Ohio County School Construction Is Nearing Finish Line
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WHEELING -- Students in Ohio County Schools are set to head back to their classrooms in less than two weeks, and the classrooms must be ready for them.
On Wednesday, Chapline Street in front of Wheeling Middle School was closed for a time as a crane worked to install a new main heating, ventilation and air conditioning system on the roof. A new elevator has already been placed at the front of the school
Principal Rich McCardle has concerns as the start of school on Aug. 22 is approaching and there is still construction-related disarray at the school.
But he and other school officials realize the work always comes together in the end for the students.
David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools, said work is progressing on schedule "and so are the schools."
"We will have them ready," he said of the buildings.
The new elevator at Wheeling Middle School is operational, "but not complete," according to Crumm.
There still has to be some concrete work poured in front of the building.
Renovation work in the main office is also happening.
Crumm said by the end of next week, the main air conditioning unit will be cooling the school and a second unit will have been installed in the gymnasium.
"We're right where we think we should be," Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones added.
"They replaced the elevator on the front of the building (at Wheeling Middle School), and the brick matched. The school now has a big maker space, and there will be other upgrades around the school."
While updating the HVAC system contractors discovered the piping in the school "was old," according to Jones.
"We had to replace that. It was a big project," he said.
Ohio County voters in 2018 approved a $44.4 million levy that has led to a total of about $100 million in property improvements to all 13 Ohio County School facilities since that time.
What is mostly left are projects at Elm Grove and Middle Creek Elementary Schools.
When Middle Creek students return on Aug. 22, the first thing they will notice is that their bus will no longer drop them off at the front of the school along Middle Creek Road. Over the summer a new access drive has been constructed leading behind the school, and that will be the new drop-off point for students.
A man-trap style entrance also is being constructed at the front of the school to screen visitors, but isn't likely to be completed by the start of the school year, according to Crumm.
Previously the building was constructed as an open classroom school. Remaining partitions have now been removed, and students will see they don't have to walk through a front classroom to get to a second one in the back, Crumm explained.
Work to build an addition onto Elm Grove Elementary has just begun, Jones added.
He continued that elsewhere, there are some loose ends being tied up.
At Wheeling Park High School, the two restrooms in the activities area are being renovated and will be compliant with the Americans With Disabilities Act when completed. This is important, as the restrooms are the ones most used by the public when there are school events, according to Jones.
Some outdoor work and landscaping also will be happening at the school, he said.
Jones noted a new HVAC system also is being installed at the Warwood School this summer. In addition, Woodsdale Elementary students will see a new gym floor there.
"This is it. We get Elm Grove done and Middle Creek done and we're done," he said. "I don't anticipate any major projects for a while now.
"We have new roofs. The buses have all been air conditioned, and the science rooms have all been upgraded. It's all thanks to the community," Jones said.