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Brooke schools finalize BDC agreement

WELLSBURG — Last week the Brooke County Board of Education approved an agreement calling for the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle to market its two middle school properties and recognized Colliers Primary School for being named a West Virginia School of Excellence.

The agreement calls for the BDC to receive $3,000 per month for its services in seeking new occupants for sites occupied by Follansbee and Wellsburg middle schools. The board plans to close the schools after a new consolidated school is completed.

Superintendent of Schools Toni Paesano Shute said while the agreement is for up to a year, the board may cancel each month if it chooses to sell the buildings on its own or other circumstances arise.

In April the school board agreed to enlist the BDC, saying the local economic development agency is better equipped to find suitable new uses for the properties.

BDC Executive Director Pat Ford said the board will retain ownership of the properties.

“The role of the BDC will be to leverage our relationships with state and federal agencies to obtain grant funding, where needed, to handle these buildings in an environmentally sensitive manner, paying great heed to the surrounding properties,” he said.

Ford said it’s common for buildings of their age to contain asbestos and if they do, the BDC will apply for a grant for its removal.

He said interest already has been expressed in using the schools for housing or office space.

Ford said he’s also been in touch with Follansbee officials, who earlier expressed interest in the Follansbee school’s athletic field, which is adjacent to Follansbee Park.

Both schools were built in the 1920s, though the Carlin Dodrill Field House was added to the Follansbee school in 1955.

Located on state Route 2 in Follansbee, the school and field house occupy 67,098 square feet of a 90,638-square-foot lot.

Located between Main Street, Wellsburg, and the Ohio River, Wellsburg Middle School is 69,212 square foot and sits on a 70,828-square-foot lot.

The board also:

¯ Approved the purchase of a soccer scoreboard for the high school for $5,979.

¯ Recognized the following staff who are retiring this year: Valerie Smith, director of student services; teachers Elaine Merriner, Jeannie Schwertfeger, Melvin Coleman, Jane Utz, Susan Roeder, Monica Biery, Candice Owens, Faye Long and Suzanne Davidson; aides Robin Lahita, Lynne Schupbach and Estelle Shaffer; custodians Kathy Young and Donald Clem, secretary Donna Capobianco, driver Greg Haught and cook Cheryl Griffenberg.

¯ Announced new dates and times for its July meetings. It will meet at 5 p.m. July 17 and 31 instead of 6 p.m. July 10 and 24.

(Scott can be contacted at wscott@heraldstaronline.com.)

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