Pocahontas County School Levy Committee -4 Public Levy Meetings Held
During the first week in October, the Pocahontas County School Levy Committee, which is made up of both school employees and members of the public, held 4 informational public meetings. One meeting was held in each of the following communities – Green Bank, Linwood, Marlinton and Hillsboro. Their purpose in doing this was to inform the public about the need and purpose of the Excess School Levy Ballot initiative, to answer any questions people may have and to consider any ideas or suggestions people may offer.
And they did listen to the public comments. Concerns were expressed at the meetings about 7th and 8th grade students being moved to the High School before that building was either renovated or replaced. Mr. Beam said that he would be willing to find a way to delay that move until the High School was designed to accommodate these middle school students, perhaps by keeping the Green Bank 7th and 8th graders in their Middle School even as it was being renovated by delaying the planned demolition of one wing of the building, and possibly using the Marlinton Elementary School Building for the 7th and 8th graders from Marlinton Middle school until the high school was ready to receive them.
It was also revealed at these meetings for the first time that the cost adjustment of renovating Pocahontas County High School was completed on October 3rd, Cara Rose from the Levy Committee talks about what this means.
“There had been talk about possibly renovating the high school to accommodate the 7th and 8th graders or a new school building” said Cara. “The Cost Assessment generated this week do indicate the cost to renovate the high school will be 60% or higher than what a new build will be. So the school building authority will not fund a renovation, once those cost assessments come in over 60%. So the application to the SBA must be a new school.”
The new high school building would be located on the same campus and have a separate wing for the 7th and 8th grade students.
Keep in mind though, replacing the high school building will be covered in the second phase of the project which still needs to be approved by the SBA –although the SBA has sent signals that it will probably be approved within a couple of years.
We captured a couple of comments from the public meetings. The first is Marlinton Middle school Principal, Dustin Lambert who is happy that if the Levy passes his school will finally be airconditioned.
I’m the principal of Marlinton Middle School” said Dustin.”One thing that I found out is students and teachers are grumpy and agitated when it is hot -85-90 degrees in the classrooms. Students do not learn when it is that hot in the building. You can only do so much with a fan. I had a student and a teacher pass out in august because of the heat.”
B. J. Sharp-Gudmundsson is opposed to the Levy because she sees it as an effort to consolidate all Pocahontas County Schools into one building. She gives another reason for her opposition as well.
“I’m disappointed in the Board of Education –not only the one now, but every previous one all the way back to when the high school burned ” said B.J. “They have never paid attention to maintenance. They have never explored opportunities to keep the investment that the tax payers put into the schools secure. They just think that they can come back every time there is a problem and ask for money and I don’t support this Levy and that’s what I have to say.”
David Dilly asked that if the high school would be downsized from being able to hold 600 students to around 450, what would happen if the area population increased. Architect Randy Jones answered.
“The SBA requires that an efficiency calculation be done so that when your building opens you have 15% for future Growth” said David.
David Dilly also said that a funded maintenance plan would be needed to avoid this happening again in 25 years. Mr. Beam said that the SBA requires such a funded plan be put in place.
Another questioner asked that if the high school needs so much renovation why didn’t we start with that as phase one of the project. Mr. Beam answered saying the SBA would not allow that to be first.
In Part 2 of this story, Cara Rose, Levy committee chairman, talks about the successes of the public meetings and about the upcoming November 1st meeting to be held at the Oprah house.
During the first week in October, the Pocahontas County School Levy Committee, which is made up of both school employees and members of the public, held 4 informational public meetings. One meeting was held in each of the following communities – Green Bank, Linwood, Marlinton and Hillsboro. Their purpose in doing this was to inform the public about the need and purpose of the Excess School Levy Ballot initiative, to answer any questions people may have and to consider any ideas or suggestions people may offer.
And they did listen to the public comments. Concerns were expressed at the meetings about 7th and 8th grade students being moved to the High School before that building was either renovated or replaced. Mr. Beam said that he would be willing to find a way to delay that move until the High School was designed to accommodate these middle school students, perhaps by keeping the Green Bank 7th and 8th graders in their Middle School even as it was being renovated by delaying the planned demolition of one wing of the building, and possibly using the Marlinton Elementary School Building for the 7th and 8th graders from Marlinton Middle school until the high school was ready to receive them.
It was also revealed at these meetings for the first time that the cost adjustment of renovating Pocahontas County High School was completed on October 3rd, Cara Rose from the Levy Committee talks about what this means.
“There had been talk about possibly renovating the high school to accommodate the 7th and 8th graders or a new school building” said Cara. “The Cost Assessment generated this week do indicate the cost to renovate the high school will be 60% or higher than what a new build will be. So the school building authority will not fund a renovation, once those cost assessments come in over 60%. So the application to the SBA must be a new school.”
The new high school building would be located on the same campus and have a separate wing for the 7th and 8th grade students.
Keep in mind though, replacing the high school building will be covered in the second phase of the project which still needs to be approved by the SBA –although the SBA has sent signals that it will probably be approved within a couple of years.
We captured a couple of comments from the public meetings. The first is Marlinton Middle school Principal, Dustin Lambert who is happy that if the Levy passes his school will finally be airconditioned.
I’m the principal of Marlinton Middle School” said Dustin.”One thing that I found out is students and teachers are grumpy and agitated when it is hot -85-90 degrees in the classrooms. Students do not learn when it is that hot in the building. You can only do so much with a fan. I had a student and a teacher pass out in august because of the heat.”
- J. Sharp-Gudmundsson is opposed to the Levy because she sees it as an effort to consolidate all Pocahontas County Schools into one building. She gives another reason for her opposition as well.
“I’m disappointed in the Board of Education –not only the one now, but every previous one all the way back to when the high school burned ” said B.J. “They have never paid attention to maintenance. They have never explored opportunities to keep the investment that the tax payers put into the schools secure. They just think that they can come back every time there is a problem and ask for money and I don’t support this Levy and that’s what I have to say.”
David Dilly asked that if the high school would be downsized from being able to hold 600 students to around 450, what would happen if the area population increased. Architect Randy Jones answered.
“The SBA requires that an efficiency calculation be done so that when your building opens you have 15% for future Growth” said David.
David Dilly also said that a funded maintenance plan would be needed to avoid this happening again in 25 years. Mr. Beam said that the SBA requires such a funded plan be put in place.
Another questioner asked that if the high school needs so much renovation why didn’t we start with that as phase one of the project. Mr. Beam answered saying the SBA would not allow that to be first.
In Part 2 of this story, Cara Rose, Levy committee chairman, taks about the successes of the public meetings and about the upcoming November 1st meeting to be held at the Oprah house.
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