HICO, WV (LOOTPRESS) – Fayette County Superintendent Gary Hough will be interviewed by the West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA) Monday morning to request funding for a new elementary school in Hico.
According to the West Virginia SBA, Fayette County Schools is requesting up to $15,625,860 in SBA funding to construct a new elementary school on the campus of the Midland Trail Educational Complex in Hico.
The Fayette County Board of Education (FCBOE) has pledged $6,000,000 in funding for the total $21,625,860 project.
Upon completion of this project, the existing Ansted Elementary and Divide Elementary Schools will be donated to the community and students will attend the newly constructed facility.
The new Midland Trail Elementary would house students in grades PK-5.
Currently, there are 180 students enrolled at Ansted Elementary in Ansted and 209 students at Divide Elementary in Lookout.
According to the SBA Existing Building Evaluation Report, Ansted Elementary is listed as being in poor condition, while Divide Elementary is listed as being in fair condition.
Following public hearings, the FCBOE voted to close both schools in 2021.
Multiple other superintendents will be participating in funding request interviews with the SBA on Monday and Tuesday.
Upon completion of the superintendent’s interviews on November 13 and 14, 2023, the SBA Staff will compile all information gathered in the discussions, site visits, and correspondence to make calculated, funding recommendations to the full Authority in the December 11, 2023 quarterly meeting.
