PRINCETON – As the new school year’s opening on Aug. 21 approaches, final touches are being made on a new elementary school which is replacing two of Mercer County’s aging and now empty facilities.
Teachers starting the 2025-2026 on Aug. 18 will be spending time acclimating to the new Timberwood Elementary School in Brushfork. When the county’s head for class on Aug. 21, around 300 of the ones that once went to Brushfork Elementary School and Bluewell Elementary School will be heading for Timberwood Elementary at 6097 Airport Road instead.
Construction got underway in May 2023 after then-Gov. Jim Justice joined local dignitaries and school officials for a groundbreaking ceremony.
The two-story, 50,410 square foot elementary school has features the aging Brushfork Elementary and Bluewell Elementary facilities lacked. Unlike the two vacated schools, the new facility has gym big enough for school assemblies and basketball games. The two older school used one room to serve as both a gym and a cafeteria, but Timberwood School will have its own cafeteria. Timberwood Elementary School also has a elevator.
Like many construction projects, a myriad of tasks have to be completed before it’s finished. The Mercer County Board of Education was updated about progress on the new school Wednesday during a work session at the Mercer County Technical Education Center.
“Let’s talk construction. Let’s start with our current projects that are ongoing,” Board of Education President Greg Prudich. “Let’s start Timberwood. Where are we there?”
Facilities Director Tom Adkins said some work was ongoing.
”Well, we need to mow the grass, we’ve already discussed that,” he said. “Just a few little things. We’re pretty much ready to roll.”
The contractor DCI Shires has completed its work, but has not “handed us the keys or whatever,” Adkins said.
The school’s staff is getting ready for the students and internet infrastructure is ready. Cooks trained at the school this week and the school’s internet was finished Thursday, Adkins said. Internet had to be in place for the school’s security system and the West Virginia Fire Marshal could not do a final inspection until that was done.
Besides the new school’s readiness, questions were also asked about traffic control. While Timberwood Elementary was built on a hill, the road leading up to it intersects with Airport Road (Route 123). Prudich said that Airport Road’s speed limit is 55 mph.
Adkins said that flashing lights telling motorists to slow down were installed last year at Sun Valley Elementary School, Adkins said. The school system coordinated with the state Department of Highways. The school system paid for the lights and the Department of Highways reimbursed it.
Moving Bluewell Elementary School’s signs to Timberwood Elementary’s entrance was one option which was discussed. Another was to see if lowering Airport Road’s speed limit near the school was another possibility. While discussing the idea, the school board said that Route 460’s speed limit dropped from 55 mph to 45 mph near Crumpecker Hill due to all roadside businesses there.
Timberwood Elementary School, which will be known as the home of the Wolves, will have a ribbon cutting ceremony on Aug. 14.
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