One of West Virginia’s first charter schools is considering an expansion.
Members of the board that oversees the state’s charter schools system reviewed plans by West Virginia Academy in Morgantown to expand to an additional location in neighboring Preston County.
James Paul, executive director of the West Virginia Professional Charter Schools Board, told members that the academy recently received a significant donation of land and facilities in Preston County, “which are going to allow the school to eventually add a second campus and more athletic opportunities and offerings at that site.
“As of now the school is deciding whether to open that second campus this fall or in 2024.”
The potential second campus and sports facility is at the current site of the Preston County Youth Center in Masontown. The site is 20 acres and could result in a five-phase project.
The donation came from youth center founder Glenn Larew and the Coaltrain Corporation along with a matching donation from Bionic Tire Recycling for materials to develop additional sports facilities and classrooms for the campus.
“Of all the local counties close to where we operate, Preston County had the strongest support for charter schools and that was true both in terms of support in the legislature as well as just ground swell support for charter schools,” West Virginia Academy Chairman Jon Treu said in a MetroNews story last month.
West Virginia Academy’s Preston County campus is already a focus on its website,
There, West Virginia Academy says it is gauging interest levels for a possible pilot opening for the Preston Campus as early as next month, with developing plans for a larger cohort beginning in the fall of 2024.
The West Virginia Professional Charter Schools Board might amend the charter school’s contract to reflect the second facility.
“It’s very exciting to see the community support for the school, to see so much interest in the school,” Paul said.