Question:
If this is “for the kids” then why is there not a vo-tech building going in instead of a football field? Academics is what matter and have them real world ready. Not the football team.
Answer:
The plan for the new high school does include new CTE classrooms. The proposed plan includes renovation the football field bleachers, press box, restrooms, and the addition of a practice track around the football field. $3M of the proposed $9.3M bond would go toward these renovations.
Question:
Why would we pay $9.3M for a new facility when the maintenance wasn’t done on the first one. How can we know that this investment would be cared for?
Answer:
The $9.3 amount of the bond is being matched by $18M from the SBA. The total cost of the project totals $27.3M. The current high school has been in continuous operation for 88 years and counting. Our custodians and maintenance staff have done an excellent job of keeping the school clean and functional over these 88 years.
Question:
This would make a 3rd school related tax. Can we reevaluate what those funds are being used for and get rid of them or restructure them before introducing this bond?
Answer:
Wirt County has supported our Excess Levy for the last 40 years. The Levy has a 5-year term and contains the following:
PURPOSE FOR WHICH ADDITIONAL FUNDS ARE NEEDED | AVERAGE ANNUAL AMOUNT FOR EACH PURPOSE |
To continue the practice of furnishing free textbooks, instructional supplies, equipment, and services and technology support. | $302,000 |
To continue support of the co-curricular and extracurricular programs through the payment of salaries (including, but not limited to, athletics and band) and for student participation through student travel. | $210,000 |
To continue support of the instructional program through local salary supplements (including associated fixed charges, such as, social security, workers’ compensation, and retirement): Professional personnel $300,000; and Service personnel $165,117. | $465,117 |
To maintain and improve the student transportation system, including but not limited to, funding the purchase of buses/equipment, maintenance and fuel for buses, insurance for bus fleet and facility improvements. | $90,000 |
To maintain an improvement fund for facilities, custodial/maintenance supplies, building insurance and utilities; to improve or correct environmental and/or structural deficiencies in all schools and grounds, and to ensure adequate protection against fire hazards and health hazards, all in order to provide a safe atmosphere conducive to good learning: Facilities/repairs $100,000; custodial/maintenance supplies and equipment $175,000; property/building insurance $50,000; and utilities $363,000. | $688,000 |
To continue to provide financial support of community organizations that provide services to Wirt County Schools, including but not limited to: Dora B. Woodyard Memorial Library $19,000; and WVU 4-H Extension program $17,000. | $36,000 |
TOTAL: | $1,791,117 |
If a county school system requests funds from the SBA for a new school, part of that funding must come from a bond to receive SBA funds. The last time Wirt County was asked to pass a bond for school construction was when Wirt County Middle School was built. In comparison, Wood County currently has passed an excess levy and three separate school bonds.
Question:
How long is the project expected to take? When is project expected to start? Is the existing school (minus the auditorium and gym) being torn down and completely rebuilt where it currently exists? During construction, where will the kids attend school? Why is the bus garage moving and why to Palestine?
Answer:
The project is going to be a multiple year project. Construction could start by this summer. The new academic area would be constructed first, and this could take place while school is in session. The second phase, demolition of the old school, would have to take place while school is not in session. A third phase would then be new construction where the old building was located. This could also be completed while school is in session, as the students would be in the newly constructed area. The total timeline of the project is also dependent on if the SBA grants our funding all at one time or over a multiple year period. The new bus garage is being relocated to Palestine on land already owned by the board to make room to the addition of a practice track.
Question:
Was the decision to move the BOE building linked to the future of building new portions of the school?
Answer:
The decision to purchase the current BOE building was not part of the school bond discussion. The discussion to purchase the current BOE building started when the former owner decided to sell the property.
Question:
What process did the school board go through to determine this was the best plan? Who did you involve in the decision-making? What estimates, research, guidance, etc. did you seek that ultimately led to this plan? Who was involved in finalizing this as the plan for a new high school?
Answer:
The maximum bonding potential for Wirt County is $15M. With new school construction costs on a new site running in excess of $50M in many instances, McKinley Architecture and Engineering was hired by the board for pre-bond services. The proposed plan was developed utilizing the current site and some existing portions of the current facility to reduce this cost to the proposed $27.3M cost.
Question:
So is it true that the state will force eminent domain on the Little Kanawha Hotel and the three homes in front of it to make way for a new parking lot?
Answer:
No, the proposed plan would be on land currently owned by the BOE and no additional land would be purchased.
Question:
What happens if the bond doesn’t pass and there is irreparable damage or if the school is condemned because it is unsafe? Who provides funding for the solution at that point?
Answer:
If the bond does not pass and the school is condemned because it is unsafe, alternative plans would have to be made to house the students elsewhere. There is no additional funding that we are aware of that this event would trigger other than SBA or local bond.
Question:
Are the SBA funds contingent on the levy passing?
Answer:
Yes, the $18M in SBA funding is contingent on the passage of the bond.
Question:
What happens if the levy passes and then the actual costs exceeds the projected costs? Where will the extra funds come from?
Answer:
If actual costs exceed projected costs the local BOE could approve change orders out of local funds, if possible, or the designs would need to be altered to remain in budget.