UPDATE 10/6/11 @ 8 a.m.
BECKLEY, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Students, teachers and community members will break ground Thursday on the new Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County.

The groundbreaking ceremony is set for 10 a.m. at the current school.

The current school is near a coal preparation plant, but the new facility will be built on a site three miles from the existing school.

In March, a Raleigh County Circuit Court jury rejected a class-action lawsuit's claims that a coal loading silo near the existing school exposed hundreds of children to possible health problems.

The new school is expected to open after Christmas 2012.

It's expected to cost $10.7M to build.

WSAZ will be at the groundbreaking. Keep clicking on WSAZ.com for the latest information.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the new $10.7 million Marsh Fork Elementary School is set for 10 a.m. Oct. 6.

In March, a Raleigh County Circuit Court jury rejected a class-action lawsuit's claims that a coal loading silo near the existing school exposed hundreds of children to possible health problems.

The new school will be built on a site 3 miles from the existing school. It's expected to open after Christmas 2012.

The Raleigh County Board of Education got its first peak Tuesday at preliminary designs for the new Marsh Fork Elementary School.

Local residents have been fighting to replace the school because of its location next to a Massey coal preparation plant and coal waste impoundment.

The county has purchased a 50-acre site 3 miles from the existing school to build the new school. The state is also providing $9 million and Massey has pledged $1 million for the school.

Site work is expected to start in the spring, with construction wrapping up by the fall of 2012.

Raleigh County Board of Education President Richard Snuffer says the authority decided Monday to increase its $2.6 million allocation by $500,000, the remaining amount needed for the project.

Marsh Fork Elementary School has been at the center of a debate on whether the prep plant and impoundment are a health and safety hazard to the students.

County officials estimate a new school will cost $8.6 million.

Massey, the county school board and the Annenberg Foundation also have pledged funding for the project.

The founder of Annenberg Foundation announced on Friday he will help fund the new school in Raleigh County.

Charles Annenberg Weingarten pledged $2.5 million to rebuild the school at a safe location.

"The children of Marsh Fork Elementary School continue to be at serious risk," Weingarten. "Every child deserves to be in a safe, healthy and productive environment."

The controversy over Massey Energy coal silo and mines near Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County has been years in the making. Many parents and teachers want to move the school away from the mine site. Even though air tests have proved non-hazardous for breathing, many still believe having coal dust covering class rooms and playgrounds is a health risk.

The county's superintendent asked the School Building Authority last month to help fund the new school because she says education is interrupted on a regular basis because all of the protests outside the school.

The new elementary school will cost $8,656,704.

Along with the Annenberg gift, the West Virginia School Building Authority will contribute $2.6 million. The Raleigh County Board of Education and Massey Energy Co. previously had pledged $1 million each to the school project, however, following the Annenberg Foundation pledge, both the school board and Massey Energy will increase their funding to $1.5 million each for the school.

“The gift from the Annenberg Foundation will give limitless possibilities to future generations of Marsh Fork area children," Rick Snuffer, president of the Raleigh County Board of Education said. "This marks a first in West Virginia schools in which the county school system, private business, state government, a community organization and a private foundation have partnered to provide the funding for a state-of-the-art school. Raleigh County Schools is grateful to all of them for their generosity and kindness for our children.”

The governor said the Annenberg Foundation’s gift is extremely kind and will benefit the young people of Raleigh County.

“Charles Annenberg and the entire Annenberg Foundation have made a remarkable pledge that will bring a new dimension to the quality of learning at Marsh Fork," Governor Manchin said. "I applaud their efforts and willingness to help move education forward for the young people in southern West Virginia.”

UPDATE 4/26/10 @ 8 p.m.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- Millions of dollars were for grabs to improve schools, and the decision on where all of that funding will go has been made.

The School Building Authority (SBA) decided in favor of one project on Charleston's West Side.

Kanawha County's Board of Education submitted a plan to build another brand new elementary.

This school would replace Watts and J.E. Robins Elementary schools.

School administrators began breathing a sigh of relief after hours of deliberation.

"People feel strongly," Dr. Mark Manchin with the School Building Authority said. "They feel strongly about their projects, and that's why there was an unwillingness to move a little bit and we understand that."

The SBA thought hard to try and figure out which county projects to fund, giving Kanawha the seal of approval.

"Today was a great day for the children of the West Side," Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Ron Duerring said. "Now we'll be able to have two state of the art schools on the West Side."

"It's going to re-figure the City of Charleston--it really is," Pete Thaw with the Kanawha County School Board said.

Charleston's mayor, the city manager, legislators and school board members all showed up to support their proposal.

"It's going to finally solve our big problem," Thaw said. "We're doing away with our two oldest and most dilapidated schools and replacing it with a fine two new schools."

"Our whole board ... this is one project that we have all been on board since the beginning of talking about it," school board member Becky Jordan said. "I grew up on that side of Charleston and I know how old those schools are and they need replaced."

Now the plan is to build a 'school of the future that will eliminate pencils and paper and incorporate more technology and online learning.

"It truly will be the first 21st century schools in West Virginia," Manchin said.

The Kanawha County Board of Education will first seek national advice to set up a curriculum first and then decide what the new school should look like.

The project is estimated to take two and a half years.

