OFFICIAL BALLOT
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE COUNTY OF BERKELEY
PRIMARY ELECTION HELD TUESDAY, MAY 12, 2026
Shall The Board of Education of the County of Berkeley incur debt and issue Bonds, in one or more series, in the amount of not more than ONE HUNDRED FIFTEEN MILLION FOUR HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS ($115,400,000), with maturities on such Bonds to run not more than fifteen and three-quarter (15 3/4) years from the date of such Bonds, with interest not exceeding the rate of five and one-half percent (5.50%) per annum, payable semi-annually, for purposes of designing, planning, developing, constructing, acquiring, improving, renovating, equipping, and/or furnishing certain school building facilities and related real property, as more particularly described in the project list set forth below (collectively, the “Projects”) in the Berkeley County School District (the “School District”) to provide adequate, safe and convenient educational facilities for the School District, and levy taxes sufficient to pay the interest on and the principal of such Bonds:
* 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 ballot.
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 commitment or awarding of funds by the School Building Authority of West Virginia shall not be a condition precedent to the issuance of the Bonds.
If the voters of the School District approve the incurring of said debt and the issuance of said Bonds, the Board will lay annually upon the assessed valuation of all the taxable property within the School District an additional levy sufficient to provide funds for the payment of the annual interest upon the Bonds as such interest accrues semiannually and the principal of the Bonds at maturity, for which purposes a levy upon each $100 valuation, based upon the last assessment of such property for State and County purposes, will be required as follows:
Upon Class I Property approximately 5.16 cents
Upon Class II Property approximately 10.32 cents
Upon Class III Property approximately 20.64 cents
Upon Class IV Property approximately 20.64 cents
For the avoidance of doubt, the levy rates set forth above are in addition to any other levies currently in place in the School District, including the levy in connection with the Board’s outstanding Public School Bonds, Series 2023 and the other levies applicable in Berkeley County, West Virginia.
The foregoing estimated Project Cost amounts include the costs of capitalized interest, acquiring any necessary lands, sites and rights-of-way and easements, if necessary to complete the Projects, the payment of interest on the Bonds while the Projects are under construction and up to six months thereafter, and any engineering and architectural costs, construction costs, including, but not limited to, construction manager fees and expenses, the cost of using county maintenance personnel, the costs of erecting, improving, equipping and furnishing the Projects, the costs and estimated costs of the issuance of the Bonds, and such other costs, fees, and expenses as may be necessary and/or properly incurred in carrying out the Projects. All Handicapped and E.S.S.I.A. Title 1 expenditures are subject to written approval by the West Virginia Department of Education.
The estimated Project Costs set forth above are based upon the estimates provided to the Board by its architects, engineers and other professional advisers, and the actual costs of completing any one or more of the Projects may vary due to circumstances beyond the reasonable control of the Board. The Board may, in its discretion, allocate to and expend for any one or more of the above described Projects and/or for capital additions, renovations or improvements to existing school facilities in the School District any sum remaining unused upon completion of the Projects, whether any such sum remains unused upon such completion by reason of lower than estimated costs for such Projects or a grant or grants upon the cost of any such Projects received by the Board from the state or federal government, and/or any state or government agency, or from any other source whatsoever.
If the proceeds of the Bonds and/or amounts allocated for the above-stated purposes are insufficient to complete the Projects, then the Board, in its discretion, shall allocate such shortfall to one or more of the above-stated purposes. In the event the Board shall obtain additional money by grant or otherwise from the State or Federal government, or from any agency of either, or from any other source (including private funds, local funds, lease purchase proceeds, or other funds made available to the Board), for use in the acquisition, construction, renovation, improvement, furnishing, and/or equipping of the Projects, such additional money may be used either in substitution for or in addition to the proceeds of the sale of the Bonds proposed hereby, as may be determined by the Board and the granting body or agency.
NOTICE TO VOTERS:
To vote in favor of the proposition (for the Bond Issue) submitted on this ballot, mark an “X” in the box next to “Yes.”
To vote against the proposition (against the Bond Issue), mark an “X” in the box next to “No.”
