Published: September 19, 2009 11:49 pm      

Fayette BOE chief sheds light on bond

FAYETTEVILLE — Editor’s note: This is the first story in a three-part Sunday series focusing on the school bond call that will be voted on Oct. 24 in Fayette County.

With just more than a month remaining before Fayette County voters head to the polls to cast their ballots on a $49 million school bond, the most talked about issue remains the proposed consolidation of four of the county’s six high schools.

Although that consolidation is a major part of the bond call, schools Superintendent Chris Perkins says the eight school improvement projects the bond would support are of equal importance.

“It’s about moving our school system forward and addressing our needs,” Perkins said. “A new school is part of the proposal, but most importantly, it’s about over $17 million in renovations and upgrades to existing facilities that will allow us to bring our facilities and our buildings more in line with the 21st century.”

The following is a synopsis of the proposed improvement projects:

- With passage of the bond, Fayetteville High School would vacate its current location and its student body would consolidate with Oak Hill, Mount Hope and Midland Trail high schools in a new facility.

Perkins said $3.25 million from the bond proceeds would be used to renovate and add to the current Fayetteville High School. That facility would then replace the existing Fayetteville and Gatewood elementary schools and include students in grades seven and eight at Fayetteville High.

Improvements to the facility would be a new kitchen, dining area, new classrooms and additional gymnasium seating.

Perkins said that move would close two of the oldest facilities in the county. Fayetteville Elementary is 86 years old, and not ADA compliant, and Gatewood is 56 years old.

- Mount Hope Elementary’s enrollment of approximately 260 students would leave the 80-year-old building and move into the current Mount Hope High School, which would receive $1 million in renovations.

The current Mount Hope Elementary is not ADA compliant.

- Students from Collins Middle School, and fifth-through-eighth-grade students from Mount Hope High School would consolidate, moving into the current Oak Hill High School, which would receive $1.25 million in renovations.

- The student bodies from Ansted and Nuttall middle schools, neither of which are ADA compliant, would combine and fill the halls of the current Midland Trail High School. A $1.1 million renovation project is planned for that facility.

- Although the Valley District would not receive a new facility, Perkins said it is important for its residents to know they would not be left out since renovations to both the elementary and high school are planned.

Currently, cooks from Valley High School prepare lunches for Valley Elementary School since the latter has no kitchen. Additionally, the lack of a cafeteria at the elementary school, Perkins said, means the students eat in the gymnasium.

The bond would allow construction of a kitchen and dining area for the elementary school, estimated to cost $1.25 million.

An additional $3.75 million would be spent at the high school, renovating and adding science labs, an auxiliary gymnasium, football field and track facility, meaning the students would no longer have to share a field with WVU Tech.

- Meadow Bridge Elementary and High schools would also receive renovations and additions.

The elementary school would be the recipient of $1.75 in renovations and additions as a new kitchen and dining area would be constructed.

A $3.5 renovation/addition project would take place at the high school, which would receive a new entrance, administration area, commons/dining area and new gymnasium equipment.

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Perkins says it is important for voters to realize the proposed plan is not just about consolidating schools, but about renovating and “reconfiguring” existing facilities in an effort to move the school system into the future.

“It’s about combining the resources and providing a better environment for kids,” he said. “It will move our school system into the forefront and allow us to address a lot of needs we have across a wide variety of areas, most importantly the education of our students.”

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com