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State school board adopts Fayette school plan, SBA is next

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The State Board of Education voted 6-3 in favor of adopting the Fayette County consolidation plan proposed by Superintendent Terry George, which would merge four high schools into one in the Oak Hill area.

“It’s really more about improving student achievement,” State School Board President Mike Green said. “And we felt that this plan gives us the best opportunity to give those kids the best academic offerings.”

During a meeting in Fayetteville Tuesday night, many expressed support for the school plan, but there was an outcry from Meadow Bridge residents who fear the travel time will negatively impact their students.

The travel time would likely be in the neighborhood of 80 minutes.

“Certainly the logistics, the bus transportation issues are part of it,” Green said. “But the struggle is more about what’s really the best thing for these kids.”

Fayette County has long attempted to renovate schools through a bond issue, but those votes have failed three times since 2001–including this past June.

“Historically, they have not been able to pass a bond,” Green said. “They are under state control, and this is what we thought would be in the best interest of all the children in Fayette County.”

Renovation of dilapidated school buildings has long been a priority for the advocates of change in Fayette County.

“The last thing we want to do is put our children in any kind of unsafe or uncomfortable situations for their learning in our schools,” Green said.

The plan is still not final, though. The School Building Authority will need to provide some funding to the county.

The new high school in Fayette County is scheduled to open in 2017 if there are no set backs. Additionally, Oak Hill High School transforms into the new Collins Middle School, and the county will build a new elementary school in Mount Hope.

“The important thing to recognize the fact that our small children, our younger children are going to be in safe schools,” Green said. “They’re going to be in safe schools in our community, and we strongly believe that’s the right way to go.”

In total, six schools would close under the consolidation plan, freeing up $50 million in funds for the proposed projects.

“At the end of the day, it’s about student achievement,” Green said. “We believe that this gives the children of Fayette County the best opportunity to improve in their student achievement and for them to be successful in their education careers, get jobs, stay in Fayette County, and contribute to their families and be good citizens in our community.”





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