Report on Jackson County School Board Meetings regarding Kenna Elementary

July 7th-Supt. Hess reported it would take twelve months of planning for the proposed Kenna School, followed by 16-18 months allowed for the actual construction.
July 21st-Approved grant funds in the amount of $8,738,038 received from the WV School Building Authority for construction of a new Kenna Elementary. The balance is to come from local funds-part of the funds are to be diverted from the Dodge property-that project seems to be on hold.
August 4th-Supt. Hess reported he and others had toured some recently built and under construction schools in the state.
August 11th-Supt. Hess reported interviewing architectural firms was in progress. It had been narrowed down to four firms from ten expressing interest.
August 18th-Board approved contract with ZMM Architects and Engineering Services to provide design services for the construction of a new Kenna Elementary. ZMM designed the recent addition to Evans Elementary.
September 1st-Supt. Hess reported ZMM Architects met with staff from Kenna Elementary. They viewed slides of their work, discussed square footage requirements, technology and energy efficiency. Discussed orientation of the building on the site. Staff is to tour some other new schools.

Traffic Issues at Kenna Ridge site

In light of recent issues in Cabell County at Milton Middle School, http://www.herald-dispatch.com/life/schools/x982387433/Flashing-light-to-be-turned-on-at-Milton-Middle-School , we hope that someone will look at the traffic situation at the Kenna Ridge site.  It is a madhouse up there.  You have people turning into the Exxon, getting on and off the interstate, coming out of side roads, and accessing the park and ride.  When you take that into account, along with the traffic coming over the top of the hill,  a person has to wonder what kind of safety issues and problems will occur when the school is put into the Industrial Park.  Also, are the industrial businesses up there going to interrupt their flow of business and have their semis and heavy haulers make deliveries after hours?  Or are our kids  going to have that additional hazard while loading and unloading the school buses? We're also wondering how school buses are going to make the turn in and out of the road.  Will road widening occur?  If so, who will pay for it?