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

School Building Authority allocates $65 million for school projects across West Virginia

As Chairman of the West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA), Governor Jim Justice announced another round of school infrastructure investments with the approval of $65 million for 12 needs-based projects, including the construction of four new schools.

Since Justice assumed office, the School Building Authority has allocated over $800 million to county school boards across West Virginia. Combined with nearly $330 million from local contributions, the overall investment in the state’s educational facilities surpasses a record $1.13 billion, the most of any eight-year stretch in the SBA’s 35-year history.

“This investment is more than just classrooms and buildings,” Justice said. “It’s about giving our kids the resources they need to thrive in West Virginia. This is another huge win for our students, our communities and our entire state. Not to mention that it’s creating hundreds of construction jobs for these new schools too. When you think about how far we’ve come as a state, it’s truly remarkable. For too long, West Virginia was a place nobody paid attention to, but that’s not the case any more. We’re shattering records left and right, including our investments in our schools. I couldn’t be more proud of the improvements we’ve made in education because it’s only going to continue to get better and better.”

Counties receiving funds to build new schools include:

  • Putnam — $8,333,333 (with $25,000,000 committed) — This funding will support the construction of the new Hurricane Middle School. This is a multi-year commitment with the same recurring payment over three years for a total award sum of $25,000,000.
  • Kanawha — $6,774,534 (with $20,323,602 committed) — This funding will support the construction of the new Upper Kanawha Valley Consolidated (Dupont) Elementary School. This is a multi-year commitment with the same recurring payment over three years for a total award sum of $20,323,602.
  • Monongalia — $16,982,966 — This funding will support the construction of the new Suncrest Middle School. The award is a multiyear commitment, with two payments: $11,400,437 in Fiscal Year 2025 and $5,582,529 in Fiscal Year 2026, for a total of $16,982,966.
  • Berkeley — $4,000,000 — This funding will support the construction of the new Inwood Learning Center.

Counties receiving funds to renovate existing schools include:

  • Harrison — $5,313,402 — To be used for the expansion of the Robert C. Byrd Career & Technical Center and the cafeteria at Mountaineer Middle School.
  • Monroe — $4,523,124 — To be used for additions and renovations at James Monroe High School Technical Center.
  • Greenbrier — $14,000,000 — To be used for additions and renovations at White Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
  • Logan — $3,596,734 — To be used for HVAC, electrical and fire alarm replacements at Man High School.
  • Grant — $1,861,100 — To be used for safe school additions and renovations at Petersburg High School.
  • Marion — $2,774,945 — To be used to improve safe school entrances at nine schools across Marion County.
  • Pleasants — $1,499,590 — To be used for interior electrical upgrades, lighting, ceilings and sprinkler system improvements at Pleasants County Middle School.
  • Hardy — $922,800 — To be used for security upgrades at East Hardy Elementary School and Moorefield Middle School.

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