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Brooke school board faces merger questions

CONCERNS — Beech Bottom Councilman Greg Sheperd had many questions for Brooke County school officials during a public hearing Thursday at Beech Bottom Primary School concerning plans to merge the school and Colliers and Lauretta B. Millsop primary schools with four others. The board's next hearing will be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Millsop Primary School. -- Warren Scott

BEECH BOTTOM — Brooke County school officials were asked about financial issues spurring the decision to close three primary schools and questioned about data included in the 10-year facilities plan submitted to the West Virginia Department of Education during a public hearing Thursday at Beech Bottom Primary School.

The hearing was the latest of seven held to accept public comment on a plan to merge Beech Bottom, Colliers and Lauretta B. Millsop primary schools with the county’s four other primary schools.

Plans call for Brooke County pupils in kindergarten through second grade to attend Hooverson Heights and Wellsburg primary schools and those in third and fourth grades to attend Jefferson and Franklin primary schools.

Hooverson Heights and Wellsburg primary schools would be renamed Brooke County Primary North and South, reflecting the areas they would serve, while Jefferson and Franklin primary schools would be renamed Brooke County Intermediate North and South.

The board will hear comment again at hearings to be held at 6 p.m. Monday at Millsop Primary School and at 6 p.m. Nov. 27 at Jefferson Primary School, where it will vote on the merger.

On Thursday the board heard from a few Beech Bottom officials and a Colliers woman who had more questions following Monday’s hearing at Colliers Primary School.

Barbara McVicker of Colliers asked if a financial shortfall led to plans to close the three schools and if it’s been determined how long the school district will be solvent following the closings.

Kimberly Puskarich, the school district’s treasurer, said the school’s five-year operating levy generates about $3 million each year for staff not covered by the state, extracurriular positions and substitutes but those costs have risen to $4.9 million.

She said the merger is expected to save the school district about $1 million in staffing costs.

Puskarich said of about 249 professional personnel, including principals and teachers, about 35 are covered by the county, while about 42 of the school district’s 173 service personnel, which includes custodians, cooks and bus drivers, are covered by the county.

McVicker also asked whether the success of schools with grades K-2 has been tested.

Rhonda Combs, the school district’s director of pre-K-5 curriculum, said there are schools with only those grades in Marshall and Jackson counties. Combs said the approach will allow teachers of children at the same learning level to work together to meet their needs.

Beech Bottom Mayor Becky Uhlly said the village’s adult residents have longstanding ties to the school, as do those in the other schools’ communities, and the merger will be more difficult for them than the children.

But she added the close proximity of a school is among factors considered by businesses looking to open in a community, and the loss of it will affect the village’s appeal for economic development.

Beech Bottom Councilman Bob Sadler asked about the future of the school buildings and if security measures would remain in place.

Rob Robinson, the school district’s facilities director, said the board hopes to market the buildings to new tenants, as it’s doing with the county’s two middle schools. He said they will be secured and maintained to ensure they are in good condition to sell.

Beech Bottom Councilman Greg Sheperd had many questions for the board, some of which he presented in writing in advance.

Sheperd asked why the board would close Beech Bottom Primary when the comprehensive facilities plan indicates it has the lowest gas and electricity costs and one of the lowest water rates in the county.

Robinson said the school’s lower utility costs are due to its size and a high efficiency boiler system, but utility costs weren’t given as reasons for the merger, only because they are among data required by the state.

When Sheperd noted Franklin Primary School doesn’t comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act, Robinson said there are plans to build a ramp between the school’s two floors.

Sheperd said it’s been said no student will travel more than 7 miles to school, but he calculated a 12 mile distance for Beech Bottom children. He asked why the plan states there will be no change in transportation costs when children from Beech Bottom will be traveling farther to school.

Responding in writing, Ron Staffileno, the school district’s transportation director, said 7 miles will be the average increase for bus routes, not the total. He said the statement about costs was made because no new drivers will be needed and doesn’t reflect mileage traveled by the buses.

Sheperd said the plan states Beech Bottom’s enrollment is 85, but this year the local fire department distributed fire safety information for more than 100 pupils.

Robinson said enrollment figures included in the plan are based on the second month of the current school year and Beech Bottom’s didn’t include the voluntary pre-school program operated at the school for children in the south end of the county.

He said its current enrollment, including the pre-school, is 103, at 38 percent of its capacity.

Attendees at the Colliers hearing suggested the proposed development of a power plant in the Colliers area could bring additional families and an additional $7 million in revenue, through an approved in lieu of tax agreement, to the school district.

The project awaits approval by the state Public Service Commission and state Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Air Quality.

Superintendent Toni Shute said in the event that occurs, the remaining four primary schools would have the capacity to address increased enrollment, but the school board must operate within its budget.

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

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