A state education official says passage of a $50 million school bond in Preston County next month is a major key to the county improving its school system like it has pledged to do.
Office of Education Performance Audits Director Dr. Kenna Seal and his team reviewed the school system earlier this year and made recommendations. For several years a number of Preston County schools have failed to make the required progress under the mandates of No Child Left Behind.
Dr. Seal says Preston County has submitted a solid response to the concerns with plans to improve academics, the inner-workings of the school system and facilities.
Seal predicts the goals will have a difficult time being met unless Preston County voters approve that $50 million bond plan on Nov. 4. "That would go a long way," Seal said. "Their facilities are not in very good condition."
Preston County voters last approved a bond issue in 1989. The main project back then was a new Preston County High School. Seal says the district has done little to improve facilities since then. "They do have facilities that desperately need to be upgraded. They need some help," he said.
The state School Building Authority has promised to add nearly $20 million to Preston's $50 million if the bond is approved. The plan includes the construction of three new Pre-K-8th Grade schools near Arthurdale, Tunnelton and Kingwood.
MetroNews asked Dr. Seal if Preston County could achieve its improvement plans without the new schools. "In my opinion they would have to get a lot of money from the School Building Authority," Seal said. "I think it's critical that they are able to pass the levy and leverage that money from the School Building Authority."
