Fayette County school officials want to consolidate four high schools into one building off U.S. 19 that would house nearly 1,600 students and be part of an ambitious $74 million countywide renovation.
Fayette County school officials want to consolidate four high schools into one building off U.S. 19 that would house nearly 1,600 students and be part of an ambitious $74 million countywide renovation.
Fayette Superintendent Chris Perkins requested $25 million Tuesday from the state School Building Authority to consolidate students from Midland Trail, Mount Hope, Oak Hill and Fayetteville high schools.
Later this year, Fayette school officials plan to run a local bond that would cover the bulk of the other $31 million needed for the project. Another $18 million would be spent on improvements and upgrades at buildings such as Valley and Meadow Bridge high schools and Valley and Meadow Bridge elementary schools.
The consolidation would help the county reduce its number of schools from 23 to 16, Perkins said.
Nuttall, Ansted and Collins middle schools and Fayetteville, Mount Hope and Gatewood elementary schools would close. Other county schools would be reconfigured.
In December 2007, state education auditors criticized the county's ability to maintain nearly two-dozen schools. At the time, state Schools Superintendent Steve Paine said Fayette schools had serious health, safety and cleanliness issues.
He issued a challenge to Fayette County school board members, asking if they have the political will to step up and fix their schools, particularly the high schools.
In 2007, Kenna Seal, director of the Office of Education Performance Audits, also said Fayette County supports about four more high schools than it should, based on its total number of students. The county has six high schools.
On Tuesday, SBA member Connie Perry said she admired Fayette school officials for their aim, which will require a great deal of planning in the community.
The new school is expected to save the county $445,000 a year in maintenance and utility costs, Perkins said.
Also Tuesday, Gilmer County Superintendent Ed Toman and school board President Phyllis Starkey pitched a new Normantown Elementary School to the SBA. It would cost $8.2 million. The old Normantown school has been plagued by mold and structural problems, which forced young students outside into portable buildings.
Gilmer County, however, also has structural problems with Sand Fork and Troy elementary schools.
Fayette County school officials want to consolidate four high schools into one building off U.S. 19 that would house nearly 1,600 students and be part of an ambitious $74 million countywide renovation.
Fayette Superintendent Chris Perkins requested $25 million Tuesday from the state School Building Authority to consolidate students from Midland Trail, Mount Hope, Oak Hill and Fayetteville high schools.
Later this year, Fayette school officials plan to run a local bond that would cover the bulk of the other $31 million needed for the project. Another $18 million would be spent on improvements and upgrades at buildings such as Valley and Meadow Bridge high schools and Valley and Meadow Bridge elementary schools.
The consolidation would help the county reduce its number of schools from 23 to 16, Perkins said.
Nuttall, Ansted and Collins middle schools and Fayetteville, Mount Hope and Gatewood elementary schools would close. Other county schools would be reconfigured.
In December 2007, state education auditors criticized the county's ability to maintain nearly two-dozen schools. At the time, state Schools Superintendent Steve Paine said Fayette schools had serious health, safety and cleanliness issues.
He issued a challenge to Fayette County school board members, asking if they have the political will to step up and fix their schools, particularly the high schools.
In 2007, Kenna Seal, director of the Office of Education Performance Audits, also said Fayette County supports about four more high schools than it should, based on its total number of students. The county has six high schools.
On Tuesday, SBA member Connie Perry said she admired Fayette school officials for their aim, which will require a great deal of planning in the community.
The new school is expected to save the county $445,000 a year in maintenance and utility costs, Perkins said.
Also Tuesday, Gilmer County Superintendent Ed Toman and school board President Phyllis Starkey pitched a new Normantown Elementary School to the SBA. It would cost $8.2 million. The old Normantown school has been plagued by mold and structural problems, which forced young students outside into portable buildings.
Gilmer County, however, also has structural problems with Sand Fork and Troy elementary schools.
"We see similar problems as in Normantown. At this point we don't see imminent danger but we don't know when that may change," said Bill Elswick, director of the state Department of Education's Office of School Facilities.
Structural reviews have been ordered for both schools, Elswick said. He wants a registered, professional engineer in West Virginia to say whether the buildings are structurally sound to make sure children are not at risk.
In light of these problems, Tom Lange and other SBA members wondered why Gilmer officials have not considered a packaged bond issue to address Troy, Sand Fork and Normantown.
Starkey said voters have not passed a bond in Gilmer County since the 1950s. She and Toman both said many Gilmer residents favor small, community schools.
Gilmer officials plan to put up only $50,000 of county money for a new Normantown Elementary. The SBA often considers projects more attractive when county leaders make their own sizable investment.
"You got to have people that take ownership," Lange said. "That's what the governor's been advocating and that's what we've been advocating."
Also, Lange believes the situation in Gilmer County was not helped when a majority of board members declined to renew Toman's contract at a meeting last week.
At the suggestion of SBA member Louis Spatafore, SBA staff will help Gilmer school leaders draw up a plan to address their needs.
Also Thursday, Roane County Superintendent Steve Goffreda pitched a $5 million expansion to Geary Elementary/Middle School. The addition calls for new classrooms, a science lab and a new gymnasium, which would be a welcome relief to the cramped confines where at least one basketball player was hurt, Goffreda said.
"It's unsafe as a gymnasium for physical education and ballgames," he said. "A lot of schools just won't play us."
Reach Davin White at davinwh...@wvgazette.com or 304-348-1254.
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