Local businessman Ken Lowe advocates turning the current Shepherdstown Middle School into the new elementary school to keep the town’s youngest residents in the town. Toni Milbourne

SHEPHERDSTOWN — A local businessman and lifelong resident of Shepherdstown is on a mission to advocate keeping Shepherdstown Elementary School’s students within the town, where they an continue to walk to school.

Plans are underway to build a new elementary school and middle school several miles outside of town, at the intersection of Gardner’s Lane and Route 230; however, Lowe believes the better solution would be to relocate the elementary school to the current middle school building.

Lowe appeared before the Board of Education on June 14 to pitch his idea, which was designated as part of the public comment session where he had just three minutes to speak and could receive no feedback from board members. Since that time, he said he has not had conversations with the board members to discuss what he sees as the best course of action for the municipality’s students.

When asked about the project, school board president Kathy Skinner said that to retrofit the building to the standard citizens would expect would be too expensive, if it is even possible.

“There are a whole host of problems with this proposal, not the least of which is that we need to replace the Shepherdstown Elementary School building sooner rather than later, as the SBA has said it is antiquated and needs immediate replacement,” Skinner said. “One problem is what we do with the students during this rehab.

“Essentially, we will have to build a school to hold the students during construction. It does not make sense to build a middle school and then put elementary school kids in it while we rehab the old middle school,” Skinner said.

Lowe also appeared before the Shepherdstown Town Council at their monthly meeting in July, during which he spoke about his idea. The Town Council has scheduled a time for public input, regarding Lowe’s ideas, in its next meeting on Tuesday. Those with an interest are encouraged to attend.

“The elementary school in town means a great deal to our way of life,” Lowe said, a sentiment he shared with the board of education when appearing before them.

In a recent interview, Lowe stressed the importance of the hometown feel of walking to school, being part of the community. He also pointed out that busing students out of town adds to a longer school day, when incorporating travel time, as well as adding safety concerns with the travel.

“I would suggest building a new middle school on the proposed Flowing Springs Road site and retrofitting the middle school to accommodate the elementary facility, where there is already an existing gymnasium, as well as Osbourn Athletic Field, and room for expansion,” Lowe said.

Lowe said he would be the first to admit the current elementary school building is outdated. A wise move, and a financially responsible one, would be to spend less money retrofitting the middle school, while selling the property on which the current elementary school sits, according to Lowe.

“If asked, I would consider offering my experience and time to assist,” Lowe said, mentioning he has an extensive resume highlighting real estate and business development in Jefferson County and the state of West Virginia.

According to Lowe, Shepherdstown’s children should have the opportunity to begin their school years in a community-based school.

“These youth are our future,” Lowe said, adding he knows that while bonds may have been committed for the elementary school construction at the new site, plans can be changed.

Lowe voiced several examples of things in Shepherdstown that show there is always another way.

“It you think it’s not possible, just remember Shepherdstown is the true birthplace of the steamboat,” he said. “The national effort to declare our freedom and establish the United States with the Beeline March to Cambridge, Massachusetts took less than 200 military men 25 days wo walk 600 miles. It helped create a new country and form the first continental army.”

Nothing is impossible, including changing plans that are not yet complete, Lowe stressed.

“After an extensive process involving the community over the last five years and guided by the rules and regulations of the School Building Authority, we concluded that the Shepherdstown Elementary School building needed to be replaced,” Skinner said.

“That conclusion is contained within our ten-year facilities plan, and that plan was approved by the Board after four public meetings, and that plan was supported by the voters of Jefferson County, who approved a bond last year to do just that,” she said.