The Bedford City School District board voted 4–0 on June 26 to purchase a 19,000‑square‑foot building in Bedford for $2.5 million to serve as the district’s central office and to clear the way for the new high‑school construction schedule.

Superintendent Dr. Johnson explained the purchase is intended to avoid delaying the high‑school project and to avoid higher inflationary construction costs. “To delay the high school, would cost an inflation, for construction cost at least 3 and a half million dollars to delay that high school,” she said. Board members approved the purchase during the meeting roll call.

Dr. Johnson said the building is move‑in ready, about 15 years old, includes solar panels that keep utility costs low (she cited energy costs “less than $4,000 a year”), and costs about $132 per square foot — roughly half the estimated cost of constructing a comparable new board office. The administration told the board the building would accommodate central office functions now and could also host some high‑school programming, potentially reducing required square footage in the new high school.

Bond counsel recommended the district use interest earnings on bond proceeds to help pay for the purchase; the superintendent told the board those funds would remain with capital projects and “will not be coming from the general fund.” The administration said the transaction was consistent with commitments made when the bond measure passed: the district would keep facilities within Bedford City and avoid buying new land for school construction.

Board members asked for and were promised public communications after closing, including the building location and description of uses; the superintendent said the district will issue information to reflect the new mailing address and plan. No operating‑budget dollars will be used for the purchase, the administration said.

The vote recorded on the transcript shows four “Yes” responses from board members and that the motion passed 4–0.