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NEW CUMBERLAND -- Hancock County Schools is set to receive assistance from the state in addressing the climate needs within two of the county’s schools.
During Monday’s organizational meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education, Superintendent Walter Saunders announced the West Virginia School Building Authority had approved approximately $500,000 to fund HVAC improvements at Oak Glen High School and Oak Glen Middle School.
"We had both those in our bonds," Saunders said, explaining the local funding will serve as a match to the state grant.
The funding will be available through the SBA’s Major Improvement Project grant program, which is designed to address improvement projects in existing facilities not fundable through local maintenance budgets.
Of particular concern have been the chiller units for the air conditioning systems within the schools.
Saunders explained the limit for such requests is $1 million, so the school district submitted a proposal for $999,996, with the hope of being able to fund such projects for Weir High and Weir Middle as well as the schools on the Oak Glen campus.
"Whatever it takes to get in the mix," he said, noting he had been told the dollar amount on the request caught the attention of several individuals at the state level.
Hancock County Board of Education President Jeff Woofter said he appreciated the approach, explaining the SBA receives dozens of requests through the MIP program. He also expressed appreciation to the state for considering Hancock County Schools’ request given the current financial situation in which the district has found itself.
Hancock County Schools currently is being overseen by the West Virginia Board of Education in light of a multimillion-dollar deficit, which resulted in the county being in danger of not making its payroll on two occasions in the last year.
Saunders credited Kasey Arnott, former director of facilities and maintenance, for putting the application together.
The West Virginia Board of Education approved a facilities plan update for Hancock County Schools in June, allowing the application to the SBA to move forward.