All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

Questions arise about rumored closure of middle school library at most recent board meeting

TENNERTON – The vice president of the Upshur County Board of Education asked administrators if a rumored closure of the Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School Library was, in fact, true.

At the board’s most recent regular meeting April 11, board vice president Jan Craig asked if it was true that the library at Buckhannon-Upshur Middle School was being dismantled.

Craig said that news “kind of floored her.”

“With our ELA (English Language Arts) scores … could someone please look at that?” Craig asked. “I know a lot of students do not have the opportunity to use the public library or the Gibson Library, and they get pretty attached to using the libraries in their elementary schools. I hope that will continue.”

Craig said she had been told students at B-UMS have not been permitted to check out books at the school.

“Hopefully, you will find out some information on that,” Craig said. She asked that a report be given at the next board meeting.

Another item discussed during the regular BOE meeting related to School Building Authority funding and what plans were in place for applying for any funds in the future. The conversation was sparked by a question from Craig about the SBA not accepting any requests for last December.

“I know the SBA did not accept any bids in December,” Craig said. “Have they come out with when they will accept requests again?”

Upshur County Board of Education Finance Director Jeffrey Perkins said schools had a window to submit requests.

“The SBA for major improvement projects has a maximum contribution by them of $1 million,” Perkins said. “The projects we are looking at are in the $2 million range, and our concern was we are already on the hook for $1.2 million with Tennerton Elementary School and with our current financial situation, we felt we did not want to take on an additional $2 million obligation.”

Perkins said when the next submission period comes out, Upshur County Schools will submit a project for funding.

“That will be this fall, and it should be in November,” Perkins said. “Our current number one project is for a new middle school. We will be asking for that again.”

He said the project they chose not to move forward with, which had been next on the school system’s list, is additions at Rock Cave Elementary School. Perkins said that the project and its scope would be almost identical to the project at Tennerton Elementary School.

“Hopefully, we will be in a financial situation to do that soon,” Perkins said.

Craig asked if the SBA would be moving forward with funding again, and Perkins said yes.

Another item on the agenda was a request from Buckhannon-Upshur High School Teacher Christy Dean asking to take Future Business Leaders of America members to Atlanta, Georgia, for the FBLA National Conference, which will be June 25-30.

Board president Dr. Tammy Samples said Dean came to the board last year and reported on the experiences students had then traveling to the conference.

“She took them to the zoo,” Samples said, saying that experience was an opportunity students may not normally be exposed to.

“She does an exceptional job, and she is to be commended,” Upshur County Schools Interim Superintendent Dr. Debra Harrison added.

A motion was made to approve the trip request by BOE member Daya Wright and seconded by BOE member Sherry Dean. The motion passed.

The next regular meeting of the Upshur County BOE meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. Tuesday, April 25 in the B-UHS Auditorium.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Commission partners with development authority, eyes $550k in grants for proposed rec hub

The Upshur County Commission partnered with the Development Authority and authorized applications for $550,000 in grants, as well as a joint property transfer, to support construction of the proposed John C. Allen Regional Hub recreation complex.

High Point Construction takes over lead in men’s golf league

High Point Construction took the top spot in the Buckhannon Country Club Bob Cupp Memorial Golf League after defeating Sam’s Pizza, while Highland Landscaping and Feola’s Flowers tied for second place.

Task force arrests three for selling Delta 8 to people under age 21, issues four additional warrants

After a year-long investigation, the Mountain Region Drug and Violent Crime Task Force arrested multiple individuals and issued warrants in Upshur County for allegedly selling Delta 8 THC products to individuals under 21.

ATV crash kills 65-year-old woman in Upshur County

Patricia L. Campbell, 65, of Ohio, died after being ejected from an ATV rollover crash in Upshur County on July 4; the investigation continues.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr.

Willard Hampton Rice, Jr., 84, of Sandusky, a retired Ford Motor Company employee who enjoyed hunting and spending time with family, passed away July 3 and is survived by his wife, children, and grandchildren.

Buckhannon Banter: Get the local lowdown for July 2, 2025

This week in Buckhannon, local organizations plan events and clinics — including a big July 4th celebration — and several community initiatives aim to engage residents of all ages.

Emergency agencies stress need for coordinated incident plans during large events with road closures

Emergency officials emphasized the need for incident action plans and coordination with public safety agencies for large events that close major streets, citing upcoming car shows and other street-closure events to ensure fast, safe emergency responses.
BUHS Sports

B-U now in Class AAAA in all sports; moved to new South Region after WVSSAC restructuring

Buckhannon-Upshur High School will compete in Class AAAA — the highest division — for all sports and has been moved to the new South Region under a two-year realignment by the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission.

Stockert Youth and Community Center Board Meeting Agenda: July 3, 2025

The Stockert Youth and Community Center Board will meet July 3, 2025, with an agenda set to discuss organizational matters and upcoming events.