Leadership at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind (WVSDB) have been given the thumbs up to further look into plans to buy property and to expand services.
The state Board of Education Wednesday gave Lynn Boyer, superintendent of the WVSDB, the authority to begin negotiations on purchasing a property to emphasize independent living.
The WVSDB has proposed a model program that would emphasize independent living skills for young adults with hearing and vision problems who have graduated from high school.
The program would allow young adults from across West Virginia to participate even if they have not attended WVSDB.
If the state BOE approves the proposed program and purchase, the WVSDB plans to use gifts and received funds to the school to buy real estate to house the model.
The board has placed the WVSDB Legislative Improvement Package on hold until next month.
$3.4 million is still needed for the full restoration project. The School Building Authority granted the WVSDB $1 million in a 3 percent statewide grant to update facilities on the Romney campus.