WILLIAMSTOWN - The Williamstown Elementary School facility committee is asking the community for their recommendations on locations for a new school.
Jean Ford, Williamstown mayor and committee member, said while there are no official plans as yet to move the school, the committee is looking for information about property that may be available.
"If we are going to do this and we are looking for a location, the people in the town need to know this," Ford said. "I think the town needs to know we are interested in finding a place to build."
Ford said officials also will look at whether the original school, which is more than 100-years old, can be renovated or a new school could be built at the existing site.
"Where we are now, I would say we would be very limited in what we could do," she said.
Williamstown Elementary is sandwiched between Williams Ave. and an alley, with a church on one side of the property and homes on the other.
"Right now we have no green space for the students," said Principal Heather Mannix-Bretthauer. "Green space is something that would be very important to me in selecting a new site."
Mannix-Bretthauer said finding a location supported by the community is a must.
"We are all about tradition here. We are all about community," she said. "This town is all about what is best for our students."
Sue Woodward, assistant superintendent of school services for Wood County Schools, said in mid-November she and committeemen will tour schools in Kanawha and Cabell counties to get ideas on how Williamstown Elementary might be addressed.
"One is a retrofit school, one is a new school in town and one is a new school being built outside of town," she said. "We are trying to decide what would be the right approach for the Williamstown community."
Woodward said the committee is expected to meet again on Nov. 29 to begin ranking by priority what would be wanted for the new school.
Ford said residents are encouraged to contact Woodward at the central office at 304-420-9663 or Mannix-Bretthauer at the school at 304-375-7675 if they have suggestions or information on possible locations for a new building.
