| NEW SCHOOLS WOULD BE COMPLETED BY 2013
PRESS RELEASE: John Bennett, Superintendent of Schools
The Gilmer County Board of Education has unanimously approved a Bond Order of $11,915,000.00 to be used to match $8,771,840.00 from the West Virginia School Building Authority to construct two new elementary schools in Gilmer County. The total cost of the two schools will be $20,686,840.00. These two schools will replace the four elementary schools currently operating in the county.
In 2008 the main building at Normantown Elementary School was evaluated by Williamson and Shriver Architects and they declared the building to be structurally unsafe for use as a school.
In January 2009, State Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Steven Paine, requested that the Gilmer County Board of Education have the main buildings at Sand Fork Elementary and Troy Elementary Schools evaluated.
These buildings were similar in age. In May 2009, Dr. Steven Paine sent another letter closing the main building at each School until the Board of Education could get a certified engineer in wood to evaluate the buildings and declare the buildings to be structurally sound.
During the summer of 2009, the Board of Education employed the WV University Engineering Department to conduct the evaluation and to make recommendations for any corrective measure necessary to bring the building into compliance.
During the summer of 2009, repairs were made at Troy School. These corrections were not completed at the beginning of the school year and Troy Elementary staff and students were moved to Glenville Elementary School.
The WVU Engineers, a representative of the WV Department of Education Office of School Facilities and a representative of the WV State Fire Marshal's Office approved the corrections the first week in September. Troy School students and staff then were permitted to return to the Troy facility and open on September 8, 2009.
Once the Troy Elementary work was completed the focus of the WVU engineers shifted to the main building at Sand Fork Elementary. Realizing that the Sand Fork Elementary School evaluation and repairs could not be completed by the beginning of school, the Board authorized the rental of two modulars at Sand Fork Elementary for students and classes were relocated to other buildings at the school.
The modular used as the Sand Fork Elementary School office was paid for by donations from the local PTO and a local businessman. Sand Fork Elementary School's main building was approved for occupation by students in the spring of 2010. The modulars were removed at the end of the school year.
The WVU Engineers advised the Board of Education members that these corrections should assure the structures to be sound for the next five to ten years. The Board has done its best to keep the students in their current locations until new schools can be built.
Originally when the Normantown Elementary School main building was closed, the WV School Building Authority provided the school system with $100,000.00 to pay rental for modulars.
These monies were depleted this year and the Board has had to pick up the rental fees. Gilmer County Schools are planning economical roof repairs at Sand Fork and Troy Elementary Schools for the short term.
Glenville Elementary school is located on a three acre lot. The additions to the school have left very little space for playgrounds for the students.
The new schools will have space for ball fields and playgrounds. The current Glenville Elementary school may be converted to Board of Education offices which would be handicapped accessible and eliminate the renting of space through the Gilmer County Commission.
The building could be used for literacy classes, adult basic education classes and the gymnasium could be used as a practice gym for Gilmer County High School's volleyball, cheerleading and basketball programs. This would reduce the current late night practices for the winter sports.
WHY NOW?
Gilmer County Schools does not have the funds to build new schools from its general funds.
The Board has requested and received a WV School Building Authority grant for $8,771,840.00 contingent upon the passage of a local bond to match or exceed this amount.
If the bond fails then Gilmer County Schools will lose these funds and these funds will go to another county for construction or renovation of schools.
Gilmer County does not have any guarantee of future funding and would have to start over in the funding process.
The School Building Authority is aware of the Gilmer County facility needs and placed the school system high on the priority list with the promise of matching funds from a bond.
Gilmer County has sought funds recently for a new Normantown Elementary School and failed to secure the funding. The SBA wanted a plan for all the elementary students in Gilmer County.
Gilmer County Schools is the smallest school system in the state, but due to the geographical layout of the county the Board passed the proposed bond call in an effort to continue the transportation of students from their home within the time constraints of the mandates passed by the legislature.
The construction of a single elementary school would have resulted in many bus runs being reduced by eliminating runs on the back roads.
HOW WILL THE BOND AFFECT TAXES?
The rate being proposed is 10.99 cents per hundred dollars assessed value for Class I Property (which there is none); 21.98 cents per hundred dollars assessed value for Class II Property (residential and farm land); 43.96 cents per hundred dollars for Class III and Class IV (commercial property, rental property, automobiles, personal property etc.)
In simpler terms, your Class II tax rate would raise $2.20 per $1000.00 of the assessment value.
If your home is assessed at $25,000 your taxes would increase by $55.00, if assessed at $50,000 the increase would be $110.00.
Class III - IV property would raise $4.40 on the thousand. If your car is assessed at $5,000 your taxes would increase by $22.00 or if assessed at $10,000 the increase would be $44.00.
If you receive a homestead exemption, you do not pay any additional taxes on the exempted amount. The proposed bond is for 15 ½ years. The new schools should be completed by the fall of 2013.
In an effort to reduce costs, the Board of Education set the election during the General Election, November 2, 2010. This will save the voters the cost of running a Special Election.
COMMUNITY MEETINGS ANNOUNCED
Gilmer County Schools will host informational community meetings in each of the schools being affected:
7:00 p.m. Thursday September 9, Troy Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Thursday September 16, Normantown Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Thursday September 23, Sand Fork Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Thursday October 14, Glenville Elementary School
Gilmer County Schools will host linkage meetings at each school on the following dates:
7:00 p.m. Monday September 20, Normantown Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Monday October 4, Troy Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Thursday October 7, Sand Fork Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Monday October 18, Glenville Elementary School
7:00 p.m. Thursday October 21, Gilmer County High School
QUESTIONS REGARDING PROPOSAL
Should you have any questions concerning the bond or would like to have someone make a presentation to your group, you may contact John Bennett, Superintendent of Schools at 304-462-7386, ext. 20.
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