News from Bowling Green City Schools
August 21, 2026
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Message from the Superintendent
Dear Members of the Bowling Green City Schools Community,
We welcomed students and staff back this week to begin the 2026–2027 school year! This is always an exciting time of year. While the weather certainly has not felt like fall, the start of a new school year brings a renewed sense of energy and excitement. We are thrilled to have our students back in our buildings and classrooms and look forward to all that this school year will bring.
| | Pictured above: All Staff Opening Day with performances by the BGHS Orchestra Quartet, Madrigals, and Bobcat Marching Band. | | We are also excited to welcome 15 new teachers and 10 new support staff members to Bowling Green City Schools. These new team members participated in the district’s New Staff Orientation, helping them get acquainted with our schools, our community, and one another as they begin their tenure with Bowling Green City Schools. We are grateful to have them join our team and look forward to the many contributions they will make to our students and district. | | Pictured above: New Staff Orientation held at Wood County District Public Library and the PAC Lobby. | | |
I also want to give a special shout-out to our custodial staff, maintenance staff, and summer crew for their pride, dedication, and hard work throughout the summer. Their efforts have prepared our facilities to welcome thousands of students and staff back for another school year. All of our buildings have been deep cleaned, organized, and tidied up, creating welcoming environments for learning. We truly appreciate the important work they do behind the scenes to make the start of a new school year possible.
At this month’s Board of Education meeting, Bowling Green City Schools Treasurer Matt Feasel presented the district’s Five-Year Forecast. While there are still many unknowns regarding the state of Ohio and how new legislation may impact school funding, the district’s financial outlook remains on solid ground. It is always our goal to be responsible stewards of the tax dollars and resources our community so graciously provides. We will continue to carefully monitor changes at the state level and make thoughtful decisions that prioritize our students and the long-term strength of our district.
Meanwhile, the new high school continues to take shape. On August 6, 2026, we held our “topping off” ceremony, signifying the installation of the final piece of steel. This was an exciting milestone in the project, and I am happy to report that the project continues to remain on budget and on time.
| | Pictured: Drone photos of the BGHS construction site taken by RLG on 8/18/26. | | |
As we look ahead, the district is also working through the detailed process of exploring our elementary facility needs. We continue to collaborate with our contracted architectural team, DLR Group, to develop a plan for what our facilities for our youngest learners could look like. We understand the importance of this work and will continue to keep our community informed as the process moves forward.
As we begin another school year, I am grateful for the tremendous support our community provides to Bowling Green City Schools. Together, we are creating opportunities for our students to learn, grow, and thrive.
| | Pictured: Dr. Haselman shared district updates at the August 20 Bowling Green Rotary meeting, including the new school year, finances, high school construction, and elementary facility planning. | | |
I am honored to serve the students, families, community, and staff of Bowling Green City Schools. I promise that our District will work hard to improve each day to provide a high-quality education for our students, a financially sound organization for our stakeholders, and be a point of pride for the entire community.
Go Bobcats,
Dr. Ted Haselman
Superintendent
| | August Staff Member of the Month: Richelle Oberlin | | |
Congratulations to Assistant Treasurer Richelle Oberlin, the Bowling Green City Schools August Staff Member of the Month! Although much of Richelle’s work takes place behind the scenes, its impact is felt throughout the district. She is always willing to lend a hand, approaches challenges with common sense and a positive attitude, and works diligently to make district processes more efficient for staff.
Richelle has held every role within a school district fiscal office during her career. She especially enjoys solving complex problems, finding solutions and improving everyday operations. Most recently, she has played an important role in moving employee contracts from paper to electronic documents and preparing for the rollout of online timesheets and leave forms. These improvements will save time, reduce paperwork and help the fiscal team better serve the district.
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While Richelle does not work directly with students, she and the fiscal team support them by identifying new revenue sources, finding savings, and streamlining processes so more resources can be directed toward student needs. She also appreciates the generosity of BGCS staff and the Bowling Green community, from supporting the Dear Santa program and inclusive playground project to helping families with student fees and classroom supplies.
