[NFBWV-Talk] FW: Article from Hampshire Review News Section 2021 08 25

[Karen Swauger]

karen

Original Message: 
From: NFB-NEWSLINE Online <publications at nfbnewsline.net>
To: Karen Swauger <karen at pmpmail.com>
Subject: Article from Hampshire Review News Section 2021 08 25
Date: 
25 Aug 2021 11:28:45 -0500

DHHR may house youth with issues on campus. ROMNEY  Concerns over
changing plans for the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind campus were aired
at last Wednesdays Hampshire County Development Authority Board meeting. 

Initially, meetings on uses for the WVSDB campus had painted what Romney
Mayor Beverly Keadle described as a very rosy picture. 

Early suggestions included finding a buyer interested in converting the
former Elementary School for the Deaf into a boutique hotel added to the
National Register of Historic Places, as well as providing space for
Marshall University or WVU, both of which were said to be interested. 

In later discussions, the picture has completely changed, Mayor Keadle
reported. 

Now Eastern Community College is the only academic institution mentioned,
and there is talk of turning the elementary deaf building over to the
Department of Health and Human Resources for use as a residential facility.


Such a residential facility would provide the courts with a 3rd option
for juvenile offenders, other than the West Virginia Childrens Home or
reform school. 

Judges use placement in the West Virginia Childrens Home as an
alternative to reform school when children in trouble with the law are
found to need help with mental or behavioral problems. When they need more
help than the West Virginia Childrens Home can provide, they are sent out
of state for treatment. 

The DHHR facility in Romney would apparently be used for these more
troubled delinquent children, as an alternative to sending them out of
state at the states expense. The children would receive treatment and be
educated in what would be a closely supervised environment. 

Mayor Keadle expressed concern about placing a residential facility for
such troubled young people on the same campus as WVSDBs children and the
planned county childcare facility. 

Her concerns were echoed by other board members. 

Development Authority Executive Secretary Eileen Johnson noted that
nothing is set in stone at this point. She added that the Development
Authority hopes to see some space turned over to the private sector,
contributing to the tax base, as well as some used for higher education. 

Board President Greg Bohrer suggested contributing to the tax base be the
main goal emphasized in upcoming meetings on uses of the property. 

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