Whether it happens is unknown, but Bridgeport schools could see millions in upgrades during the next decade if all goes as hoped by the Harrison County Board of Education.

 

Although not final and a public hearing was held last night on the matter, a committee working with the BOE has shaped a list of projects it hopes to see completed as part of a 10-year plan. The plan, which is done every decade and occasionally modified, is the Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP).

 

The list of projects released by the CEFP committee has a priority list showing three new schools as part of the plan for Harrison County and at the top of the list. The new schools, in order, include Washington Irving Middle School ($29.1 million), Norwood Elementary ($16.9 million), and North View Elementary ($16.8 million).

 

The first project listed for Bridgeport was fourth on a preliminary priority list presented in late June. Although not a new school, it would involve a major overhaul of Bridgeport High School to the tune of $11.29 million.

 

What would that entail?

 

Although it has many facets, the main part would involve moving the gymnasium, cafeteria and kitchen to a new site. The site would be adjacent to the current BHS site on Johnson Avenue. Other components include new classrooms and office space, upgrades to the utilities including HVAC, and many more.

 

“The new site in Bridgeport could be between the high school and the middle school, but a lot of it comes down to the flood plain and I believe there are also issues involving infrastructure that needs to be considered,” said Harrison County Assistant Superintendent of Schools Jimmy Lopez. “The (School Building Authority) takes all of those things into consideration.”

 

Lopez said will the freed-up space in the cafeteria and kitchen would lead to knew classroom space, he said the committee feels the existing gymnasium would be an auxiliary gymnasium. The new gymnasium, as well as a new kitchen and cafeteria, would all be larger.

 

“Bridgeport has such a great need for facility space,” said Lopez. “Even with the new space, the gymnasium is crowded and the numbers of students in the cafeteria is extremely tight. Those would be taken care of with this.

 

The other one on the list is a $4.3 million project for Bridgeport Middle School. It is exclusively for infrastructure-related projects. The school’s rubber roof, boilers, heat pumps and the doors (exterior) would be replaced.

 

“That one is fairly straight forward,” said Lopez.

 

Lopez said more detailed information will be presented to the elected members of the Harrison County BOE to give a green light on the CEFP. From there, it is submitted to the School Building Authority, which has been the primary funding source during the most recently completed CEFP. After the, the West Virginia School Board will need to sign off on the CEFP.

 

“We have additional information to submit, first, to our Board of Education, but it won’t necessarily change the priorities we have,” said Lopez.

 

McKinley & Associates, LLC is the architect helping craft the CEFP. Lopez said even though priority changes can be made after it gets approval by all the parties, it’s not an easy process.

 

“You have to show why you have the priorities listed as they are when you initially submit, and if there’s a change in a priority – and any number of things could potentially cause that – you have to be able to show it,” said Lopez. “It can be done, but it’s not an easy process and you have to definitely show a reason to modify priorities and back up the reason or reasons.”

 

Although the costs for the Bridgeport projects, new schools listed and other county projects not listed are estimates, the plan exceeds $100 million. If approved, based on estimates, the total work in 13 schools would be $107,255,388.

 

Editor's Note: Top photos show Bridgeport High School and Bridgeport Middle School, respectively, while Jimmy Lopez is shown below.