Open house scheduled for Saturday, August 3
(BATESVILLE, Ind.) – The Batesville Community Education Foundation has completed the construction of an outdoor learning complex at Batesville Primary School.
The outdoor learning space will help improve academic performance, mental health outcomes, and enhance personal connections among students and teachers. The complex would be available to the school's approximately 550 students and more than 70 staff members.
The grand opening of this unique open-air educational facility will be held on Saturday, August 3 with public viewing hours beginning at 11 AM and lasting until at least noon.
“Many people have asked how BCEF developed this outdoor educational idea,” said Anne Wilson, BCEF executive director. “Last year, our annual campaign committee wanted to raise money to bring a flexible learning space to BPS conducive to lessons for STEM—science, technology, engineering, and math. However, with classroom space inside the building at a premium due to a growing student population, there was no place to put it.”
Not to be deterred, BCEF board member Jama Linkel-Cleghorn was intrigued by an outdoor learning company she had read about. She approached Wilson with the idea of relocating the planned classroom concept outside. After discussing it with the full BCEF board of directors and getting approval from the school administration, the BCEF committee members dug in, researching everything they could about how to put together such a project.
With most federal and state grants unavailable to BCEF, the foundation turned to private foundations and the city of Batesville to pitch the idea and kick-start the campaign. Wilson crafted a narrative that
Grant funding was received from the John A. Hillenbrand Foundation, the William A. and Martha H. Hillenbrand Foundation, the Hillenbrand Partner with Possibility Grant through the Ripley County Community Foundation (RCCF), the City of Batesville, the Rising Sun Regional Foundation, Honda, and the Fred and Jolene Rockwood Family Foundation. BCEF also received overwhelming financial support from individual donors.
“We thought this would be a multi-year campaign but are thrilled at the support we received,” explained Linkel-Cleghorn, who managed the project construction on behalf of BCEF with another board member, Ryan Holcomb, and Wilson. “BCEF is always very intentional with its spending, so we were creative in finding ways to cut project costs without sacrificing quality. We want to extend special thanks to BCSC director of operations, Tim Hunter, who provided invaluable assistance, advice, and resources whenever we needed help.”
When the school year officially opens at BPS on August 6, BPS students and teachers will be able to enjoy features such as a custom-built covered classroom with a whiteboard, outdoor magnet walls for STEM learning, two patios with flexible seating, weather-resistant chalkboards, and educational artwork.
“As far as we know, no other school corporation nearby—perhaps in the entire state—has an outdoor learning space of this magnitude,” Wilson concluded. “We would love to see the entire community come out on August 3 to learn more about this special project for our littlest learners. It’s our biggest gift yet to BCSC.”
The Batesville Community Education Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides additional funding for innovative learning opportunities that go beyond the basics in academics, athletics, and the arts in the Batesville public schools, enhancing the educational environment for all students.
More information about BCEF can be found at BatesvilleEducationFoundation.org or Wilson may be contacted at awilson@batesville.k12.in.us.
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