A special meeting of Bridgeport City Council set for Friday at noon won’t just feature discussion on funding the Veteran’s Memorial project just off Main Street. A very large portion of the meeting will focus on a meeting involving the future of the new Johnson Elementary School.

 

Members of the Harrison County Board of Education, along with recently chosen architect McKinley & Associates, will be on hand to discuss the design and location of the project. The meeting at the Bridgeport Municipal Complex begins at noon.

 

According to Council member Diana Marra, the gathering is also for informational purposes and a chance to exchange dialogue. She said it’s likely one of many the BOE will have with the various parties impacted by the new school.

 

“The first thing I want to do is thank the Board of Education for reaching out to  the city to allow us to be  a part of the process as it relates to the location on the existing Johnson site as well as the design of the building,” said Marra. “The city has a long history of cooperative efforts with the Board … and this is another example.”

 

City Manager Kim Haws echoed much of that. He pointed out that it’s extremely rare for a community to be involved in a multi-million dollar new school project and a bonus that the Board of Education is reaching out to the city and others in the early planning stages.

 

“This is something that doesn’t happen often in many communities, particularly a new school in the center of a community,” said Haws. “We’re going to be given the opportunity for input on several things, as will others, on the functionality and aesthetics of this facility. Certainly, the Board of Education has been extremely good about reaching out to us and we’re appreciative of that fact.”

 

Harrison County Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin had promised that stakeholders at every level would be involved. This is one of those steps Manchin promised and appears to be delivering one.

 

“I  think that the goal is to inovlve as many stakeholders on the front end as possible and to utilize the information the city may have whether it’s on traffic flow, flood plains, or maybe even utilities, we want to help,” said Marra. “I know that they’re already reaching out to the city and other stakeholders including parents, teachers and adminsitrators I have nothing but high praise for the board of education in already beginning to follow through on what they said they would do.”

 

While Marra said the city hopes to learn some of the early details and timelines involved at Friday’s meeting, she said it’s also important the BOE and the architects have the potential to learn or receive items from the city that may be beneficial.

 

“We need to let them know what informatioon we may have to expdedite this plan. If we’ve got it then we’ll get it to them because speeding things up is to the benefit of everyone,” said Marra.

 

The new school will cost roughly $17 million. It will cover 65,000 square feet and be two stories. Manchin has said he would like to see it open to students in September of 2018. The project is covered with SBA approved funds and a local match from the Harrison County BOE

 

Editor's Note: Top photo shows City Manager Kim Haws and Diana Marra, while Harrison County Schools Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin is shown below.