BETHEL – SAD 44 Superintendent David Murphy and his central office staff are now comfortably settled in their new home.

Their new home is in the old Ethel Bisbey Elementary School building on Philbrook Street in Bethel Village.

The move took place in early August following some minor renovations. It was made to create more student space at the old office location at Telstar Middle and High School on Route 26.

“We decided to move so we could get rid of portable classrooms and have all the students under one roof.” Murphy said.

“We also have been able to move the middle school alternative education program from the Casablanca building to Telstar where it really belongs, and move adult education from here at Ethel Bisbey to Telstar as well.”

Now the students are all in one place, and his staff has more space in the central office. “It is a win-win situation for everyone,” Murphy said.

The school system had considered the move for several years, Murphy said.

“This year the school board agreed to the move and agreed to allow funding to bring the old school building up to code for our use.”

This is just the start, he said. “We will be lowering the ceilings and replacing some windows later to make it more energy efficient.”

The price tag for the project as approved by the board was not to exceed $30,000.

The Bisbey building is one of the oldest school buildings in Bethel and served students for many years. Following its closing as a regular school, it housed adult education and a computer center for several years.

It is still the site of the computer center, but plans are under way to move the center to Telstar as soon as possible.

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