ELKVIEW, W.Va. — Kanawha County school officials have their eyes on potential sites to build a new Herbert Hoover High and Clendenin Elementary after both schools were destroyed in the June 2016 flood.
Ric Cavender, member of the Kanawha County Board of Education, said the board is reviewing multiple sites. So far, they’re interested in building the new high school near the Given Fork stream in Elkview. A site along Hokie Lane in Elkview is being considered for the new elementary school.
“We have architects out reviewing the land in Elkview,” Cavender said. “We don’t officially acquire the land yet, but it is the site that we are currently looking at.”
Currently, Hoover students are attending Elkview Middle on a split schedule until portable classrooms are installed on Elkview’s campus. Cavender said the portables won’t be in place until next month.
“They were supposed to be in about a month ago. We’ve had a couple set backs, but it’s looking like the first couple weeks of April they’ll finally have their own separate portables,” he said. “These kids have really been troopers.”
Clendenin Elementary is dealing with a similar situation. Those students will be housed in portables at Bridge Elementary after their school building was destroyed in the flood. School officials said those students are expected to be in those units by March 23.
Crews will also build a new school for Clendenin Elementary. The Kanawha County Board of Education will need to approve two sites where the new schools will be built.
The entire project could take years to complete, Cavender said.
“It’s looking like the construction project will take minimum two years, maybe even three, before the new school is built,” he said.
The Kanawha County Board of Education will meet at 6 p.m. Thursday to discuss the projects.