The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

October 28, 2009

Fayette school money back in SBA pool

By Michelle James

It will be 2011 before Fayette County Schools has another chance at receiving state assistance for school improvement and construction projects, Dr. Mark Manchin, executive director of the state School Building Authority said Tuesday.

The SBA had committed $22 million to help in county-wide school improvement projects as well as with the construction of a new high school to replace Fayetteville, Midland Trail, Mount Hope and Oak Hill high schools.

After Saturday’s resounding defeat of the $49 million school bond call, however, that money earmarked for Fayette County went back into the general fund and will be used in assisting other counties with their school improvement projects.

“(It will probably be used for) a new school somewhere else or a couple of additions around the state,” Manchin said, explaining the decision will be made when the SBA reviews school improvement projects in April.

Although Fayette County voters decided by a more than 3-to-1 margin to defeat the bond, voters in Putnam and Berkeley counties did the opposite. Putnam will receive $21.7 million for the construction of a new Winfield Middle School and Berkeley, whose enrollment is on the rise, will receive $25 million to help construct the new Spring Mills High School.

Fayette cannot approach the SBA with a new proposal before 2011.

Manchin said, although he and Fayette school officials were hopeful voters would support the bond, Saturday’s election results were simply a demonstration of the democratic process.

“That’s what makes this country so great,” he said. “It might not make sense to you and to me, but that’s what made sense to 77 percent of the people who voted.

“They said, ‘No’.”

Although “No” was the answer to this proposal, Manchin said the needs in Fayette County remain and he is hopeful that all concerned will work together and come up with a different plan.

Manchin did stress, however, that the SBA would not commit to such a large amount of funding without participation (bond approval) from Fayette County residents.

“There are concerns and a great need in that county and I’m sure they’ll all come together and figure it out,” he said, adding some “difficult decisions” will have to be made. “The smart thing to do is try to bring everybody back together and don’t allow this to be divisive ...

“We’re here to try to provide facilities,” he continued. “Hopefully Fayette County will step back, reassess and reevaluate and come back with a plan everyone can support.”

— E-mail: mjames@register-herald.com

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