Hardy County (WV) Schools

Despite a depressed economy and the closure of several large employers in the area, Hardy County Board of Education members decided that if they wanted to attract new business to the region, they would have to have good schools. West Virginia officials were shocked when the citizens of Hardy County passed the $21.5 million bond.

When the school building project started, the oldest section of Moorefield High School was demolished. (The school had been dedicated by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1941.) Although several sections had been added over the course of the next 70+ years, the majority of the original building was still in use. Shockey renovated approximately 21,000 SF of the existing structure, including the gym, kitchen, science classrooms, and a vocational/agriculture building, and nearly 80,000 SF of new construction added an auditorium, auxiliary gymnasium, media center, band room, and classrooms. The cafeteria was also renovated and expanded.

East Hardy High School initially opened in 1979. The building had served as a vocational center since 1974. As part of this most recent building campaign, Shockey expanded East Hardy High School by 34,000 SF.

Fifty-one percent of students at East Hardy High School are economically disadvantaged, but the school is recognized in US News and World Report’s National Rankings.

“We wanted to look toward the future and not be stuck in the past,” remarked Board of Education President Loy Kesner.

Source: Jean A. Flanagan / The Moorefield Examiner