Marion County School Board hires contractor for East Dale Elementary roof replacement
Feb. 6—FAIRMONT — East Dale Elementary will be getting a new roof.
The Marion County Board of Education voted at its Monday meeting to approve McKinley & Associates for architectural and engineering services. The roof was originally installed in 1995 and had a 15 year service life, putting the current roof way past its expiration date.
"It is the worst one in the county," Andy Price, maintenance supervisor, said. "It has to be fixed this year. Forty one leaks in that school. We're going to get to where there is going to be damage in the school. Mold. It's a constant fight when it rains."
Price said he hopes to begin work on the roof over the summer. Board Member James Saunders emphasized the leaks were no joke, thanking the maintenance staff for its work.
McKinley & Associates' selection comes at the close of an interview process during which other architectural firms were considered, with bids by the Thrasher Group, Omni Associates, Williamson Shriver Architects and ZMM Architects and Engineers. Funding for the replacement will come out of the excess levy.
The school board also authorized the hiring of facilitators for the Marion County Special Olympics. The event returned to the county last year, continuing a program that has been a part of a collaboration between the school district and Special Olympics.
"Our students work as mentors of the Special Olympians, they come to East-West Stadium and support them all day long as they compete in Special Olympics events through Marion County," School Superintendent Donna Heston said. "Our teachers are hired to facilitate that mentorship and celebration of those student athletes. It's a long time thing here."
Overall, the board passed through its agenda swiftly. The board approved $28,900 for a Thrillshare Media Subscription Renewal, $15,330 for 1,500 Protective Chromebook sleeves and a service plan in the amount of $14,837 from APC/Schneider Electric/Gen-Mark for technology infrastructure upkeep.
Finally, Board President Donna Costello and Vice President Thomas Dragich reiterated their concerns over legislation in the works at the state legislature. Costello is particularly concerned over proposals to shift funding from the public school system to charter schools, leaving public schools to do more with less funding.
"I mean, $150 million was recommended by the governor that is directed toward charter schools," Costello said. "That is of great concern."
Dragich criticized Sen. Patricia Rucker, District 16, for her desire to introduce a film into classrooms that would show the development of the brain, heart, sex and other vital organs in early fetal development. It would also require schools to show the Meet Baby Oliva video, produced by anti-abortion group Live Action.
Tamarra Wieder, Kentucky state director of Planned Parenthood Alliance Advocates, called the video deceitful and inaccurate, in an interview with NBC Montana. The video is not medically or scientifically accurate.
Dragich pointed out it was Rucker who also introduced charter schools to the state and was later removed as state education chair. He said parents should be the ones to deal with subjects like pregnancy at home. He also expressed dismay that outside ideas were being brought into the state, Costello added that it was special interest groups.
Combined with what is essentially defunding public schools in favor of charter schools, Costello and Dragich are concerned that the public education system is being dismantled.
Rucker's bill is Senate Bill 468 and was referred to the rules committee after its 2nd reading in the senate on Jan. 26. The bill would have to be read a third time in the Senate and passed before heading to the House of Delegates for passage and then onto the governor's desk for signature for it to become law.
"They look at it from the perspective of their personal political or religious beliefs, instead of actually helping public education," Costello said.
The next regular school board meeting is Feb. 19.
Reach Esteban at efernandez@timeswv.com
