Stacy Dei believes the city of Moundsville should take a chance on the old Sanford Elementary School.
The Sanford Feasibility Committee will meet at 6 p.m. today at the former school building for a community-wide, open discussion of the proposed Sanford Center. The city is considering the acquisition of the facility that closed its doors to students at the end of the most recent school year in order to establish a self-sufficient, community-based center that would provide resources and educational opportunities for individuals of all ages.
The Marshall County Schools Board of Education is willing to give the structure to the community.
Made up of nine members chosen by Moundsville Mayor David Wood, the committee has met three times already to assessed the need for a center, as well as the pros and cons of acquiring the former Sanford Elementary School building to establish such a center.
Wood, himself, is a member of the committee as well as Councilmen Eugene Saunders and Rick Young. Stacie Dei, executive director of the Marshall County Family Resource Network is also a member of the committee. She said the committee is trying to gather information to provide to city officials. She said flyers have been distributed in the neighborhood around the old school building, and she hopes interested residents will attend.
"We're trying to address everyone's concerns," she said. "Everyone's opinion is valid. We want to gather information and answer questions so the city can make the right decision. The committee will be offering suggestions and opportunities."
"A lot of people in this community support the idea of a community center," she continued. "If they do, they should come out to the meeting to express their opinion. If they care, they need to come. There are a lot of benefits to this, but the city has to make the best decision for the city. The city will decide. They have to have all the information. The decision will be final. There will be no going back."
According to Dei, if Moundsville City Council approves, Marshall County Schools will transfer ownership of the building to the city of Moundsville. The city could then lease the building to a nonprofit organization, yet to be formed, whose primary objective would be to network with service-providing organizations to locate offices within the center, raise funds and operate the center.
The nonprofit organization would be comprised of local individuals serving as the board of directors and would work toward staffing the center. The vision is a one-stop facility providing education, social services, structured activities, classes, meetings and social functions for youth, adults and seniors, not a youth drop-in center.
The committee has developed a strategic plan that includes formation of the nonprofit organization to operate the center, the development of a self-sustaining budget and a funds development plan as a feasible way to establish a center and increase the quality of life of individuals of all ages in Marshall County.
The committee contends the center would be a self-sufficient entity supported by earned income, fundraising and grant-writing efforts. Members of the committee also claim "it won't be a burden." The center would not be supported financially by the city of Moundsville. If the center is not self-sufficient in six months, the city could sell the building at a profit.
According to Marshall County Schools Superintendent Fred Renzella, the building also could not revert back to the school district because of bond stipulations. If the city were to turn the building back over to the school system within a year, the school district would use funds it has set aside to demolish it.
"There is a lot of benefit to this," in Dei's opinion. "It could be used for so many things: senior sewing lessons, after-school programs and many other activities. Right now there is no other place for people to go in this city for these types of activities. Schools and churches are limiting their use now because of liability concerns."
She concluded, "This is a situation the city will not have again. I think you have to take a chance sometimes."