Published: September 14, 2008 09:34 pm         

Informational meetings set for Greenbrier school bond

Greenbrier County school officials have scheduled two informational meetings on the proposed $37.7 million school bond for today and Wednesday.

The meetings are designed for citizens interested in learning more about the proposed school bond that will be on the Nov. 4 election ballot, said Christy Clemons-Rodgers, coordinator for the county’s business and community partnerships.

“The proposed school bond will directly impact five schools in the county and also students from all the communities in Greenbrier County,” Clemons-Rodgers said.

The $37.7 million bond proposal includes construction of new Rainelle Elementary ($10.7 million, serving 240 students) and Lewisburg Elementary ($17.2 million, serving 500 students) schools; health and safety upgrades to Smoot Elementary ($500,000, serving 165 students); construction of an auxiliary gym at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School ($1.3 million, serving 850 students) and major renovations to Greenbrier West High School ($20 million, serving 440 students).

If the bond passes, the state School Building Authority will award an additional $10.6 million to Greenbrier County for completion of the Greenbrier West project. Those funds will not be provided to Greenbrier West if the bond fails, Clemons-Rodgers said.

“Bond funds for the identified projects must be used only for those projects as specified in the bond call and may not be transferred to other projects,” Clemons-Rodgers said. “It is the goal of the Greenbrier County Board of Education to begin all projects simultaneously, pending voter approval of the bond.”

Today’s meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at Rainelle Elementary School and Wednesday’s meeting will be at 5:30 p.m. at Lewisburg Elementary School.

— E-mail: cgiggenbach@register-herald.com