The Putnam County Board of Education in West Virginia is moving ahead with plans for construction of a new middle school to replace a 1950s era facility. Currently in the design phase, the board will leverage $39.6 million in voter-approved funds and $25 million from the West Virginia School Building Authority to build the new Hurricane Middle School.
The largest of the middle schools in Putnam County, Hurricane Middle serves about 850 students. In addition to being an aging facility, the school causes traffic flow problems and bus routing issues. While the middle school’s location near the high school alleviates some issues, the future development will present its own set of traffic questions, which are being considered in an ongoing traffic study. Study recommendations are expected in December 2025.
The design firm will submit the design development Feb. 27, 2026, to the School Building Authority to check all the boxes for architectural, structural, mechanical and electrical floor plans. It will also include building sections and elevations and outline specs.
Final plans are due May 15, 2026, and bids are expected to go out by the end of June 2026. Following this timeline, construction should begin in August 2026 and be completed by Summer 2028. Board officials anticipate that the facility will be ready for occupancy by start of the fall semester 2028.
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