McDowell County Opening New School
McDowell County Schools holds groundbreaking for Coalfield Elementary .
An estimated 500 Mountain Lions will be introduced in McDowell County when the new Coalfield Elementary School opens . Donning colors of teal , black and silver , students and families from the consolidating Fall River , Kimball and Welch elementary schools will come together to form a new pride . The school , which is under construction and scheduled to open fall 2025 , has been a long time coming for the community that has been diligently pursuing the project for over 12 years .
“ Bringing these students together under one roof provides so many benefits for our community ,” says Ingrida Barker , Ed . D ., superintendent for McDowell County Schools . “ Finally having new infrastructure is a victory in itself , but the educational improvements that will result from this project are immeasurable .”
The new Coalfield Elementary will accommodate pre-K through fifth grade in a state-of-the-art facility that provides a modern educational environment and addresses the current health and safety needs of students , teachers and staff .
Coalfield Elementary allows the county to move on from three other aging facilities . Kimball and Welch elementary schools , built in 1954 and located in the 100-year flood plain , have experienced flood damage in the past and would need several updates to keep up with modern safety standards . Fall River Elementary , constructed in 1978 , is the newest of the three , but significant renovations would be required there as well . The new school will also include students from the former Anawalt Elementary , which closed in 2012 due to safety concerns and operated out of temporary modular buildings until 2019 when it moved students to Kimball and Welch . The consolidation and new build reduce the stress and cost of future preventative maintenance as well as facility utilization challenges .
“ These schools and the people who have been a part of them carry a great legacy ,” says Will Chapman , facilities director for McDowell County Schools , “ But there is something truly special being built with this safe , highly functional new school . I ’ m proud of the army of folks who stayed persistent over the years and made sure this happened for our families and kids .”
Located in Welch , WV , near Mount View middle and high schools on the grounds of an old strip mine , the elementary school was designed to have a lodge aesthetic to fit with its mountain-top vista . The building ’ s exterior
includes heavy timber , masonry , stone and metal panels , with large rocks from the site ’ s excavation being placed around campus . Inside , the heavy timber ceiling flows into the lobby and ties it all together with an accent wall featuring images of McDowell County ’ s rich history . In contrast , the bright and colorful elements that extend throughout the building speak to the playful nature of the students inside .
The new space provides opportunities for innovation in curriculum and improvements to accessibility . Classroom designs feature movable partitions to create adaptable learning environments . Dual art / music and STEM / makers-space rooms have glass doors that roll up to allow classes to expand outdoors on nice days . There is also a media center and a middle-school-size gym that incorporates a spiral slide and rock-climbing wall . Outside there will be a large accessible playground .
The Coalfield Elementary School project is financed through a $ 19 million award from the West Virginia School Building Authority . In addition , McDowell County committed more than $ 7 million of local funding to the project .
WVU , Marshall Launch First Ascent for Young Professionals
First Ascent , a new program designed to cultivate and retain local talent within West Virginia , is accepting applications from recent West Virginia University ( WVU ) and Marshall University graduates , helping the Mountain State ’ s best and brightest young professionals stay close to home .
Built on the foundation of the Brad and Alys Smith Outdoor Economic Development Collaborative and the West Virginia Department of Tourism ’ s successful Ascend WV program , First Ascent is designed to set participants on paths for successful remote and hybrid careers in the state , addressing the population loss and brain drain that stems from new graduates pursuing employment opportunities elsewhere .
“ For too long , we have watched as the young people our state needs for its future have packed up and left ,” WVU President Gordon Gee says . “ The love our graduates have developed for West Virginia while living and learning here during their collegiate careers is profound . This kind of post-graduation support can help them forge pathways to stay while embarking on challenging , fulfilling careers .”
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