KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) – At the recent School Building Authority (SBA) meetings, 31 superintendents from across the Mountain State took the opportunity to have their voices heard when it comes to upgrades and repairs to local schools.
The meetings, held in Charleston on Monday and Tuesday, allow superintendents to present their financial requests to the SBA.
Mingo and Cabell Counties presented their requests Monday morning.
Cabell County asked for assistance with a roof replacement on the Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers in Huntington due to the age and condition of the roof. The center is in the old Sears building.
“While it did not have the roof in the project when it went out, due to all of the construction and being on the roof, it certainly needs replacing,” Cabell County Superintendent Tim Hardesty said.
Hardesty said that if the county receives the grant, it will protect the public’s investment.
“This would ensure the safety of the project. It keeps the facility safe, secure; all of the equipment and the investment that we’re making through our public tax dollars, and it will absolutely secure that building for years to come,” he said.
The Mingo board asked for an upgrade with their Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system.
SBA Executive Director Andy Neptune said that different needs are dependent on which region of the state the school district is in
“The needs are wide across our state. Where you can take like the Eastern Panhandle, and their concerns might be with their population and their growth. You take the southern coalfields, and you’re looking at some older schools that need help, like with HVAC or some renovations that are going on,” Neptune said.
He said that the meetings give counties the voice to make the changes they need.
“You have a certain budget. And so when you look at those larger areas, higher population than you see, their numbers that come in to us are high. You know, in the millions and millions of dollars of requests because of the size of the facilities that they may have.”
Neptune said once decisions are made, they will amount to about $43.5 million.
The meetings will continue Tuesday, and the quarterly meeting is scheduled for Dec. 15 at the WV Lottery Building in Charleston.
