Talcott Gymnasium Restoration
The Summers County Board of Education, by a unanimous vote, has approved and set in motion the restoration of the Talcott High School Gymnasium. This building has provided so many memories for so many citizens and former students of Talcott, Forest Hill, and surrounding areas of Summers County. Additionally, this board has renamed the Talcott Gymnasium in memory of long-time teacher and coach at Talcott High School, Dallas Mann. This facility is now known as the Dallas “Bud” Mann Gymnasium. The children of Talcott Elementary will now be the benefactors of the Dallas “Bud” Mann Gymnasium!
Engineers will begin work to develop a scope of work for the project that will include specifications for the restoration as soon as is possible. Once that phase is complete the project will be advertised and bids will be accepted. The board will then approve contractor bids.
All children need an indoor facility for structured physical education classes. Children at both Talcott and Jumping Branch Elementary do not have a place to run and play during recess when we experience inclement weather! The link between daily vigorous physical activity and improved learning in the classroom has been scientifically documented for decades. This county must provide facilities for our children. This board is committed to this goal and we will accomplish this task.
The restoration of Talcott Gymnasium will be accomplished without spending county tax money. This current board, in conjunction with Superintendent David Warvel, has earmarked Federal Covid-19 Relief Funds (Cares Act Money) for the purpose of restoring infrastructure of our county school buildings. Such investment will serve our children for decades to come! The federal guidelines for spending this money will only allow restoration, not the construction of new structures. All such building projects in this county are first approved by the WV State Department of Education.
Our board must find the funding to provide such an indoor facility for Jumping Branch Elementary. Next week’s article in this paper will outline plans for renovations at Jumping Branch Elementary and Hinton Area Elementary.
Sincerely,
Stan Duncan
President of Summers County Board of Education
