MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — The Berkeley County community will have the opportunity to vote on a bond to address rapid enrollment growth and modernize facilities for Berkeley County Schools.
The district is seeking approval of a $115.4 million bond when voters go to the polls on May 12 for the primary election.
Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ryan Saxe said the bond is necessary for the district.
“With growth comes the need for being able to not just be able to provide some additional classrooms spaces but take care of our aging infrastructure as well,” Saxe said. “This bond measure is commensurate with what voters have approved in the past in 2022, the same tax rate that was proposed then is very similar to what we’re asking this time.”
Saxe said the district has 32 schools, with some at or over capacity.
He said one of the major projects proposed is the construction of a new Hedgesville Middle School.
“We already own the property for it, it’s sort of adjacent to the high school off of Cumbo Road, so we don’t have to purchase property for it,” Saxe said. “This facility would also help alleviate some overcrowding from Spring Mills Middle School, about 150 students would end up coming to the new Hedgesville Middle School.”
Saxe said the plan also includes designating part of the new school for career and technical education, featuring agriculture and engineering and science programs through Project Lead the Way, with a focus on aviation and aerospace.
He said a new facility is long overdue and would also allow the district to repurpose the existing building.
“It’s time for us to be able to have a facility for the Hedgesville Middle School community that is commiserate with the awesome learning that is going on within those walls,” he said. “And the old Hedgesville Middle School, the hope is to be able to, and it’s actually in the bond, it would be repurposed for a daytime alternative school for students.”
In addition to the new middle school, Ryan Saxe said the district plans to build a standalone facility for career and technical education and has already selected a site.
“We already have started some of these programs in our home high schools but they’re growing and we need to be able to have more opportunities for students to be able to participate,” Saxe said. “We have an option to purchase, it’s contingent upon bond approval, the Kmart facility off of Apple Harvest Drive, it’s 115,000 square feet.”
Other proposed projects for the district include:
– classroom additions and renovations at Martinsburg South Middle School, Rosemont Elementary, Hedgesville High School, and Tomahawk Intermediate School
– cafeteria and kitchen upgrades at Musselman High School and Tomahawk Intermediate School
– Athletic facility improvements at Musselman High School
– HVAC upgrades at Martinsburg High School
– road improvements on Spring Mills campus
Saxe said that if the bond is approved, the funding would be combined with up to $45 million the county will request from the state School Building Authority.
The project will be part of the SBA’s “needs” grants requests at the end of the year.