PROJECT
LOCATION
ESTIMATED COST Funded by SBA/Other Sources
ESTIMATED COST Funded by Bond Proceeds
New Hedgesville Middle School
In the vicinity of the current Hedgesville High School or within the footer pattern of the current Hedgesville High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, and furnish a new Hedgesville Middle School facility to replace the existing school building and provide an engaging learning environment and include a new facility for Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs.
$61,000,000
Limitation, the construction of permanent classrooms and modular expansions to replace portable classrooms, the addition of a gymnasium, also include related site improvements and infrastructure upgrades necessary to support the new facility. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
HVAC Improvements to Martinsburg High School
Existing Martinsburg High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$1,100,000
Develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, improve, and pay all fees and expenses related to the replacement of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems at Martinsburg High School and/or related improvements.
Athletic Improvements to Musselman High School
Existing Musselman High School Athletic Facilities, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$1,700,000
Develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, improve, and pay all fees and expenses related to athletic facilities at Musselman High School, including the addition of a gift wrestling locker room, the replacement of the existing press box and/or related improvements.
New Workforce Development/Career and Technical Education Center
Berkeley County, West Virginia
$35,000,000
$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 9-12 and provide adult training initiatives. The project may include, but is not limited to, the acquisition, equipping, renovation and/or construction of a commercial facility with a flexible campus designed to support a wide range of academic, technical and career pathways. The CTE Center will address both foundational and advanced learning needs for high-demand, high-wage, high-skill occupations in technical fields through hands-on training and credentialing opportunities. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Additions and Renovations to Martinsburg South Middle School
Existing Martinsburg South Middle School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$10,000,000
$2,900,000
Develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve all fees and expenses related to additions to Martinsburg South Middle School, including, without limitation, the addition of new classroom to replace existing portable classrooms, the addition of cafeteria and kitchen improvements to kitchen areas, installations of new mechanical and equipment, flexible learning spaces, and related site improvements and infrastructure upgrades necessary to support efficient and expanded meal service. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Renovations to Musselman High School
Existing Musselman High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$6,300,000
Develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve the cafeteria and kitchen areas at Musselman High School. The improvements include, without limitation, the addition of new cafeteria space, improvements to kitchen areas, and related site improvements and infrastructure to support efficient and expanded meal service. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Spring Mills Campus Road Improvements
The vicinity of existing Spring Mills Middle School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$2,500,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve road infrastructure at the Spring Mills Campus to enhance traffic flow, safety and accessibility without limitation, the addition of dedicated turning lanes, a partial extension of Campus Drive to provide alternative access routes, and related site improvements and infrastructure to support efficient operations. If approved, may be used to satisfy any state or federal road improvement requirements for the site and/or external fund income resulting from the development of a secondary campus facility. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Facility Addition and Improvements to Rosemont Elementary School
Existing Rosemont Elementary School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$7,700,000
Plan, develop, acquire, construct, equip, furnish, and improve classroom additions and facility renovation at Rosemont Elementary School to enhance instructional space and support efficient and expanded meal service. The improvements include, without limitation, the addition of new classroom space in existing building areas to better accommodate student enrollment and other related site and infrastructure improvements. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Cafeteria and Kitchen Addition and Improvements at Tomahawk Intermediate School
Existing Tomahawk School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$4,500,000
Plan, develop, acquire, construct, equip, furnish, and improve the cafeteria and kitchen areas at Tomahawk Intermediate School to enhance instructional space and support efficient and expanded meal service. The improvements include, without limitation, the addition of new cafeteria space, improvements to kitchen areas, and related site improvements and infrastructure to support efficient and expanded meal service. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Classroom Addition and Improvements to Hedgesville High School
Existing Hedgesville High School, Berkeley County, West Virginia
$5,600,000
Plan, develop, acquire, design, construct, equip, furnish, and improve classroom additions at Hedgesville High School, including, without limitation, the addition of new classroom space, improvements to kitchen areas, and related site improvements and infrastructure to support efficient and expanded meal service. All estimated project costs, including any associated and necessary fees, professional services and expenses, are included.
Total Estimated Project Cost (Including Costs of Issuance):
$160,400,000
Estimated Project Costs Funded by Other Sources (including SBA Funds or Other):
$45,000,000
Project Costs Funded by Bond Proceeds:
$115,400,000
Estimated Costs of Issuance:
$400,000
TOTAL PAR AMOUNT OF BONDS:
$115,400,000