Hillsboro Elementary Slated To Get New Cafeteria

Hillsboro, WV – There are big things happening at the Hillsboro Elementary School. After many attempts, the school will finally have a new cafeteria. Since the schools construction, the students at Hillsboro have braved the elements once in the morning before classes started and once again for lunch in the afternoon.
The nearly 80 feet between the southern wing of the school and the cafeteria expose the children to several risks including weather, traffic from nearby 219 and the ever present danger of child predators. But recently, due to a great team effort between the school’s Principal Ricky Sharp II, Pocahontas County Superintendant C.C. Lester and several Board of Education members, the proposal was again presented and this time was accepted; Mr. Lester explains.

“So we presented it last year, and unfortunately, I think this was the fourth or fifth time we’ve done it,” says Sharp. “Last year, we once again, didn’t receive it; the answer was that they were looking for school systems to pass levies and bonds, which is very difficult in the county because of the farmland, and things like that, it’s difficult to pass now anyway, in any county.”

“So, we didn’t get it, [and] after that, I was at a superintendant’s meeting and I talked to Dr. Manchin. I talked to State Superintendant of Schools and I kept talking to them and I went back time after time. Mr. Sharp contacted people, then they came to visit last year and a member of the SBA team came down and looked at the school. Dr. Manchin came down and looked at the school, and so we presented again. This time it took, Mr. Sharp, Mrs. Irvine and Mr. Vance, we presented and, and thank the Lord we received the grant, because it’s something I feel we really need. The school’s right beside the road and look what’s in the news today, about the guy who kidnapped the girl they can’t find. Kids come first, the safety of kids comes first.”

The new building will be situated between the current gymnasium and the northern-most wing of the elementary school, in doing so, this new structure will connect all three sections to create one building and a much safer environment for the children and faculty. Mr. Sharp discussed the different sections of the new building which will include a commons area, lunch room , kitchen and storage area. I spoke with Mr. Lester about the some possibilities for using the old cafeteria after the move.

“We’re looking at a couple things, you know maybe working with the senior citizens or using it as storage; for example we have a new food service director and we’re only able to obtain about half of the commodities that we could, because of storage,” says Lester.

Despite continuing talks of closing Hillsboro’s doors, Mr. Sharp and Mr. Lester are enthusiastic about the future at Hillsboro Elementary and are striving to provide as many learning advantages as they can. Along with a new cafeteria, Mrs. Hall’s pre-school class will be receiving new equipment. The school is also undergoing many much needed cosmetic renovations. Perhaps most importantly, Hillsboro Elementary will be the first school in the state to receive fiber optic internet to keep the children up to speed in a world that changes faster every day.