Voters to decide Wood County Schools bond
Trending
PARKERSBURG -- Most of the $60.85 million bond proposed for Wood County Schools directly impacts the classroom either through new schools or other improvements, a spokesman said.
Sporting facilities are included, but 84 percent of the bond impacts classrooms, Mike Erb, communications director for the school system, said.
"The majority is providing for classrooms," he said.
The school board in February proposed the $60.85 million bond that would be joined with $21 million from the West Virginia School Building Authority.
The projects related to athletics include renovations to the stadium at Parkersburg High School, a new turf field, paved parking lot, expansion of home-side bleachers and construction of a new softball and baseball field at the Erickson All-Sports Facility , $5.25 million and new turf and drainage system improvements at Williamstown High School.
The school system is financially responsible for the athletic fields, Erb said.
"But there's no funding for that," he said.
The school system is considering properties for two of the three new elementary schools in the Lubeck and North Parkersburg areas. The new elementary school in Vienna will be built on land owned by the district next to Vienna Elementary, incoming Superintendent Christie Willis said.
The new schools will replace and consolidate students at Lubeck Elementary, Criss Elementary, Neale Elementary, Emerson Elementary and Vienna Elementary.
Maintenance and operation of the buildings is expensive because of their ages, according to Willis.
Neale Elementary is 97 years old, the oldest. Criss Elementary is the youngest, but is 67 years old.
Primary election day is May 10. Early voting has started and will end May 7.
The following projects are proposed from the school bond.
* A new Lubeck Elementary School, $20,579,070.
* A new consolidated elementary school in North Parkersburg, $24,586,709.
* A new consolidated elementary school in Vienna, $23,234,221
* Madison Elementary School classroom expansion and drive improvements, $2.2 million.
* Parkersburg South High School auditorium seat replacement, sound system improvements and new addition to the Rod Oldham Athletic Center concessions, $550,000.
* Parkersburg High School Auditorium balcony seat replacement, additional restrooms in the cafeteria and field house concession improvements, $400,000.
* Martin Elementary School access road, $500,000.
* Security vestibule construction at Blennerhassett Middle School, Gihon Elementary School, Jackson Middle School, Hamilton Middle School, Martin Elementary School, $1,250,000.
* Parkersburg High School Stadium renovation to existing side bleachers, renovations to Building 413 and upgrading existing restrooms, $2 million.
* Erickson All-Sports Facility improvements include a new turf field, paved parking lot, expansion of home-side bleachers and construction of a new softball and baseball field, $5.25 million.
* Williamstown High School stadium improvements include a new turf field and upgrading the existing drainage system, $1 million.
The estimated cost of the bond issuance is $300,000.
The maximum tax rate of 4.5 percent on a $200,000 house from the bond is $10.88 per month. The maximum tax rate of the 2017 and 2022 bonds combined on a $200,000 house would be $17.42 per month, according to the fact sheet.
Jess Mancini can be reached at jmancini@newsandsentinel.com
***
2022 West Virginia Primary Election
* Early voting is available in Wood County from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Judge Black Annex in downtown Parkersburg.
* Satellite sites will open Tuesday at the Vienna Community Building, Williamstown City Building and Mineral Wells and Lubeck volunteer fire departments. Their hours are also 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.
* Election Day is Tuesday, May 10. Polls will be open from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.