Although an official vote still has to take place by the Harrison County Board of Education and the state will still have to approve the project, it appears that a new Johnson Elementary School is coming sooner rather than later.

 

According to Board of Education member Kristin Messenger, Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin recommended that Johnson Elementary be the school that is targeted for replacement as a School Building Authority priority project. Messenger said that Manchin’s recommendation was backed by the elected board members.

 

The recommendation came during Sunday’s Harrison County Board of Education summer retreat. The meeting was held at the Stonewall Jackson Resort and was open to the public. The BOE will meet again today as they have sessions set up with Harrison County principals.

 

“Every board member was 100 percent in agreement,” said Messenger.

 

Although the recommendation and informal approval was last night, the official vote has yet to be taken. Messenger said that vote will come at Tuesday’s Board of Education meeting. However, Manchin said today the formal vote will actually take place during the August 4 meeting.

 

Johnson Elementary was built in the 1950s, but had been riddled with problems for years. Along with not having a gymnasium and modular classrooms, there have been issues with mold and asbestos among others that have been pointed out. Now it appears that those things will soon be a thing of the past.

 

“Dr. Manchin will begin preparing the application immediately,” said Messenger. “This is a very high priority for the school board. This will be for a new school as opposed to repairing the existing school.”

 

The application for funding to the SBA is due by Oct. 1. Manchin, who formerly was the head of the SBA, knows the process well, but has told Connect-Bridgeport that he will need ample time to prepare the application. Once submitted, it will be among several submitted by county school boards statewide looking for projects to be approved by the SBA. That would be the final hurdle to be cleared if the BOE moves forward with approval as Messenger anticipates Tuesday.

 

As for the cost of a new building, that’s an unknown at this time, Messenger said. She also said the new location is also unknown.

 

“There aren’t a lot of details at this time,” said Messenger. “What I personally know is that the school is part of that community and the location is important to the community and it has to be determined in the application process with the SBA. With that being said, I don’t feel it’s the position of the BOE to get into Bridgeport politics as it relates to the location of the new school in the application.

 

“I would like the community and the City Council to come together, and quickly, to bring us the idea of where they would like it go,” she continued. “Ultimately, the Board of Education has the final say, but I want, and I think the group would as well, input from the community on this.”

 

Johnson is one of several schools in need of major repair or replacement. Messenger said several other schools were also discussed. Recently, a new Lumberport Middle School was built, while a new portion of Simpson Elementary is set to open this coming school year.

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows a view that may soon be gone, while bottom picture is of BOE member Kristin Messenger.