KINGWOOD — The Kingwood Volunteer Fire Department said it regards free use of school facilities during the Buckwheat Festival as a trade, with the schools getting free use of KVFD facilities in return.
But if the school system wants to reconsider the arrangement, that’s possible, the KVFD president said.
At last week’s Preston County Board of Education meeting at Rowlesburg School, Board Members Pam Feathers and Bob Ridenour voted against the superintendent’s recommendation to allow KVFD to use school facilities and grounds during the 2019 Buckwheat Festival in return for $1.
She believes that, “At a time when we’re discussing our financial situation, that maybe we need to look at across the board everywhere and renegotiate that or look at it a little closer,” Feathers said. “Leave no stone unturned. I think we need to look at everything.”
She also asked how long the agreement has been in place. Superintendent Steve Wotring said at least during the time he has been associated with the board.
Board President Jack Keim suggested a letter be sent to the fire department, telling it changes may be requested. He said planning for the 2019 festival is probably already well under way.
At a public hearing in Kingwood later in the week, a speaker asked if the board is looking at all expenses and funding options. She said it seemed the board dismissed Feathers’ remarks too quickly.
In its letter to the board, KVFD asked permission to use Kingwood Elementary and its parking lots, and the adjacent former Central Preston athletic field.
The school has been used as a place for the royalty court, comprised of Preston County students, and bands to prepare for events. Exhibits made by Preston County students are exhibited in the Kingwood Elementary multi-purpose room.
The parking lots are used by fire department members and volunteers working at the Hot Dog Stand.
The athletic field, including the bleachers, electric service and fence, are used from the Saturday preceding the festival to Sunday of the festival for the coronation stand, coronation practices and the actual coronation. This year the WVU Marching Band also performed a free concert on the field.
“In exchange for that,” KVFD President Tom Robinson said, “the elementary school has access to the (Firemen’s) Field, the festival grounds, for recess. The (Kingwood Community) Building — we’ve never charged the elementary school rent for anything they’ve had.”
Central Preston Middle School used the building Friday, he noted. Firemen’s Field has also been used by the state ag lab bus, including electricity, at the schools’ request. The community building is also used for math field day.
“So it’s just kind of a trade. We just do it as a matter of a formality to cover everybody,” Robinson said. “It’s just been a relationship of cooperation, as far as we were concerned.
“That’s how it’s always been. If they want to look at something different, we can do that,” Robinson said. “But you get what you ask for.”
Contacted Friday by The Dominion Post to ask if she had looked further into the lease or would want to look at other use of school facilities, Feathers said she “probably should not,” comment beyond what was discussed at the meeting because of constraints placed on the board as it gathers information while considering school closings.
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