Fayette School Consolidation Plan is Approved

West Virginia school officials have approved Fayette County’s plan to trim 18 schools down to 11. The West Virginia School Building Authority voted unanimously in favor of the consolidation plan following a nine-month review of Fayette County Schools. The vote means Superintendent Michael Martirano will be able to start asking the SBA for money. Martirano plans in December to ask the authority for $22.6 million, to complement $17 million provided by Fayette’s school system. SBA Executive Director David Sneed said the SBA’s conducted its most thorough analysis ever prior to the vote. In addition to going from 18 schools to 11, the county will change grade configurations and preserve only two existing high schools: Midland Trail and Oak Hill.