West Virginia School Building Authority Story Archives - Page 5 of 5

Governor Won't Intervene in Consolidation Rift

West Virginia Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin is staying out of a funding issue involving school consolidation in Fayette County.

State Board of Education President Mike Green wrote to Tomblin on Tuesday, asking that the School Building Authority conduct a new vote after rejecting Fayette County’s funding request.

Tomblin spokeswoman Shayna Varner tells the Charleston Gazette-Mail that Tomblin won’t force the SBA to hold a special meeting.

In September the Board of Education voted to combine Fayetteville, Meadow Bridge, Midland Trail and Oak Hill high schools. In denying the funding request Monday, the SBA cited a lack of local support, including a rejected bond issue by voters.

Green says the SBA exceeded its authority because it was only supposed to determine whether the required data had been filed.

Agency Nixes Consolidation Funding Plan

The state School Building Authority has rejected a funding plan for the consolidation of four high schools in Fayette County.

The authority voted Monday to deny the county’s request to let it compete with other counties for state funding to build a new high school. The authority distributes money raised from both state general revenue and lottery funds.

The state Board of Education voted this month to combine Fayetteville, Meadow Bridge, Midland Trail and Oak Hill high schools. The county then sought funding of up to $58 million for the new school.

Authority board members were concerned that neither Fayette County’s residents nor the local school board voted for the consolidation plan.

County voters in June rejected a bond issue that would have consolidated three high schools.

Nine Counties to Receive Funding for School Construction Projects

Nine counties will receive state funding for school construction projects.The largest award, $1 million, will go to Berkeley County to add six classrooms…

Nine counties will receive state funding for school construction projects.

The largest award, $1 million, will go to Berkeley County to add six classrooms to Potomack Intermediate School near Martinsburg.

Greenbrier, Wirt, Gilmer, Marion, Ohio, Fayette, Upshur and Lincoln will receive smaller grants for projects.

The Charleston Gazette reports that the West Virginia School Building Authority approved about $5.6 million for major improvement projects on Monday. The authority also approved about $1.6 million for projects affecting more than one school district.