The new school is expected to be built at the school district's Spring Mills campus off U.S. 11 near W.Va. 901 as part of a long-range growth plan that includes the new Spring Mills High School," Arvon said.
He credited the county's prior commitment of local tax dollars and general revenue to building schools, more than $80 million since 1990, as a reason for the School Building Authority award.
"We do have a good partnership with the SBA," Arvon said.
Arvon also noted the Eastern Panhandle ties of two School Building Authority board members, Connie Perry and Tom Lange, which he said helps "a great deal."
The county is using 106 portable classrooms, Arvon said.
In Jefferson County, Pete Dougherty, president of the county's Board of Education, also touted his board's good relationship with the SBA.
Some people have questioned whether there were good relations between the authority and Jefferson County, but those concerns have been put to rest with the authority's decision to fund an entire $6.4 million request to help build a new elementary school next to the Breckenridge subdivision north of Charles Town, W.Va., Dougherty said.
Dougherty said the new school is needed to accommodate growing residential development in Breckenridge, Halltown, Bakerton and other nearby areas, and to help relieve crowding in other elementary schools.
Dougherty has said the school will cost about $10 million and would be paid for through local school impact fees and funding from the state SBA.
Dougherty has said the school could be completed within 18 months.
The new Jefferson County elementary school will allow school officials to do away with most portable classrooms at primary schools across the county, said Superintendent of Schools Susan Wall.
-- By DAVE McMILLION
charlestown@herald-mail.com
and MATTHEW UMSTEAD
martinsburg@herald-mail.com
