The 20 people in attendance at Randolph County Superintendent Dr. James Phares' summer forum at Beverly Elementary agreed the number one priorities for the school are a new cafeteria/kitchen and air conditioning.
Phares' stop in Beverly was the fourth stop in his series of summer forums. The superintendent explained the second item on the Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan was the community schools. Through meetings with the Local School Improvements, $23,492,057.03 worth of renovation projects were identified at Beverly Elementary, Coalton Elementary, Harman, Homestead Elementary and Tygarts Valley High/Middle schools.
"The board calling for and successfully passing the levy, decided to keep the community schools open," Phares said.
Phares presented the renovation plan for the school. The total cost for the renovations at the school is projected at $2,919,056.38 and Phares said the cost of a new school would be $8,094,000.
Phares said the school system's architectural firm, Blackwood and Associates went through the school and did a conceptual design of what the schools needed according to the CEFP.
Phares said $10,000 would have to be spent on excavation and $35,000 on new drainage. There are no exterior renovations set in the design, but it does include $971,664.75 in interior renovations. Interior renovations include painting, ceiling, plumbing, air conditioning, lighting, wiring, fire alarm, communication system and technology.
The biggest items in the plan are a new cafeteria and kitchen for $1.3 million. Phares said there would also be $93,703.30 spent on a new sprinkler system. There is also $42,000 set aside for asbestos abatement.
"We want the community to still have access to the kitchen for functions," Phares said.
Phares asked for input from those in attendance and the first question was to how the project would be funded. He responded by saying the comments and input from the summer forums will be presented to the board on Aug. 11-12 during their planning retreat.
"It is going to take a bond call and SBA (West Virginia School Building Authority) funding," he said.
Resident Dwight Hall asked what is the chance the SBA will fund the renovations in Randolph County after they funded the renovations at Elkins Middle School. Phares said if the county passes the bond call and the SBA is presented with the renovations at TVH/MS as a match, it is a "no brainer."
"If this county passes a bond, I can guarantee you they will hold up their end of the bargain," Phares said.
Phares explained the school system has tow different ways to approach the funding needs. He said the system could submit a needs project to the SBA and then run a bond call or the bond could be passed first.
Phares said if the funding works out the renovations will begin in 2013, if the bond call passes in 2012 and the SBA approves funding. He said the renovations would take place while the students are in school.
"As long as I am superintendent we will never take a student out of a school and close it," he said. "It is to hard to get them back into the building."
Every one in attendance agreed that the kitchen/cafeteria and air conditioning were the top priorities.
The last of the summer forums will be held at 7 p.m. today at Coalton Elementary.
