For those of you arriving at Bridgeport High School this morning, you may have noticed something different about the facility sitting along Johnson Avenue. If you’re not quite sure, take a look at the front of the building at the top.

 

After more than 50 years, the old “Bridgeport Senior High School” letters that were on the front of the building have been removed. BHS Principal Mark DeFazio had decided to remove the old letters earlier this year with “Bridgeport High School” and a pair of arrowheads.

 

“The work started this morning,” said BHS Assistant Principal Matt DeMotto. “It’s a whole new look.”

 

The old letters on the building were likely original to the building when it opened in 1963, Harrison County Schools Clerk of the Works Neil Quinn recently said. Quinn said the letters weren’t necessarily in bad shape, but that DeFazio wanted a new look and has said no one refers to the school as “Bridgeport Senior High School.”

 

Tuesday morning, Harrison County Board of Education workers began the work. They were finished later in the afternoon and also did some paint work in the area behind and around the new letters, which are larger and much bolder – and brighter – that what was previously in palce.

 

Quinn said the cost for the work was $4,918. The funding came from one of Bridgeport High School’s own school accounts.

 

The project is one of several already done or in the works to help give a fresh look to the aging school. Already this year, the school’s exterior was power washed. A project to replace the canopy around the main entrance on the front side of the school is also in the works. That project, which is expected to be done during this current school year, will be in the $100,000 range. BOE Director of Maintenance Joe Ammons provided that cost estimate. Those dollars do not come from a BHS account, but is through the BOE.

Editor's Note: Photos show BOE staff installing the new letters, logos on Tuesday.