2023-11-13 17:02:26
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Fayette County Schools Superintendent Gary Hough says if the state School Building Authority granted their latest funding request to build a new Midland Trail Elementary School, it would help them complete a long list of school construction projects they started working on more than seven years ago.
“We definitely want to see this happen because it is the culmination of all the work that we started on in 2016,” Hough told MetroNews following his presentation to the SBA in Charleston Monday.
The SBA is hearing from 27 county school superintendents across West Virginia Monday and Tuesday for NEEDS grant funding requests.
Fayette County Schools is asking the SBA for $15.6 million for their Midland Trail project. The district will contribute $6 million for a total project cost of $21.6 million.
Hough said the school system would’ve offered more funding on their end if it weren’t for high construction costs during COVID on their Meadow Bridge High School construction project in 2020.
“When we did our first round of bids that went out on the building, they came in a whole lot higher than the projected cost, probably regarding $10 million over what the projection was,” he said.
The current project will include the closure of Ansted Elementary and Divide Elementary. Students at those schools would go to the newly constructed Midland Trail. Ansted and Divide will then be donated to the community, according to the plan.
Hough said there’s a lot of structural problems with both of those schools.
“The longevity of that building is not there. It’s not very strong,” he said of Ansted.
If awarded SBA funding, Hough said they should have the Midland Trail project complete within 2-3 years.
The SBA is considering school construction proposals for the first time since approving a 46 percent increase in the square footage cost allowance last month. It’s the first increase in the allowance since 2019.
The previous allowance cost was just more than $300 per square foot. Elementary schools will now be allowed to ask for $447 per square foot. Pre-K-8 schools are allowed up to $445, middle schools up to $442 and high schools up to $440.
In the last two years the SBA has had to add money to a number of projects because the original amount of money awarded wasn’t enough due to several factors. Superintendents told MetroNews on Monday the change helps offset inflation costs.
“Like everything else, we were in a market that was unpredictable. It was very unpredictable every time we bid. I think there’s more predictability in that market and I really give the SBA credit for looking at those,” Hough said.
Raleigh County Schools Superintendent Dr. Serena Starcher also applauded the SBA for making the adjustment.
“That’s helpful,” she said. “We have multiple construction projects going on in Raleigh County. We’re wrapping up construction of a new elementary school at Stratton and then we have a significant renovation and addition at Shady Spring. The costs have escalated so much over the last few years that any increase the authority grants is welcomed.”
Starcher was also at the SBA meeting Monday to request $2 million in NEEDS grant funding to replace an old water line at Woodrow Wilson High School and the Academy of Careers Technical Center.
The old line has caused problems at both locations, she said.
“We’ve had to close school both at Woodrow Wilson and at the Academy of Careers Technical Center when we’ve had a rupture. When we have a major rupture, it’s not something that typically can be repaired that day. We have to close schools, order parts and take the time to repair it,” Starcher said.
Raleigh County Schools will contribute another $2 million toward the project, bringing the total cost to $4 million.
The SBA will continue hearing from superintendents on Tuesday. To view project proposals, CLICK HERE.
Project funding will be selected at the SBA’s meeting Dec. 11.
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