FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The Fayette County Board of Education will hold a public meeting Thursday night to address plans to seek approval of nearly $39 million from voters for a school construction bond issue.
The voting would occur Jun. 13. The bond would be worth $66.5 million and $25.1 million would come from the state School Building Authority.
Engineers reported several Fayette County school buildings were in poor condition. Collins Middle School in Oak Hill was closed in January with 7th and 8th grade students now attending other schools.
West Virginia State School Superintendent Michael Martirano said they have outstanding facilities throughout the state, but saw several school buildings in Fayette County that concerned him.
“My concern is that the young people, in that particular county, need the best facilities to be educated in, but right now they have great challenges. The community has to come together to address that,” said Martirano.
Martirano said the state board will be listening to the community as they move the plan forward at Thursday night’s meeting.
The bond issue was posted on the school system’s website Tuesday. The projects listed on the bond call includes $12.7 million toward Mount Hope elementary school, $28 million toward Collins Middle School, $2.6 million toward renovations to Oak Hill High School, $1.3 million toward HAVC replacement at Ansted Middle School, $2.7 million to renovations to athletic fields at Valley High School, and $650,000 toward a classroom addition at Fayette Plateau Vo-Tech.
The closings of both Fayetteville and Meadow Bridge high schools are also on the plan.
Martirano said students should not have concerns about the facility when they go to school. He said it effects the learning process.
“I’ve been in buildings where they are less than desirable and it creates challenges. It takes a whole level, in terms of, people just aren’t committed at that highest level,” said Martirano.
Maritirano said the Fayette County school system needs a safe orderly environment in order for quality instruction to occur.
The Fayette County school system is currently under the direction of the state Board of Education. The meeting will be Thursday at 5 p.m. in Fayetteville to give residents a chance to respond to the bond call.