Capital Improvement Plan

julieg@herald-mail.com The Washington County Board of Education's Facilities Committee has decided to recommend the board not build an additional parking lot at Bester Elementary School, school board member Russell Williams said Tuesday night. Williams serves on the Facilities Committee, said Rodney Turnbough, director of Facilities Management. If the school board doesn't want the parking lot built, board action will be required to remove it from the capital improvement plan, Chief Operating Officer William Blum said.

scottb@herald-mail.com The Washington County Board of Education may be adding a new weapon to its arsenal used to get capital funding from the Washington County Commissioners. During an Evening with the Board session at North Hagerstown High School Tuesday night, a parent asked how parents and others can help the school board get the money it needs to address enrollment growth in the schools. School Board Vice President Roxanne Ober said she had been thinking about that question and was considering development of "a parental advocacy tool kit," a set of documents that can be sent home to the families of all students.

scottb@herald-mail.com The Washington County Board of Education on Wednesday unanimously adopted a proposal under which its capital plan would more than double as would its request for capital funding from the Washington County Commissioners. The six-year capital improvement plan, increased to address enrollment growth, calls for building two new elementary schools and a new high school, among other projects. At the recommendation of Chief Operating Officer William Blum, the school board voted to increase its six-year capital improvement plan to $171.

Two appointed to advisory board Two people were appointed to the Fire and Rescue Communications Advisory Board by the Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday. The County Commissioners appointed Joe Ralls as delegate and Mike Lida as alternate delegate. Each was appointed to a three-year term. Capital Improvement Policy is approved The Washington County Commissioners on Tuesday approved a new Capital Improvement Policy. The policy's objective is to set guidelines and goals for the county's Capital Improvement Plan, according to a written statement from the county.

martinsburg@herald-mail.com Despite the county's hesitance to begin assessing impact fees, Jefferson County voters will be asked next spring to approve a bond call to help raise money to build a new high school and renovate Jefferson High School. Board of Education President Lori Stilley declined to say how much money will be sought through the bond, saying she first wants to present it to fellow board members at their meeting Tuesday night. The bond call will be on the primary election ballot in May. In a discussion about impact fees during the Jefferson County Commission meeting Thursday morning, Stilley told commissioners about the planned bond call.

Bid for school renovations approved The Washington County Board of Education on Tuesday approved 7-0 the Chambersburg, Pa.-based construction company Brechbill and Helman's $10,236,800 low bid to renovate and build onto Salem Avenue Elementary School, with work to begin in mid-August. Dennis McGee, the school system's director of facilities management, said the project price is within the school system's Capital Improvement Plan budget. He said Brechbill and Helman submitted the low bid of $9,548,400 to renovate the 46,529-square-foot building and to add 27,603 square feet to the facility.

tarar@herald-mail.com Three Washington County Commissioners said Monday they anticipate cuts to the proposed $45.8 million fiscal year 2004 capital improvement plan, which might put several construction projects in jeopardy. "Everything is subject to scrutiny," Commissioners Vice President William J. Wivell said. The capital plan lists a variety of projects, including $750,000 in renovations to the Washington County Courthouse, $25.1 million for projects at Hagerstown Regional Airport and $150,000 to start design work on a $15.9 million emergency communications system.

marlob@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - The Washington County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to close Conococheague Elementary School in 2006. The closing of the 42-year-old school off U.S. 40 is contingent on money being approved to renovate Maugansville Elementary to fill part of the void, and redistricting to accommodate the rest of the Conococheague students, said Dennis McGee, the school system's director of facilities management. "And we haven't even asked for that money yet," McGee said outside the meeting room after the vote.

pepperb@herald-mail.com WASHINGTON COUNTY - State budget shortfalls and planning questions are forcing the Washington County Board of Education to postpone by two years its plans to renovate Maugansville Elementary School and subsequently close Conococheague Elementary School. In a School Board work session Tuesday, Director of Facilities Management Dennis McGee told the board that the state plans this year to distribute $78.5 million among its 24 school districts, a $231.

pepperb@herald-mail.com CONOCOCHEAGUE - There are 263 students at Conococheague Elementary School. The people who work, play and learn there know every last pigtail-pulling and lunch-trading one of them. That's what they say they'll miss most about the school that's likely to shut down once its neighboring school gets a facelift. The Washington County Board of Education plans to make its decision Tuesday whether to close Conococheague upon the completion of renovations to Maugansville Elementary School, which is not expected before August 2006.