OAK HARBOR, Ohio — A lawsuit filed in Ottawa County aims to halt the planned demolition of the old Oak Harbor middle school building. The suit, brought forward by an Oak Harbor resident, targets the Benton-Carroll-Salem Board of Education and district administrators, seeking an injunction to prevent the destruction of the building. The school, which was in use until January 2024 when students moved to a newly built middle school, has become the center of a contentious debate.
The lawsuit contends that the decision to demolish the building was made behind closed doors, without the necessary public discussion or vote, and therefore, it should not be considered a valid decision. The legal challenge has sparked concerns about the transparency of the school board’s decision-making process.
Superintendent Cathy Bergman, in a statement made last month, explained that the school board had spent nearly a decade deliberating the fate of the building. She noted that the board considered multiple plans, including six proposed options developed by a 48-member committee. The first five proposals involved securing funds through taxes, but each attempt failed. The sixth option, the demolition of the building, ultimately became the preferred solution.
“We attempted to pass a bond, but it failed. At the time, the estimated cost for preserving the building was between $13 million and $15 million, while building a new facility was less expensive,” Bergman said in January.
The district had also attempted to sell the building, but no buyers came forward. Faced with mounting costs, the district applied for and was awarded a $500,000 grant in December to assist with the demolition. However, the district must complete the demolition by June 30, or the grant will expire, leaving the district to cover the costs on its own.
While the school board and administrators argue that the decision to demolish the building is financially practical, opposition to the plan is growing within the community. Some residents, like Rob Wilson, believe the building could serve a greater purpose and contribute to revitalizing Oak Harbor.
“This building could be really beneficial to the community. Our town is slowly decaying, and we could use this space to bring in new homes, new businesses, and more foot traffic to the area. It could help our school, our local economy, and our community as a whole,” Wilson said, voicing frustration with the board’s plan.
Wilson’s sentiments reflect a broader concern among some residents who view the demolition as a missed opportunity for Oak Harbor’s growth. They argue that preserving the building could provide a foundation for future development, rather than contributing to the decline of the town’s infrastructure.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the community remains divided. The lawsuit has brought attention to the ongoing struggle between financial pragmatism and the desire to preserve historical and community assets. The outcome of this case will likely set a precedent for how future decisions regarding public property are made in Oak Harbor and beyond.