Associated Press Published

West Virginia Agency OKs Funds for School Building Projects

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The West Virginia School Building Authority has voted to fund $59.1 million in facilities projects statewide.

Monday’s vote includes construction and renovation projects for public school systems in 22 counties. The Charleston Gazette-Mail reports $49.2 million comes from this year’s “needs” grant funding cycle and $9.9 million is from next year’s cycle.

The board voted to spend $10.7 million for a new prekindergarten through second-grade school in Mercer County and $7.5 million for expansion of the Wood County Technical Center in Parkersburg.

Other projects include $7 million to fix heating and cooling issues and replace part of the roof of the Ben Franklin Career Center in Kanawha County, and $6.6 million toward a new Highlawn Elementary School in Huntington.

Twenty-seven counties had sought $89.8 million in funding.