MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Sixth graders from the Suncrest Middle School Annex will have a new home to start the year due to roof problems that have recently been uncovered.
An investigation into the ten-year-old roof determined a leak developed some time ago that was concealed by the water being absorbed into foam insulation. When the structure was inspected, engineers advised school officials and Deputy Superintendent Donna Talerico that it was not safe to be occupied.
“We have to consider: how do we get our students there safely? How do we get them there safely? How do we have lunch safely?” Talerico told members of the board. “It’s a laundry list of things.”
After looking at a couple locations, officials quickly settled on the former Mylan location, now home to the WVU Innovation Corporation. The school has nearly everything sixth graders need except windows. But it’s close location to North Elementary School will give the students a playground and a short walk to get outside in the fresh air.
Principal Dawna Hicks said the process has been difficult, but face-to-face meetings with families gave all parties involved confidence that the relocation would be organized, comfortable, and secure.
“What I’m calling the Suncrest Middle 2.0, temporary relocation.” Hicks said. “So, everything we do at Suncrest Middle School right now is the same system and process we’ll have in place at this temporary location.”
Monongalia County Schools plans to lease nine classrooms, three office areas, a staff restroom, and separate bathrooms for boys and girls. The facility has 24-hour security, and while the meals served won’t be hot, they’ll be brought into the former cafeteria for students and staff.
The students will bus as normal to Suncrest Middle School on the first day of classes and ride to the Chestnut Ridge Road location on shuttles. In the first few days of the temporary adjustment, teachers will ride the bus students from Suncrest Middle School and Chestnut Ridge Road.
“Buses will be able to go through,” Executive Director of Facilities Amanda Washington said. “If you’re a visitor, they’ll lead you to a small parking lot, and you’ll go into the main lobby, and we’ll have someone there.”
Teacher desks and equipment are being moved to the new location, and teachers are preparing to get the school year started. Hicks said they want to give the teachers time to get organized and invite parents to an open house near the end of August.
“We’re also going to make sure our teachers have enough time to create those classrooms,” Hicks said. “To make them welcoming and inviting before having an open house for those parents.”
The board also heard a request to allow crowd funding proposals by teachers. Superintendent Eddie Campbell told board members the recently approved excess levy generates about 22 percent of their more than $170 million operating budget, and in that there are supplies directly funded by category.
District policy, 6605 passed in 2020 does not sanction crowd funding due to the levy and a lack of monetary control.
“We’ve shown you in the documents where all that money goes and how much money goes into the schools to offset a lot of those costs we’ve been talking about,” Campbell said. “So, out of respect for our community, we don’t want to nickel and dime them to death.”