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.

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