CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state School Building Authority handed out more than $6 million in funding Monday for a handful of school construction projects in West Virginia.
The agency had $5 million to allocate under its Major Improvement Projects (MIP) program and just more than $1 million as part of its three-percent grant program.
Both Harrison and Kanawha counties received $1 million MIP grants.
Kanawha County will use its grant for a $3.5 million renovation project at Alum Creek Elementary School, SBA Director of Architectural Services Ben Ashley said.
The School Building Authority awarded $4,948,974 in Major Improvement Project (MIP) funds to seven counties this morning. pic.twitter.com/SyeKciCb3C
— Ben Ashley (@BenAshleyWV) June 17, 2019
“They are combining the two buildings with a hallway. They’re moving the office to the front of the school to better process the visitors separately from the students. They are removing a portable classroom and make it one safe facility,” Ashley said.
The $1 million grant going to Harrison County will be part of a $2.5 million impacting Lost Creek Elementary. Ashley said the school will be moved to West Milford where it will use an unused wing of South Harrison Middle School plus a classroom addition to create a new school.
“They’ll be able to house a new school there in its own wing,” Ashley said.
Other MIP grants went to Jefferson, Pendleton, Pocahontas, Wayne and Webster counties.
The School Building Authority awarded $1,075,374 in Three Percent Grants to four facilities this morning. pic.twitter.com/nDbbxrEPSh
— Ben Ashley (@BenAshleyWV) June 17, 2019
The three-percent grants will fund things like roof replacements and water treatment improvements at four multi-county technical education centers. The Roane-Jackson Technical Education Center tops the list at $464,000.
It’s anticipated the SBA will have approximately $56 million to allocate in Needs Grant funding later this year. Interviews with county school superintendents are scheduled for Nov. 4-5 with the funding decisions set for Dec. 9.