CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state School Building Authority made it three for three for the Nicholas County post-flood school building plan when it approved the proposal Thursday afternoon.
The SBA vote combined with approval votes earlier this week from the state Board of Education and Nicholas County School Board moves the plan forward for the Federal Emergency Management Agency to consider for funding.
Nicholas County School Superintendent Donna Burge-Tetrick says some more work will have to be done before FEMA signs-off on the plan.
“If we can get a scope of work confirmed before Sept. 26 then we can actually get the plan locked in and start construction,” she told the state Board of Education Wednesday.
FEMA will pay for most of the construction of two new schools in Richwood and two new schools and a technical education center at Glade Creek.
The SBA vote Thursday was approval of a change to the county’s Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan (CEFP).
“My goal is to start construction as quickly as possible,” Burge-Tetrick said. “Our kids have been in pods long enough.”
The June 2016 flood destroyed Richwood High School, Richwood Middle School and Summersville Middle School. The new plan includes the construction of those three schools, the tech-ed center and a new Nicholas County High School.
“My goal is to have everything completed within three years. That’s optimistic,” Burge Tetrick said.
The Richwood schools will be built at Cherry River Elementary.