The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

April 20, 2009

SBA approves funds for new Fayette school

Jessica Farrish

The Fayette County schools system is on its way to receiving more than $21.8 million from the School Building Authority to build the new Fayette Plateau High School, officials said Monday.

The needs-based grant is contingent upon Fayette voters passing a bond this fall and is part of a $74 million plan to modernize Fayette schools.

“I’m very pleased,” said Fayette Schools Superintendent Chris Perkins. “Obviously, I am very thankful for the support Fayette County has received from the SBA in moving the school system forward.

“But I am also appreciative that the SBA recognized the merits of this project and the impact it will have on our students.”

SBA announced the needs grants Monday at www.wvs.state.wv.us/wvsba.

The next step, said Perkins, is to develop the bond call.

It will be placed on a ballot some time in the fall, he added.

Some money from the proposed bond call will support the new high school, but some of the monies will be used to renovate and modernize schools throughout the county, he said.

Perkins said he “can be nothing but positive and optimistic” that voters will pass the bond.

“I believe the citizens of Fayette County value the education of their children, and I’m very optimistic and hopeful that over these next several months, we will provide the information about those things that will be done within that bond call to illustrate to the citizens of Fayette County that this is a county-wide project, not just specific to the new building,” said Perkins.

The county was also awarded a $100,000 planning grant that will assist in the development of the bond.

The project consists of building the Fayette Plateau High School that will combine Mount Hope, Oak Hill, Fayetteville and Midland Trail high schools.

It will also provide $18 million in upgrades and improvements to Meadow Bridge and Valley high schools and Meadow Bridge and Valley elementary schools.

The plan would also increase the number of students who have access to athletics, band, choir and art classes, Perkins said.

Greenbrier County Schools also was awarded a $10.6 million grant by SBA in a multi-year commitment grant that stems from the last fiscal year’s funding.

The money is to be used as part of a $49.9 million, county-wide building program, according to Greenbrier Schools Superintendent John Curry and the SBA Web site.

Curry said Greenbrier officials plan to use the money to upgrade county facilities.

In November, Greenbrier voters narrowly approved a school bond issue for $37.7 million.

The SBA grant was contingent upon passage of the Greenbrier bond issue.

— E-mail:

jfarrish@register-herald.com

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