An artist depiction shows what the new Shepherdstown Elementary School building is set to look like. Courtesy photo

SHEPHERDSTOWN — Shepherdstown Elementary School is about to see its new building coming to life, according to Jefferson County Schools, which announced on September 21 that the West Virginia School Building Authority (SBA) has agreed to provide $2,682,960 to help build the new school building at its location two miles south of downtown Shepherdstown.

After hearing that bids for construction were coming in over the school’s budget, the SBA voted to approve the extra funding, giving Jefferson County Schools a total of $3,969,943 from the SBA for the Shepherdstown Elementary School building project.

“Coming into Jefferson County Schools, I was so impressed with the support this community has for their schools,” Superintendent William “Chuck” Bishop said in a press release. “This additional money will make it possible to honor the vision of our citizens and create a school where generations of kids will be able to learn.”

Jefferson County voters approved a bond call in the 2020 General Election. The bond included funding for both the new Shepherdstown Elementary School building and for a new Ranson Elementary School building, which is already under construction. With the bond money for Shepherdstown’s school, construction is set to move forward soon, according to the press release. Jefferson County Schools hopes to start construction for the new building project sometime this fall.

In addition to the funds for the Shepherdstown Elementary School building project, the board office also received a grant from Sappi North America, Inc. for completion of the Page Jackson High School Tribute Exhibit Hall. Hersick + Webster Creative Partners, which helped design the exhibit hall, applied for the grant and received $27,128. The hall will help recognize the important role the school had in black history in the county.