While students are enjoying a renovated cafeteria, a new library and new athletic facilities, improvements are still being made, particularly to the school’s exterior.

Such updates include larger, more prominent signs at both entrance driveways to the school, along with brighter, more energy-efficient lighting in the parking lot.

Asst. Superintendent Robert Hardis hopes the new signs will help others locate BHS more easily.

“There was a sign at each entrance before,” he said.

However, Hardis explained that the old signs were not sufficient. “[They were] pretty small signs, easily missed.”

“[The district wanted to] announce the presence of the high school in a more dramatic fashion,” he said.

According to Hardis, a great deal of planning went into the signs. The slanted design was proposed by Superintendent Dr. Richard Markwardt.

By doing so, Hardis explained, the signs would mirror the roofline and architectural cues of the high school building.

The funds for the signage did not come out of the construction budget, according to Treasurer & Director of Finance Michele Mills.

In 2012, the District purchased and razed a home on Richmond Rd., clearing way for the wider driveway and new signs.

“This was not contemplated at the time the District issued bonds for the [high school] project. The signs were added after we expanded the driveway,” Mills wrote in an email.

At the time of publication, according to Mills, the district has not yet paid the $43,490 tab to Apex Construction for the signs, electrical work, and landscaping, as work on the project has not yet been completed.

According to Mills, the parking lot lighting cost the district $22,875.

The funds for the lighting, Hardis said, were not taken from the construction budget either.

“[The updated lights were installed] out of necessity,” Hardis said, explaining that the old light poles posed a safety hazard, as the bases were rusting out.

“The lights that we had there were, to the best of my knowledge, original,” he said.

“Over time, several of [the old parking lot light poles] were starting to bend and [slowly] come down during heavy winds,” Hardis said.

This safety hazard, Hardis described, seemed to be the perfect opportunity for the district to purchase lights that were more energy-efficient and projected brighter onto the lot.

According to Asst. Principal Ryan Patti, many parents have voiced approval.

“I like it better,” said sophomore Shawn May, who drives to school. “It’s easier to tell where the parking spots are.”