photo by: Photo by Joselyn King

Marshall County Board of Education President Johh Miller, left; Superintendent Shelby Haines; Susan Reilly, director of the libraries in Marshall County; and Jim Stultz, president of the library board; discuss the upcoming excess levy renewal in Marshall County Schools.

MOUNDSVILLE – The interest in the sound of music among grade school students has Marshall County Schools officials wanting to build school auditoriums, but they won’t be raising the school district’s excess levy rate to pay for them.

Marshall County Schools announced Thursday its excess levy will be on the Nov. 8 general election ballot, and that it will remain at its current rate. The current levy expires June 30, 2023, while the new levy – if passed – would extend through June 30, 2028.

The board of education presently has set the excess rate at 86% of the maximum rate allowed by the levy call, which is among the lowest in the state. By comparison, Ohio County Schools’ rate is 95.5%, while Brooke, Hancock, and Wetzel counties all have 100% rates.

The average annual amount generated by the Marshall County Schools excess levy is just over $31 million, according to information provided by the school district.

Of that amount, more than $15 million is set aside for funding employee salaries and benefits, including dental and optical plans.

But the proposed levy also designates $8 million for property upgrades. Among these would be construction of a new auditorium for use by both Sherrard Middle School and Hilltop Elementary, and renovation of the current middle school auditorium for classroom space, according to Superintendent Shelby Haines.

Another auditorium would be constructed at Moundsville Middle School, which presently does not have one.

“Our music programs are growing exponentially,” Haines said. “We have a lot of kids who perform, and we had high-quality theater productions last year from both of our middle schools.

“So we are all looking forward to good things in our high school theater productions, as well.”

The cost of construction is only speculative at this point, Haines added.

The ballot language states the money also could be used for safety upgrades; building improvements at Sand Hill School, Cameron Elementary, and Glen Dale Elementary; athletic facility upgrades and both John Marshall and Cameron high schools; and a new roof at Moundsville Middle School.

In addition, the construction of a new McMechen/Benwood Elementary is on the call.

Haines acknowledges far more than $8 million will be needed for the projects. The school district will seek additional funding from the West Virginia School Building Authority and the general fund budget.

Other major line items in the levy language include $3 million for maintenance of equipment and buildings; $1.5 million for purchasing textbooks and other instructional materials; $1.5 million for technology; $900,000 for vehicle maintenance and fuel; and $700,000 for providing extra duty supplements for classroom workers and athletic coaches.

There is $500,000 designated for intervention specialists and $400,000 to provide free breakfast and lunch to all students.

Another $300,000 is earmarked for contracting for pre-kindergarten sites; $300,000 for supplementing special education; $325,000 for prevention resource officers; $300,000 for vocational learning needs; $300,000 for counselors; and $300,000 for school nurses.

Included in the call is $250,000 for Project Lead The Way curriculum; $200,000 for extended day learning; $150,000 for summer school remediation classes; $150,000 for social workers.

Lastly, the public libraries of Benwood, Cameron and Moundsville jointly receive $500,000 from the school district through the excess levy; the Marshall County Health Department, $100,000; and the Marshall County 4-H and West Virginia University Extension Service $75,000.

Representatives of those three entities were at the Marshall County Board of Education office Thursday morning to discuss the importance of the money to their operations.

“This is our major support,” said library director Susan Reilly. “This keeps us up with payroll, books, and e-books.”

Maintenance of the library buildings also is funded through the money, she added.

Tom Cook, Marshall County Health Department administrator, said the money Marshall County Schools provides to the health department helps employees to take medical services outside the building.

Before the school year started, the health department gave vaccinations to 101 students within school buildings. The money pays for the dental hygienist that visits the schools, as well as substance abuse programs.

“It benefits us with education – not just student education, but with adult education,” he added. “We have been able to offer services, and pass out information at fairs and festivals.”

Lisa Ingram, WVU extension agent in Marshall County, said the funding her department receives permits her to offer a career preparedness course in the schools that focuses on goal setting, resume writing and dressing for success.

The excess levy has been renewed by voters each time it has been on the ballot since 1959.