything,” Wharton continued. “Especially something like this, and especially the village of Bethlehem which is the largest incorporated village in the county.
“I anticipate some more news in the future about some playgrounds that could benefit the school system.”
Saseen said the village’s biggest holdback was not knowing whether the playground would be for public use or not.
“As we began exploring the situation, we came to understand that, if we do make a motion to fund the program, we’re going to follow through as long as we three entities can get together. We would like to see a shared use agreement put out there,” he said.
“Now that the county commission and school board could be on board, I am confident.”
Board of education members voted 4-0 to fund the remainder of the project, with members Garber, Erik Schramm, David Croft and Pete Chacalos all voting yes. Member Molly Aderholt was not present, but she sent word through Garber that she would have voted in favor.
The board is next set to meet for a special levy order meeting at 8 a.m. on April 16 at the board office, 2203 National Road, Elm Grove.
Their next regular meeting is scheduled for April 22 at the board office.
