West Virginia
W.Va. approves $150M in school projects
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) – More money for local schools.
West Virginia’s governor stood with county superintendents Wednesday, moments after he joined state officials in awarding nearly $150 million in school construction grants.
Buffalo Elementary in Wayne County, built more than 60 years ago, is set to close with an expansion to neighboring Buffalo Middle that will make the larger, combined facility a Pre-K through 8 school.
Michele Blatt, now state superintendent in West Virginia, served as the school’s principal for four years.
“We spent a lot of time with our PTO and with our community trying to make it as good as it could be for the students,” she told WSAZ.
Blatt says the Buffalo had been passed over for a number of years.
In fact, every project awarded Wednesday was passed over just months ago due to a lack of money.
But then, in March, lawmakers and Gov. Jim Justice added $150 million to the construction fund.
The governor’s chief of staff told an audience Wednesday that move is allowing the state’s School Building Authority to clear the deck.
“You cherry pick what you think are the most needed and the most important projects,” Governor Justice said afterward. “Really and truly, when it really comes right down to it, these extra dollars now help us to go back and get all the projects and everything, and at the end of the day, that’s monstrously important to those folks that have been passed over.”
In Cabell County, it means expansion at Cabell Midland High School and a new school for Ona Elementary. The aging elementary school lacks handicap accessibility and a sprinkler system.
“(It) is going to mean a new facility for generations of students that will be coming through Ona Elementary School,” said Ryan Saxe, superintendent of Cabell County Schools.
In Mingo County, it means a more secure entrance at Tug Valley High School.
“It means that when they come to school, everyone who should be in that building is in that building and people who should not will not be able to be in the building,” said Johnny Branch, superintendent of Mingo County Schools.
“And without the funding you weren’t able to move forward with the project?” asked WSAZ NewsChannel 3 reporter Curtis Johnson.
“No,” he replied. “We just did not have the funds locally.”
Along with new construction, the $150 million is also a key factor in West Virginia satisfying concerns that the federal government had regarding the state’s spending of COVID relief.
Justice predicts that issue will be settled with no pay back to the federal government.
The Buffalo and Ona Elementary projects rank rank as the most expensive projects approved Wednesday.
Copyright 2024 WSAZ. All rights reserved.
West Virginia
YSS offers West Virginia’s first transitional living recovery programs for young adults
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WHEELING, W.Va. — Wheeling is home to West Virginia’s first recovery program designed specifically for young adults, offering a new track aimed at people ages 18 to 24 who are working to overcome substance use disorders.
Youth Services System announced it will offer the recovery track at the McCrary Center in Wheeling for young adults dealing with opioid or stimulant use disorders. The program is designed to provide recovery-focused housing and support services, giving participants a safe, structured environment as they work toward long-term recovery and stability.
“Our transitional living program has been licensed by the Department of Human Services, as well as the Office of Health Facility Licensure. We also achieved the West Virginia Alliance of Recovery Residence certification so there will be a lot of oversight in this program. And we look forward to our continued work with them,” YSS CEO Jill Eddy said.
Youth Services System received a one-time grant through the West Virginia Bureau of Behavioral Health to help expand services and launch the new track in Wheeling.
“Research shows that the longer a person is provided a safe space while in recovery, the chances of their success in recovery and remaining sober is definitely increased,” Eddy said.
Services will include substance-free and MAT-friendly housing, peer recovery support, therapy, recovery planning, and overdose prevention education. The program also supports individuals with co-occurring mental health conditions and prioritizes high-risk and underserved populations.
More information about Youth Services System is available here.
BUCKHANNON, W.Va (WDTV) – WestCare West Virginia cut the ribbon for its Hope in the Mountains complex on 22 N. Locust Street. The new facility will treat men with substance abuse issues with the hopes of fighting the drug epidemic in West Virginia.
Each room in the complex includes 56 beds, a television set and clean bathroom. Stephen Wright spoke ahead of the ribbon cutting along with Buckhannon officials. He said this facility differs from others on how they approach treatment.
“We really focus on the individual and the individual needs and focus on their progress in the program versus a number of days that a person is in treatment. So it’s really individualized,” said Stephen Wright, chief operating officer of WestCare Appalachia. “So we still need aftercare, outpatient counseling, and those things. But this really gives an opportunity for an intervention to break that cycle for individuals struggling with addiction. Because lots of times they must be separated from the living circumstances that they’re in at that time.”
Copyright 2026 WDTV. All rights reserved.
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