West Virginia district unveils new elementary

The Mercer County district is opening Mountain Valley Elementary in Princeton, W.Va., which is replacing 2 elementary campuses.

The Mercer County (W.Va.) district is opening a new elementary school next week in Princeton.

The Bluefield Daily Telegraph reports that the $12 million Mountain Valley Elementary School will provide a new campus for students in grades preK to 5 who have been attending Ceres Elementary and Cumberland Heights Elementary.

The district held a grand opening Friday for the new facility to give students, their families, and guests that included Gov. Jim Justice a sneak peak.

The 47,200-square-foot school includes upgraded features such as a wireless computer lab, a STEAM-themed classroom, and a larger playground.

New safety features include 28 security cameras and an access control system that requires visitors to be buzzed into the building by school staff.

Students will have access to a middle-school-sized gymnasium; neither Ceres or Cumberland Heights schools had a gymnasium. 

The West Virginia School Building Authority provided $7.8 million for the school construction, and the Mercer County school board chipped in $4.2 million.

About the Author

Mike Kennedy

Senior Editor

Mike Kennedy has been writing about education for American School & University since 1999. He also has reported on schools and other topics for The Chicago Tribune, The Kansas City Star, The Kansas City Times and City News Bureau of Chicago. He is a graduate of Michigan State University.

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