When the final options were available for where to build a new Johnson Elementary School, three became finalists. The possibilities included building directly in front of the existing facility, using up the majority of the parking lot that sits beside the school and in front of Wayne Jamison Field or to use the large field that is used primarily for youth baseball activities.

 

In the end, Harrison County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Mark Manchin said the option that the architects – McKinley & Associates – opted to utilize was the vacant grassy area used almost exclusively for youth baseball. And he said their rationale just made the most sense.

 

“There were a number of factors, including the fact that this is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) and the building is best situated there with the orientation of the sun; things were that detailed in the selection process. In the end, though, it was just the best and most safe site and safety of our students during the building process was a big component,” said Manchin.

 

The site in question has long been thought as a potential building site. However, due to concerns that the land was in a flood plain some dismissed the location.

 

“We determined that it was a buildable site and we do know we have to build up a bit because of flood plain issues,” said Manchin. “That issue didn’t turn out to be a major one.”

 

While most of the grassy area will be utilized, Manchin said part of the parking lot will also be needed to accommodate the 65,000 square foot building. Part of that, he said, will impact the entrance to Jamison Field in the future.

 

“I’ve always believed that the site that was chosen would eventually be chosen, but we never had the final geotechnical results to make that decision because you have to be sure that you have a buildable site,” said Manchin. “As you know, there were other alternatives to this location because you never knew if this location, or even the alternatives, would be buildable once the geotechnical work was completed.”

 

Manchin also said that the initial thoughts of having the building in front of the existing building proved a bit problematic on a couple of fronts. He said there wasn’t a comfort level building that close to Johnson Avenue and there were other safety concerns during construction.

 

“Safety is the biggest concern here and the other two locations, it’s easy to say, were much closer to the student environment,” said Manchin. “We think this is the best location and we’ll be moving ahead.”

 

While the site is chosen, Manchin said the exact footprint isn’t set. He said once work progresses and plans become more intricate that the two-story building could move 50 feet one way or the other, and it was possible things could go as envisioned right now.

 

The goal is still to have the school completed near the start of school in the fall of 2018. The BOE moved forward with the $16.7 million project after the West Virginia School Building Authority awarded Harrison County with $10.7 million in funding for it.