Here's How a Reserve Grant Works

THE PROPOSED BROOKE MIDDLE SCHOOL BACKGROUND

 In the year 2000, the citizens of Brooke County approved the 2001 bond issue that raised $15 million dollars to finance the construction of the Brooke County Wellness Center and pool, and renovations on several schools. The bond required the Brooke County Board of Education to make payments from July 2001 through June 2016. In 2012, the Board of Education refinanced the 2001 bond issue shortening the payback period by one (1) year and saving the citizens of Brooke County $1.3 million dollars. The 2001 bond will be paid off in June 2015.


 COST of PROJECTS The 2015 bond issue will cover two projects: a middle school and an HVAC system for Brooke High School. The budget for the construction of the proposed Brooke Middle School is $30 million dollars. The new HVAC system at Brooke High School will cost $6 million dollars. The Brooke County Board of Education will make it a point to seek local workers and businesses in the construction projects. SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY OF WV (SBA)


In April 2014 the WV SBA presented a $100,000 Reserve Grant to Brooke County Schools for the planning of a new middle school. A key benefit to this project is that the WV SBA will more than match dollar for dollar the amount raised by Brooke County citizens by providing the county with $18 million towards construction. They will not pay towards the HVAC system. Three million dollars will be paid through the bond issue and three million dollars will be paid by the BOE. TAXES Payment of the 2001 bond issue ends in June 2015; payment of the 2015 bond issue will begin the following month, July 2015.

There will be no change in the tax rate that citizens have paid over the past 15 years (i.e., the tax rate for the 2015 bond issue will be the same taxable rate as the 2001 bond issue.) The 2015 bond issue will generate funds of $15 million dollars to be used for the two projects: $12 million dollars for the construction of Brooke Middle School and $3 million dollars for the HVAC system at Brooke High School. THE SCHOOLS – FOLLANSBEE MIDDLE AND WELLSBURG MIDDLE Follansbee Middle school is 87 years old and Wellsburg Middle school is 85 years old. The 2010-2020 ten-year CEFP Plan that was developed by Brooke County citizens and business leaders called for the construction of one middle school and two primary schools along with the closure of the existing two middle schools and seven primary schools.

The new primary schools were to be built on the existing middle school sites. Unfortunately, this recommendation is not economically feasible to be completed at one time as it would have caused an increase in taxes of over 350%, which neither the Board nor our citizens would support.

 Therefore, in order for the county to achieve progress towards the construction of new educational facilities, the board has placed the county in a position to build the new Brooke Middle School, with the realization that the land currently occupied by Follansbee and Wellsburg Middle Schools may be required in the future for new school buildings or facility restructuring. Currently, discussions are being held to determine the most economically feasible use for the existing middle school buildings. Ideas have included leasing the buildings to city or private organizations, or transferring existing board departments, programs, and/or resources to those two buildings.

 It is acknowledged that the existing middle school buildings are of advanced age and the razing of said buildings may eventually be required.

As always, public comment will be welcomed and encouraged on this matter and additional meetings and discussions will be scheduled regarding this issue. THE SCHOOL – BROOKE MIDDLE 1. Location - Brooke Middle School will be located on the Brooke High School Campus between the high school and the baseball field.

... The reduction of personnel will occur through attrition (i.e., retirements, resignations, new job opportunities, etc.) It is anticipated that the construction project will take over at least twenty-four months to complete. During this time careful attention will be given to the needs of the school district with the focus on preserving existing jobs.

In Brooke County, all of us have family, friends, neighbors, and acquaintances who work for our school system, and special efforts will be made to preserve the jobs of our employees.

IN CONCLUSION

Change is never easy but is sometimes required for progress and advancement. The new middle school will provide a state of the art facility for our adolescent students and will serve as a beacon of pride, hope, and accomplishment for our county. Brooke County has the opportunity to construct a 21st century middle school complete with the latest advances in safety, technology, and infrastructure without raising the tax rate and being awarded $18 million dollars from the WV SBA. The board is sensitive to the issue of preserving our employees’ jobs and is dedicated to that endeavor. Staff reduction will be achieved through attrition and the careful attention to needs over the next three years.

The board has put all the necessary pieces in place to build a new educational facility as recommended by the Brooke County citizens and businesses owners in the CEFP plan. It is now time for the public to express their opinion by voting on Tuesday, November 4, 2014. The board thanks all citizens of the county for working together in the continued endeavor to provide our students with a quality education.