NOTICE OF ELECTION FOR SCHOOL BOND ISSUE TO BE HELD ON MAY 12, 2026
TO THE VOTERS OF BERKELEY COUNTY
PLEASE TAKE NOTICE: That at a duly held meeting, The Board of Education of the County of Berkeley adopted and entered of record the following Bond Election Order:
BE IT ORDERED, DETERMINED AND ENTERED OF RECORD BY THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE COUNTY OF BERKELEY:
It appears to The Board of Education of the County of Berkeley (the “Board”), from the experience of the Board in operating the schools in the Berkeley County School District (the “School District”), and after carefully reviewing and considering information available to the Board and the needs of the School District regarding the desire for an improved educational program and facilities, the Board does accordingly find, determine and order that:
1. Adverse conditions now exist in the School District, including but not limited to inadequate, obsolete, and inefficient school buildings and related facilities, and excessive maintenance costs, that could negatively affect the proper and adequate education of students, and those adverse conditions, together with due regard for proper health and safety standards, make it necessary that the Board acquire, enlarge, equip, extend, furnish, improve, construct, and renovate certain school buildings and facilities, all as further described and shown below (collectively, the “Projects”); and such adverse conditions and requirements have been found and are hereby determined to exist, pursuant to investigation caused to be made by this Board.
2. The funds derived from current levies which this Board is now authorized by law to lay, after providing for administration of the affairs of the Board and meeting the current expenses thereof required by law, are insufficient to finance the Projects and, therefore, bonds should be issued to provide funds for such Projects.
3. To obtain the required funds for the Projects, it will be necessary to incur debt and issue bonds for the design, construction, acquisition, improvement, renovation, equipping and furnishing of the Projects. Information provided to the Board, including estimates of architects and engineers engaged by the Board, show that the School District anticipates spending the sum of up to One Hundred Sixty Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($160,400,000) for such purposes (subject to a funding commitment by the School Building Authority of West Virginia), including the proceeds of the sale of the general obligation bonds hereinafter referenced (the “Bonds”) in the amount not to exceed One Hundred Fifteen Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($115,400,000), all for the general purposes of providing adequate, safe, efficient and convenient educational facilities for the School District, including costs of the Projects and the costs related to the issuance and sale of the Bonds, all as further described below.
4. As of the date hereof, the current aggregate valuation of the taxable property in the School District, as shown by the last assessment thereof for State and County taxation purposes, is $9,177,278,737 and valuation of each class of property within the School District is as follows:
Class I: $0
Class II: $5,926,447,958
Class III: $2,618,883,090
Class IV: $631,947,689
Total: $9,177,278,737
5. As of the date hereof, the Board and the School District have outstanding bonded indebtedness in the aggregate amount of $114,135,000 for which taxes have been levied, and outstanding unbonded indebtedness in the amount of $11,905,000. The maximum bonded indebtedness the Board may incur is $458,863,936. Accordingly, Bonds in the amount of $115,400,000, taking into account the other Bonds issued by or on behalf of the Board currently outstanding in the aggregate of amount of $114,135,000 and outstanding unbonded indebtedness in the amount of $11,905,000, together being less than five percent (5%) of the value of such taxable property as ascertained by the last assessments thereof for State and County taxes, may be issued and sold without violating any constitutional or statutory provision.
6. Bonds in the denomination of $5,000.00 each, or integral multiples thereof, aggregating up to an amount not to exceed $115,400,000 should be issued and sold, the proceeds of which shall be used for the Projects in the manner hereinafter described; provided, however, that in the event that any part of the Bond proceeds should not be needed for completion of the Projects or as otherwise approved by the voters, such unneeded funds shall be deposited with the Municipal Bond Commission of West Virginia to be used solely for the purchase of any Bonds of this issue outstanding at not more than the par value thereof plus accrued interest to date of purchase or for the payment of such Bonds and the interest thereon at the maturities thereof. The proceeds of sale of the Bonds will not be used except as herein specified; provided, that the Board shall have the authority to pay matured interest and the principal amount of any matured Bonds from Bond proceeds until levy money is available to pay the same and thereafter, the Bond proceeds expended for this purpose shall be reimbursed from levy money collected.
7. The question of incurring said debt and issuing said Bonds and all other questions properly connected therewith shall be submitted to the voters of the School District at the primary election to be held on Tuesday, May 12, 2026, and the commissioners and clerks for holding said election, at each of the legally established voting precincts in Berkeley County, West Virginia, shall be those commissioners and clerks designated, appointed and certified by the County Commission of Berkeley County, West Virginia in connection with said primary election.
8. The Bonds shall bear interest at a rate or rates not exceeding the rate of five and one-half percent (5.50%) per annum, with interest payable semiannually and principal payable annually, but it is hoped that the best bid for the Bonds will provide a lower interest rate (which could result in somewhat lower levy rates needed to pay the Bonds and the interest thereon); and the Bonds shall be payable for a maximum term of fifteen and three-quarter (15 3/4) years from the date thereof.
9. The Bonds shall be issued only in book entry or registered form as to principal and interest in compliance with the United States Internal Revenue Code Sections 103 and 149 (26 U.S.C.A. §§ 103 and 149), as amended, and as authorized by the West Virginia Public Obligations Registration Act, Article 2F, Chapter 13 of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended (the “Code”).
10. The proceeds of the Bonds, if authorized by the voters, are to be expended on the following Projects:
PROJECT: New Hedgesville Middle School
LOCATION: In the vicinity of the current Hedgesville High School or within Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $61,200,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: $8,800,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish a new Hedgesville Middle School facility to serve students in grades 6 through 8. The new school will offer a safe, modern and engaging learning environment and will include Career and Technical Education (CTE) programming.
