State Fire Marshal’s Approval Needed For Work on Madison School Clinic
Joselyn King (file) Trending
WHEELING -- The West Virginia Fire Marshal's Office must give its approval before work can start to build a medical clinic at Madison Elementary School.
"The prints are at the State Fire Marshal's office, and we're just waiting to hear back from them," explained David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools. "Once we hear back, it is good to go."
He noted the office already has addressed the plans once, but their determination was that "tweaks had to be made."
"It could be any day now that we hear something," Crumm said.
Once approval is given, JD&E Construction of Wheeling will get the go ahead to start the demolition of an area in the basement for the clinic. It will be located near the school's dental clinic.
"We're hoping to complete things by the end of April. That's if we can get started soon," Crumm said. "Ideally, we want to have it ready before the school year is over.
"It shouldn't take really long. But we are dealing with an old building, and thick walls in the basement."
To begin, carpeting must be removed for sanitary reasons. It will be replaced with durable vinyl composition tile that easily can be wiped down, according to Crumm.
There will be two exam rooms constructed, with sinks outside of them. They will be outfitted with medical beds and cabinets, and there will be a nurse's station, he said.
The cost to build out the clinic at the school is expected to be $175,000, with Ohio County Schools already having secured $145,000 of the money through grants from the Benedum Foundation and the Sisters of St. Joseph Foundation. These were secured by Superintendent Kim Miller and Leah Stout, special education director.
Ohio County Schools approved a memorandum of understanding with WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital in November to start a medical clinic at Madison Elementary School.
The MOU and subsequent policy that were passed establishes that a nurse practitioner will be present at Madison School for a total of eight hours per week, with the hours per day still to be established.