Funding for New Marsh Fork Elementary
CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WSAZ) -- At a School Building Association meeting Monday morning, funding was announced for many school projects across West Virginia, including the controversial Raleigh County project.

The controversy over Massey Energy coal silo and mines near Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County has been years in the making. Many parents and teachers want to move the school away from the mine site. Even though air tests have proved non-hazardous for breathing, many still believe having coal dust covering class rooms and playgrounds a health risk.

"Our kids need a safe learning environment as well as a healthy one," Debbie Jarrell said at the SBA meeting Monday. Jarrell went to Marsh fork, now her grandchildren do.

The Raleigh County School Board needs $8.6 million to move. Monday, the SBA approved $2.6 million, meaning they're faced with a $4 million dollar road block.

Marsh Fork has been prime real estate for many protesters over the last few years -- it would also be prime territory for Massey.

"I am familiar with coal companies and how those places revert back to coal companies once they're no longer a school," SAB Member Mark Manchin said.

Massey has offered to pay $1 million in moving expenses, but if Marsh Fork does relocate Massey may get the land, and at $1 it's a bargain.

The school board has 365 days to come up with the money. They'll discuss the project further at a meeting on June 14.

Manchin said the Raleigh County School Board does plan to ask Massey for additional funding.

Kanawha County Superintendent requested the funding during a SBA meeting last month.

The facility would cost more than $15M, but the superintendent only asked the SBA for a little more than $8M because the rest of the funding will come from other sources.

The SBA also approved funding to build a new Marsh Fork Elementary School in Raleigh County. However, the authority only gave the county $2.6M for the project. The county still has to come up with an additional $4M for the project.

Superintendent Ron Duerring asked the SBA to help fund a second elementary school for the city's west side. This school would consolidate Watts Elementary School and J.E. Robins Elementary School.

"There is a real surge in the community to see this whole project come together," Duerring said.

the school system considered 12 properties for the new school, but right now board members are looking to build it near Cato Park. However, a land swap still has to be approved between the city and county.

The new elementary school would cost more than $15M, but Duerring asked the SBA for $11M. The rest of the money will be provided through other entities.

The principal at J.E. Robins Elementary tells WSAZ.com it's an exciting opportunity for the kids.

"I'm excited for a brand new facility with greenspace," Henry Nearman said.

Nearman also says the current infrastructure is outdated, along with the plumbing and technology at the school.

Construction is currently underway on West Side Elementary School at the old Cabell High School in Charleston. That school will consolidate students from Chandler Elementary School and Glenwood Elementary School.

The SBA approved funding for this project last year.

If the second school is funded, the school system would donate the Glenwood Elementary property to the city. The city wants to turn the space into a new park with lots of greenspace, a walking trail and basketball courts.

The school system would also donate the property at Chandler Elementary to the city to allow it to be a training center for fire and safety.

The county has interest in the Watts site, but Duerring didn't release what that project would include.

"This whole project is a vision," Duerring said. "These pieces are all tied together. With all of these people involved, community members and council members, saying I have never seen such a commitment for the west side people and it's all because the authority approved the first school. These schools being built have given a new hope and future to their children."

West Side Elementary is slated to open this fall.

Funding for New Marsh Fork Elementary
The superintendent from Raleigh County also asked the SBA on Tuesday to fund a new Marsh Fork Elementary School.

Marsh Fork is located near a Massey Silo and retaining pond and has been the site of many protests because some people say the school is unsafe because of the mine's location.

On Tuesday, the superintendent told the authority that education is interrupted on a regular basis because all of the protests outside the school.

The new elementary school will cost $8,656,704. The county plans to pay a $1M of that if the SBA approves the rest of the funding.

The SBA is expected to make a decision on what school projects will receive the funding on April 26.

School administrators from Nicholas County were the first to present their plan to the authority.

The Nicholas County School System hopes to build a new PK-5 elementary school. The new elementary school would consolidate Beaver and Craigsville Elementary Schools.

The project would cost nearly $11M. The county would pay 1.6M of the project.

Meanwhile, Boone County wants to renovate Sherman Junior/Senior High School. The addition would add four new science classrooms with labs.

The renovations would also include a main entrance for the high school, a common/cafeteria for the high school.

The school system also wants to redo the parking lot for buses and other vehicles so drivers don't have to pull out on Route 3.

That project would cost $5,562,603. Boone County Schools would pay $200,000.

The Jackson County School System is asking the SBA to help fund a new Kenna Elementary School. The construction project would cost more than $10M. The county would pay $1,676,000 towards the project.

The SBA will also hear from school systems about their need on Tuesday.

Kanawha County Superintendent Ron Duerring is expected to ask the board on Tuesday to help build a second new elementary school on Charleston's west side.

The new school would combine Robins Elementary and Watts Elementary School.

County officials are looking at a couple of sites to build the new school, including a site at Cato Park. The Kanawha County School system and the City of Charleston would have to swap land to clear the way for the new school.

The public can learn more about the plans at a public hearing on Monday night at 6:00 p.m. at the City Service Center on the first floor of the McFarland Street parking garage.

The SBA is expected to announce the projects that receive the funding on April 19 in the Governor's Press Conference Room at the State Capitol Complex.