Simpson Elementary Principals Team with Businesses, Community to Set Stage for Brand New Playground
By Jeff Toquinto on October 30, 2025
To the casual observer, there is does not appear to be anything out of line with the playground currently in use for Simpson Elementary School. It is still functional, and it is still in use.
For administrators, there have been concerns. And those concerns have led to a grassroots project to allow for a new, six-figure project that those involved hope to see up and running by the start of the 2026-27 school year.
On Monday, one of several businesses contributing to the project, Hope Gas, was on hand to present $25,000 to the effort with hundreds 
of SES students cheering on as the check was presented. They are among several groups that have stepped up, said Principal Todd Rubenstein and Assistant Principal Jeovanna Comer. However, it is what Rubenstein and Comer noticed that led to the project.
of SES students cheering on as the check was presented. They are among several groups that have stepped up, said Principal Todd Rubenstein and Assistant Principal Jeovanna Comer. However, it is what Rubenstein and Comer noticed that led to the project.
“We started seeing a lot of accident reports being generated from the kids. They weren’t serious injuries, but more bumps and bruises,” said Rubenstein. “All the kids were all out playing hard and having fun. The ground just wasn’t in the best shape. The equipment itself is not terrible, but it’s not the best. When we started considering this project, we realized this would really be an improvement for the school.”
Rubenstein said he and Comer also noted the area was just not as level as it needed to be. Rolling areas compounded some of those 
concerns.
concerns.
“We initially thought about bring the ground up to level, and said ‘wait a minute, there’s a whole lot more we can do.’ … That led us to look at an overhaul of the entire thing,” he said.
There will be more than just new playground equipment. There will be a leveled area. There will be a new retaining wall. The new water fountain that came over when Norwood Elementary closed will be a key piece. There will be a fence to improve security around the new play area.
“It will be safer, which is the most important thing. We know kids will still fall, still bump into one another, but this will be a much safer space for them,” Rubenstein said.
Comer said one thing that will be a component of all the additions, replacements, and improvements will be a similar theme. And it will be focused on a few primary things.
“When you drive by our school it doesn’t scream this is an elementary school. There is not a nice, beautiful playground with our school colors, which this will feature,” she said. “Plus, we want to have it more inclusive. We have a lot of kids here that are nonverbal, and we
have BFL (behavior for learning) students, too. We need the equipment to be appropriate for them and for there to be grade appropriate equipment.”
have BFL (behavior for learning) students, too. We need the equipment to be appropriate for them and for there to be grade appropriate equipment.”
The new equipment will include appropriate sections for various grades for hundreds of students. It will also be ADA compliant.
To date, the school has raised more than $60,000 for a project that is estimated to cost $143,000. Back on Oct. 7, Rubenstein and Comer presented a case for the Harrison County Board of Education to match dollars raised. No action has been taken on that request.
Work will begin on leveling and paving likely prior to the end of the school year. School officials say much of the prep work has been provided by BHE GT&S Volunteers. Timing will also be critical as once the order is placed, in December to look in the price, it will arrive 12 weeks later – and Comer pointed out that storage is limited.
The goal is to get things going in May. By that time, school will be wrapping up, and interruptions would be minimal at worst, and likely totally avoidable.
“By the start of next year it will be revamped, new and ready to go,” said Rubenstein.
It should be ready thanks to Hope Gas and others. Antero provided $25,000, and the Simpson Elementary PTA has provided $3,000 along with other donations.
“I’m 99.9 percent sure this is going to happen,” said Rubenstein.
And if the BOE does not match the money already raised?
“If it is a matter of raising additional funding, we’ll go out and secure it … We’ll find it,” said Comer.
Click HERE for all of the architectural renderings for the equipment.
Anyone wishing to make a contribution to the project, can do so by sending a check and made out to the Harrison County Board of Education with Simpson Elementary Playground listed in the memo section. To make it easier for residents, they can mail or drop off any checks to Simpson Elementary, and the school said they will ensure they are routed to the BOE Treasurer. The Simpson Elementary School address is 250 Worthington Drive, Bridgeport, WV.26330.
Editor's Note: Top photo shows Assistant Principal Jeovonna Comer, left, with Principal Todd Rubenstein just prior to Monday's check presentation, while the next image is a rendering of the equipment that will be put in place. That is followed with a group of students showing their appreciation for Hope Gas, while the bottom photo shows some of the kids having fun during the check presentation. Bottom photo courtesy of David Oliverio.
