CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state School Building Authority awarded approximately $20 million for Major Improvement Projects (MIP) in 18 West Virginia counties during a meeting Monday in Charleston.
SBA Executive Director Andy Neptune said they were able to increase the original amount of money available after some previous projects came in under budget.
“We were excited that we were able to touch things like HVAC projects, some safe school projects, some electrical switch gears,” Neptune said.
The maximum amount the SBA can approve for an MIP project is $1 million. The county school systems often match those funds with their own county funds.
Neptune said MIP projects take care of expensive projects that are needed at various schools including roof replacements.
“Time has been involved with HVACs or roofs that have been leaking. One of the projects we did was replacing the original roof at East Fairmont High School,” Neptune said.
MORE–see list of projects here
The SBA also gave approval Monday to extending the construction time for ongoing projects in Barbour, Calhoun, Mason and Raleigh counties. Neptune said the projects have fallen behind for various reasons.
“There are some shipping problems, things that are behind,” Neptune said. “It’s not as bad as covid but it still raises its head.”
Also at Monday’s meeting, Neptune decided against proposing an increase in allowable square footage costs for school construction projects in the state. He said there actually beginning to see prices go down, starting with roofing.
“That will obviously help the counties out with their costs. That’s the first sign (roofing bids) that construction prices may be on the way down,” Neptune said.
The SBA approved a 46 percent increase in the allowable square footage cost two years ago. That vote increased elementary schools’ costs per square foot from $307 to $447, Pre-K-8 schools from $305 to $445, middle schools from $302 to $442, and high schools from $300 to $440.
County school districts will make their pitches for Needs projects funding in December. Neptune said there’s probably going to be $40 million to $45 million available for allocation.