While school districts across the state have faced recent funding cuts and school closures, Putnam County Schools is doing just fine, officials say.
Students will return to school Wednesday to find not much has changed over the summer. Only minor upgrades were made to many of the schools, said Superintendent John Hudson.
"It may have been paving, painting, lighting, various upgrades at many schools - just a myriad of routine summer upgrades that many of the schools have requested," Hudson said.
At some of the schools, awnings were extended for students exiting the building to board buses or wait for transportation.
There was a proposed policy change to end funding to send DECA students to the national competition if they place second at the state competition, but Hudson decided to keep the policy the same after numerous students spoke out against the change.
DECA is an organization for students who are preparing for careers in marketing, management, finance, and hospitality. The students compete in competitions at the state and national levels.
Students, parents and alumni were horrified that the district was considering cutting funds that allow students who win second place to go to the national competition in California.
Hudson came to Putnam County after leaving his position as superintendent of Boone County Schools, which closed three elementary schools and laid off 80 employees in February.
Elementary schools will have a new science curriculum called Full On Science System, which focuses on research-based science with hands on learning.
Also new is Quaver, an interactive music program for elementary students, which connects the teachers' musical instrument to the classroom smart board.
The new Hurricane Pre-K Center will open Aug. 24. Putnam County Schools collaborated with Head Start to open the new center, located on Main Street in Hurricane.
Micah Osborne, communications and events coordinator, said the preschool is already full and isn't taking any students for the 2016-17 school year.
The planned upgrades and renovations to Buffalo Elementary School will begin in the spring.
The elementary school will receive new window replacements, ceiling tiles, lighting fixtures and a new cafeteria to bring the school up to date. Renovations would have come sooner, but the district had been exploring the option of building a new school with Mason County. However, that agreement fell through.
The board still has to go through with the bid process and hopes to begin work on the school by late spring 2017.
In total, the project will cost a little under $700,000, with the district paying roughly half.
Reach Laura Haight at laura.haight@wvgazettemail.com, 304-348-4843 or follow @laurahaight_ on Twitter.