The McDowell County Board of Education approved plans to move forward on a grant-funded project to address flooding and athletic field improvements at West Middle/High School and asked the architect to add a study alternate to examine relocating the middle‑school softball field.

Architects told the board the work — funded by a grant the presentation described as approximately $4,000,000 — would raise the lower baseball/softball area out of the floodplain, add drainage, parking and potential alternates such as pickleball courts and additional lighting. Miles Wright and Patrick McMurray of Holland and Hammock said the design includes a sequence of alternates to allow the district flexibility if bids exceed estimates.

Facilities Director Chad Marsh recommended board approval of the plans as presented with an instruction for the architect to include an additional alternate to evaluate moving the softball field. Board member Barksdale moved the motion; Mr. Allison seconded it. The board approved the motion by voice vote; the transcript records the approval as unanimous in the roll call.

The architects said some items (pickelball courts, extra parking) could be removed if bids are high and that the district expects to use cut/fill operations between the two project sites — including moving roughly 25,000 cubic yards of dirt from the elementary site — to reduce hauling costs. The work also includes pedestrian safety improvements, high-visibility crosswalks, and stormwater measures to meet grant intent.

District staff said the project is intended to meet grant parameters first (drainage and flood mitigation), and alternates would be chosen depending on bid results and other funding partners. Board members asked about sequencing and timeline; the superintendent and facilities staff said bids and further design decisions will be brought back to the board for approval.