The existing Hedgesville Middle School facility will be converted to a secondary Alternative Education facility to serve students in grades 6 through 12 who are not successful in traditional school programs, evening programs, special education programming and/or other instructional services. The facility will include any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses.
PROJECT: New Workforce Development/Career and Technical Education Center
LOCATION: Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $33,200,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: $21,300,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve a comprehensive Workforce Development/Career and Technical Education (CTE) Center to serve Berkeley County Schools students in grades 9 through 12 and adult learners in various training initiatives. The project may include, but is not limited to, the acquisition, renovating, constructing, and equipping of a new commercial facility and a flexible campus designed to support a wide range of academic, career and technical field through hands-on training and instructional opportunities. The Center will add both foundational and advanced learning assets for high-demand career fields and will enhance technical field through hands-on training and instructional opportunities. The facility will include any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses.
PROJECT: Additions and Renovations to Martinsburg South Middle School
LOCATION: South Middle School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $10,000,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: $2,000,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve all sites and expenses for additions and improvements to Martinsburg South Middle School, including, without limitation, the construction of permanent additions and the renovation of existing portable classrooms. The project may also include related site improvements and additions. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
PROJECT: Cafeteria and Kitchen Additions and Renovation at Tomahawk Intermediate
LOCATION: Tomahawk Intermediate, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: (Not specified in visible text)
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: (Not specified in visible text)
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve the cafeteria and kitchen facilities at Tomahawk Intermediate. The project includes, without limitation, the construction of new cafeteria space, modernization of food service infrastructure to improve efficiency and expanded meal service capacity. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
PROJECT: Additions and Improvements to Hedgesville High School
LOCATION: Hedgesville High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: (Not specified in visible text)
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: $5,200,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, improve, and pay all fees and expenses for additions and improvements to Hedgesville High School, including, without limitation, the construction of permanent additions and the renovation of existing portable classrooms. The project may also include related site improvements and additions. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
PROJECT: Additions and Improvements to Martinsburg High School
LOCATION: Martinsburg High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $1,100,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: (Not specified in visible text)
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, improve, and pay all fees and expenses for additions and improvements to Martinsburg High School. The project includes, without limitation, the addition of a pre-screening testing room, the renovation of existing press box and related improvements.
PROJECT: Additions and Improvements to Musselman High School
LOCATION: Musselman High School Addition, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $1,900,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: (Not specified in visible text)
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, improve, and pay all fees and expenses for additions and improvements to Musselman High School. The project includes, without limitation, the addition of a pre-screening testing room, the renovation of existing press box and related improvements.
PROJECT: Cafeteria and Kitchen Improvements at Musselman High School
LOCATION: Musselman High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $6,300,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: (Not specified in visible text)
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve the cafeteria and kitchen facilities at Musselman High School, including, without limitation, improvements in kitchen area, double serving lines, and modernization of food service infrastructure to meet expanded meal service. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
PROJECT: Spring Mills Campus Head Improvements
LOCATION: Spring Mills Campus, Berkeley County, West Virginia
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA Bonds: $2,500,000
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Other Sources: (Not specified in visible text)
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve various facilities at the existing Spring Mills Campus to enhance traffic flow, access, and safety. The project includes, without limitation, the construction of new parking areas, turning lanes, a potential expansion of Campus Drive to provide alternative access routes, and other related site improvements. Funding for this project, if approved, may be used to satisfy local matching requirements for any grants or external funding available for the project.
TOTAL ESTIMATED PROJECT COST (Including Costs of Issuance): $160,400,000
Estimated Project Costs Funded by Other Sources: $45,000,000
Project Costs Funded by Bond Proceeds: $115,000,000
Estimated Costs of Issuance: $400,000
TOTAL AMOUNT OF BONDS: $115,400,000
* The Estimated Project Costs Funded by Other Sources may be an amount greater or less than $45,000,000, depending on the amount of any commitment by the School Building Authority of West Virginia or other sources, final designs, plans and specifications of the respective Projects and actual costs of construction of the Projects. If the School Building Authority of West Virginia or other sources (i) does not award the funding contemplated above or (ii) commits to fund an amount less than $45,000,000, and the Bonds are approved by the voters, the Board currently intends to proceed with the Bond issuance and the Projects, utilizing Bond proceeds in the estimated amounts set forth above together with the amount, if any, committed to by the School Building Authority of West Virginia to complete the Projects. The Board reserves the right to reduce the scope of the Workforce Development/Career and Technical Education Center (“CTE Center”), additions and renovations to Martinsburg South Middle School (“MSMS Additions”) and/or other projects in this bond proposal, to the extent necessary, consistent with the amount of bond proceeds and SBA funding available for the completion of the CTE Center and/or MSMS Additions and the other provisions of this Order.
The amounts set forth above as “Total Par Amount of Bonds” for the Projects includes the estimated Costs of Issuance for the Bonds, which may be funded from the proceeds of the Bonds that would be issued in the aggregate principal amount of One Hundred Fifteen Million Four Hundred Thousand Dollars ($115,400,000). The Board shall be authorized to pay such Costs of Issuance from its general funds and/or from the proceeds of the Bonds, as the Board deems appropriate at the time such Costs of Issuance are required to be paid.
If the Bond issue is approved by the voters of the School District and the Bonds proposed hereby are issued, then, in connection with the Projects proposed in this Order, upon the completion of the new Hedgesville Middle School, the existing Hedgesville Middle School will be closed as a middle school, and certain of those students in grades 6 through 8, together with certain students in grades 6 through 8 that currently attend Spring Mills Middle School (approximately 150 students), will attend the new Hedgesville Middle School.
The foregoing estimated Project Cost amounts include the costs of capitalized interest, acquiring any necessary lands, sites and rights-of-way and eas