Concerns over leaky roof to lead to repairs

By Christopher J. Jackson

FAYETTEVILLE — About 15 parents of Valley Elementary School students expressed concerns for the well-being of their children over the school’s roof during last week’s Fayette County Board of Education meeting.

Craig Petry, who represented the group, said they were at the meeting because of a passing comment by a 5-year-old to his parents stating it had been raining in his classroom.

“That passing comment could have been taken as a wonderful opportunity for children to be learning from a science experiment or an inventive twist by a teacher to enhance the learning, but the sad fact is that it had truly been raining in his classroom.”

Petry said leaks have been reported in the kindergarten, first-grade and second-grade classrooms, music room and gymnasium.

He said trash cans have been used to capture leaking water and are blocking learning instruments, such as computers.

During Christmas, students performed plays for their families and friends while water “rained” on them, he said.

The parents would like to see the board repair the leaks in the roof, conduct an air-sampling test for mold and have a structural engineer inspect the overall integrity of the roof.

Petry said the health department has visited the school and issued several citations.

“We’re not here to point fingers or say anyone has done anything or not done anything,” he said. “We are here for the concerns of our children and it’s not out of bounds to request these things.”

At the meeting, Superintendent Chris Perkins said school officials were concerned with the issues brought up by the parents and they began a short-term fix for the leaks at the Smithers school over the weekend.

The state School Building Authority allocated money for a project that will erect new classrooms and a roof, but the money was tied up due to a dispute over property behind the school which belongs to the Division of Highways, he reported.

However, upon reading a report of the meeting in The Register-Herald of Beckley, the Herald’s sister newspaper, U.S. Rep. Nick J. Rahall jumped into action.

“After reading a story in today’s Register-Herald about Valley Elementary students enduring leaking roofs and rain in their classrooms, I immediately went to work,” Rahall said last week. “Everyone agrees our children and grandchildren deserve a top-notch quality education in a dry, comfortable, healthy and safe environment.”

Funding for the project could be disbursed until a written statement was received by the SBA outlining the property transfer.

“Superintendent Chris Perkins shares my concern and interest and advised me that the paperwork was under review at the West Virginia Division of Highways,” Rahall said. “After inquiring with West Virginia Secretary of Transportation Paul Mattox, and a follow up call with Ward Lefler, W.Va. Division of Highways District 9 Engineer, it is my understanding that the property review is complete and in the final stages, and Mr. Lefler is working with legal counsel for the Fayette County Board of Education to provide a letter that appropriately outlines the transfer, therefore allowing this important project to move forward.”

At the meeting, Perkins had asked for the board’s permission to go ahead with the repair project even without SBA funding. “If the dispute isn’t cleared up, we’ll bear the financial burden with the board’s permission, regardless, because it has to be done,” he said.

— E-mail: cjackson@

register-herald.com

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