By Skip Hackworth
Superintendent, Mineral County schools

Burlington Primary School:
For years, students at Burlington Primary School have had physical
education, music, and art classes conducted in the same small classroom
area in which they eat lunch.  Yes, the teachers have made it work but it
has been totally inadequate.  The plan for Burlington Primary School is to
construct a gymnasium that can also be utilized for other purposes at the
school.  The community will also have access to the facility for community
activities.  This has been a need in the Burlington community for many
years.  The students, staff, and the Burlington community-at-large deserve
this addition to the school.
This project will cost $2,400,000--all from bond proceeds.

Fort Ashby Primary School and Frankfort Intermediate School:
There is a need to reorganize the grade levels at these two schools in
order to provide adequate space and keep the Fort Ashby students in their
home community for their primary education.
Fort Ashby Primary School now houses grades K-2, and if this bond is
successful, will remain open for students in Pre-Kindergarten and
Kindergarten.  Grades 1-2 will be housed at the Frankfort Intermediate
School, which, of course, is also in Fort Ashby.  There is no new work
required at Fort Ashby Primary School to accomplish this part of the
reorganization.

Frankfort Intermediate School now provides space for Pre-Kindergarten
students in fort Ashby and grades 3-4 for the entire Frankfort district. 
If the bond is successful, this school will house students in grades 1-4
from Fort Ashby; students in grades 3-4 from the Wiley Ford area will be
returned to Wiley Ford Primary School for their primary education through
grade 4.
At Frankfort Intermediate School, funds will provide for the renovation of
the school’s kitchen, construction of a cafeteria, and classrooms.  These
improvements will also eliminate the need to have students in an
unattached metal building that currently provides space for the school’s
library and classroom space for art and music instruction.
This project will cost $3,200,000---all from bond proceeds.

Wiley Ford Primary School:
Students from the Carpendale, Ridgeley, Wiley Ford and Lakewood
communities currently attend Wiley Ford Primary School in grades
Pre-Kindergarten - grade 2.  Passage of the bond will allow these students
to remain at their community school through grade 4.  Currently, students
in grades 3-4 travel to Fort Ashby to attend Frankfort Intermediate
School.  Many of these students from the Carpendale and Ridgeley areas
ride the bus longer than high school students in Mineral County.
Renovations at this school include the construction of a classroom
addition for the additional students in grades 3 and 4; construction of a
multi-purpose room that would serve as a cafeteria and gymnasium for
physical education instruction; and renovation of the school’s kitchen. 
This would be a two-story addition, which can be enlarged if the need
arises.  There would be an elevator in the school to make it compliant
with the American Disabilities Act.  Also, the two ball fields at the
school will remain for community use.  The gymnasium will also be
available for community use.
Estimated cost of this project is $5,900,000---$2 million from the SBA and
$3.9 million from the bond.

Keyser Primary School:
Students in the primary and middle school grades (K-8) in Keyser currently
attend school in the same building.  There nearly 1200 students in this
school.  It is extremely over-crowded and most of the classrooms are in
adequate in size and many of them do not have classroom doors.  In fact,
to access several of the classrooms, you must go through one or two other
classrooms.  Obviously this disturbs the teaching and learning process and
does not provide the most secure environment.
The proposal is to split this school into two schools---a new primary
school and renovations to the current building to make it a middle school
only.
The new primary school will serve students in grades Pre-Kindergarten
through grade 4 and will be constructed on property currently owned by the
Board of Education.  This property is known as the Tack Clark Complex,
which is opposite the McDonald’s restaurant and is accessible from Harley
Staggers Drive.
Construction of this school would relieve the overcrowding at the current
KPMS.  All instructional space would meet the SBA requirements.  Classroom
space would be included to accommodate the Pre-Kindergarten students who
are currently housed at the Head Start Center on West Piedmont Street.   
The football field would be maintained for the youth programs in the
community.  The softball field adjacent to the Mineral County Technical
Center would also be maintained for community use.  The walking track
area, although somewhat reconfigured, would also be maintained for the
community.
Estimated cost of this project is $12,300,000---$7 million from the SBA
and $5.3 million from the bond funds.


Keyser Middle School:
The current Keyser Primary-Middle School would be renovated to house
grades 5-8 in the Keyser district.  This would eliminate the overcrowding
and would also provide additional instructional space for all areas of the
middle school curriculum.  It also separates the middle school aged
students from the primary students.  All classrooms would be adequate in
size and would also provide instructional spaces with classroom doors that
would improve instructional opportunities and provide increased security
throughout the school.
We have been doing some renovation to this school over the past couple of
years, including replacing carpet with vinyl tile, renovating/upgrading
the restrooms, and replacing all exterior windows and exterior doors at
the school.  Additional renovations will include continuing the carpet
replacement, complete the renovations to restrooms, providing additional
restroom facilities for personnel at the school, and converting classroom
space that had been used for primary-aged students suitable for middle
school-aged students.  This will include new furniture and equipment where
needed.
Estimated cost of this project is $1,600,000---$1 million from bond funds
and $600,000 from local board of Education funds.
The Mineral county Board of Education is committed to maintaining
community-based primary schools for all students.  Dr. Mark A. Manchin,
Executive Director of the School Building Authority of West Virginia has
stated, “Everybody wants a school in their community.  Passage of this
bond gives the citizens of Mineral County an opportunity to maintain
primary schools in each community.”
Vote May 13, 2008 at your regular precinct.  I urge you to vote “YES FOR
THE PROPOSAL” and YES FOR THE CHILDREN OF MINERAL COUNTY.”