Students return for new school year,
the sixth at Calhoun Middle-High School
Calhoun's three schools re-opened last Thursday, the 2004-05 year now underway.
It is the sixth year for the spaciously built $16 million Calhoun Middle-High School at Mt. Zion.
The old Calhoun High sits abandoned in Grantsville, with a leaking roof and broken windows, its future uncertain.
Calhoun's landscape was once dotted with over 100 one-room schools, located in walking distance apart to allow students from remote hollows and hills to attend school through the three seasons.
At one time a school could be established if there was at least ten
children in need of education.
That was over 100 years ago.
During the 20th century, the one-room schools began to close as roads and transportation improved. Certain remote areas were abandoned, dissolving the need for a school. Nearly all the one room schools closed in the 1970s.
While Calhoun has always had a consolidated high school, more elementary schools were closed in recent years, including Minnora and Brooksville. The new Pleasant Hill School was constructed and Arnoldsburg Elementary absorbed the southern Calhoun area.
Money was obtained for the new Calhoun Middle-High School from the state's School Building Authority, provided enough students were enrolled in the facility, so all county grades five through eight were moved to the new facility.
Now the county is facing a financial crisis with operating money, mostly because of declining enrollment. The future of the county's elementary schools could become a concern if enrollment continues to plummet.
A special funding levy is being placed on the November ballot.
HISTORY OF THE NEW CALHOUN MIDDLE-HIGH SCHOOL
Ron Blankenship at 1998 CM-HS dedication, with school board and
guests
December 28, 1994 - Board of Education appoints a group of 15 citizens and school personnel to visit recently built schools in
West Virginia, including Ritchie, Tyler, and Roane County schools.
February, 1995 - High school and middle school staffs begin making suggestions to architect Gandee and Partners.
February 16, 1995 - School Building Committee announces that site testing has begun at proposed Mt. Zion school property.
March, 1995 - School closing hearings held at Brooksville and Minnora Elementary schools.
April, 1995 - Four sub-committees appointed to assist Steve Bingler of Concordia Architects in developing "A model school for West Virginia."
May 11, 1995 - Representatives of G&G Builders, construction managing firm, introduced at board of education meeting (selected from 16 applicants).
October 5, 1995 - Preliminary layout of facilities published in newspaper.
October, 1995 - School Building Committee creates Steering Committee to organize nine community action groups (athletic fields, auditorium, funding, etc.); public invited to help bring facility in line with funding.
November 16, 1995 - Major changes announced in layout of middle school portion of
new facilities.
Dec. 11, 1995 - Board purchases property for school construction; schematic site plan published.
January 4, 1996 - First and second floor plans published.
May 14, 1996 - $3,370,000 school bond funding approved by Calhoun
voters.
November 14, 1996 - Ground breaking ceremony held for new middle/high school.
December 20, 1996 - Bids opened for building construction; low bid is $1.2 million over budget.
February 21, 1997 - Board of Education approves new design for facilities.
March, 1997 - Re-biding of building construction is still over budget.
April, 1997 - After numerous meetings with SBA, the authority grants a supplemental grant of $642,128, bring the total project to $15,442,392.
January 12, 1998 - Board of Education begins hiring of personnel for new Calhoun Middle/High School.
June 25, 1998 - Cornerstone Ceremony is held; Lions Club donates corner- stone; six packets and miscellaneous items are included for historical purposes.
August 25, 1998 - Dedication ceremony for Calhoun Middle/High School; Gov. Cecil H. Underwood speaks.
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