Richelle’s nominator described her as “the epitome of a team player” who readily steps in when others need help. “Her work is behind the scenes, so I do not think everyone in the district is even aware of all that she does. The best part is that she always does it with such a positive attitude and smile—every single day!”
Outside of work, Richelle enjoys spending time with her family, visiting national parks, and hiking. She is currently preparing for her first overnight hiking trip and hopes to take on longer, multi-night treks in the future. Thank you, Richelle, for your dedication, positive attitude and commitment to supporting our staff, students and district!
| | Bobcat Band is Celebrating 100 Years of Music | | |
Calling all Bobcat Band Alumni! It’s time to register for the upcoming Bobcat Band's 100th Birthday Celebration at the homecoming football game on October 16! In order to cover costs, there is a $20 registration fee that covers dinner, a band alumni shirt, and entrance to the football game. We would love to have as many Bobcat Band alumni as possible to celebrate 100 years of musical excellence with the Bobcat Band!
Follow the link to reserve your spot by 9/16/26 for the Bobcat Band Alumni tailgate and halftime performance!
| | | Elementary Focus Group Workshops | | |
This summer, Bowling Green City Schools brought together a diverse group of stakeholders to begin shaping a shared vision for the future of the district's elementary schools. From the outset, the workshops reinforced a fundamental principle: every planning decision should center around the student.
The engagement process started by exploring the district's aspirations for teaching and learning through the development of a Profile of a Learner. This framework identifies the knowledge, skills, and dispositions the district hopes every elementary student will develop, and this serves as the foundation for future planning decisions.
Building upon this work, participants discussed the instructional experiences and learning environments needed to support that vision through Teaching and Learning and A Day in the Life activities. Conversations explored how educational priorities can be translated into spaces that foster collaboration, creativity, inclusion, student agency, and overall well-being.
Stakeholder groups also participated in a VALUES (Viewing Architecture Through User Experience and Sustainability) workshop to identify the qualities they believe should define Bowling Green City Schools’ future elementary schools and the communities they serve. Discussions focused on themes including community, equity, culture and identity, access and mobility, health and wellness, resiliency, and indoor environmental quality.
By bringing together the Profile of a Learner, the district's vision for teaching and learning, and the VALUES framework, the planning process establishes a clear foundation for future decision-making. Together, these three elements create a shared framework that will guide ongoing engagement, programming, and design decisions while ensuring every choice remains centered on student success.
Engagement Next Steps
The engagement process will continue throughout the fall with a series of focused conversations designed to gather input from a broader cross-section of the school community. The team will coordinate focus group sessions with representative stakeholders from each elementary school to explore opportunities, priorities, and unique school needs in greater depth. In addition, districtwide surveys will be distributed to teachers, staff, families, and community members to ensure a diverse range of perspectives informs the planning process and helps shape the future of Bowling Green City Schools' elementary learning environments.
| | Another Successful Fan Fair | | The Bobcat Athletic Boosters hosted the annual Fan Fair on Friday, August 14, at Bobcat Stadium in conjunction with the first home football scrimmage. Families enjoyed a parade featuring fall athletes and coaches, a performance by the Bobcat Marching Band, concessions, and activities for students. Pre-K through eighth-grade students completed the Passport Activity to earn free spirit t-shirts, while additional shirts were available for adults to purchase. The evening concluded with the Bowling Green Bobcat football scrimmage and plenty of Bobcat pride! Visit the Bowling Green Bobcat Athletic Boosters Facebook page for all of the photos from Fan Fair! | | Congratulations to the 23 Bowling Green City Schools students who earned a perfect score on one or more of their Ohio State Tests! This achievement takes dedication, hard work, and a passion for learning. We are so proud of these Bobcats, as well as the teachers, staff, and families who supported them every step of the way! | | Picture Perfect: Kenwood and Conneaut staff were excited to welcome students back for the first day of school! | | Follow Bowling Green City Schools on Social Media | | | | |
