If you look near the athletic training center at the rear of the Brookfield Local School District property,
you’ll see pipes coming up out of the ground. Those pipes were supposed to be used to connect utilities to
a Brookfield Board of Education office housing administrative personnel.
“We ran out of money,” Supt. Toby Gibson said of why the building was never constructed.
Instead, the offices were built within the school, occupying what was to be a classroom and a conference
room, said Gibson, who was a Brookfield teacher when the school was built in 2011.
As Gibson and other school officials have looked to offer more high school classes, start a preschool
program, host more mental health services for students and manage spacing guidelines during a
pandemic, they have grappled with a lack of space. By buying the former bank building across Bedford
Road from the school, and moving the board offices into the 4,000-square-foot space, officials hope to
open up room for increased programs and services.
promoThe board approved purchasing the building from Brookway Associates on May 12 for a sale price not to exceed $368,000.
If the sale goes through, the board would move eight employees into the building in July, Gibson said.
“It finishes a project that started in 2012,” he said. “It fell incomplete because we ran out of money. It
allows us to finish that at a cheaper rate, larger space. It helps us open classroom space to provide course offerings to high school students and preschool opportunity to families in our community. It also opens up
office and conference room space for support staff and social services, which is essential as we head into
next year.”
School Board member Jerry Necastro called the purchase a “home run” because it “fits all of our needs”
and does it more cheaply than if the district had tried to build a board office.
“With our initiatives around the preschool, it just aligns exactly with what we want to do,” said board
member Sarah Kurpe. “This opens up options to use the space here. I think part of our responsibility as a
board is making sure that we’re making good, sound financial decisions. I think this is really in align to
what vision we’re looking at for the future of the school district.”
Board member Melissa Sydlowski said buying the building alleviates having an empty building on a main
road in the township.
“I just think it’s good all the way around,” she said.
The sale is contingent on the permit process for renovating the building, and final paperwork, Gibson
said.
Gibson was teased about having an office not connected to the main school building as he is a visible
superintendent who walks the halls, sits in on assemblies and activities and interacts with students and
staff.
“I guess I’m gonna be in shape,” he said. “I’ll get some steps in and give me an excuse to walk up the hill.
It’s gonna be a challenge personally. Knowing myself, I’ll make it a point to get over here.”