WHEELING — The West Virginia School Building Authority announced Monday that Ohio County Schools will receive the remaining $18 million it was promised for the school district’s school property improvement projects.

The amount represents the final two installments of $27 million the SBA had verbally committed in 2018 toward $76 million in planned property improvements across Ohio County Schools. The SBA contribution had been contingent on voters passing a $42.2 million bond levy, which occurred in May 2018.

In December 2018, Ohio County Schools requested and was granted the first $9 million of the $27 million promised. One year later, in December 2019, the school district was turned down for its request for the second $9 million installment.

Superintendent Kim Miller requested the remaining $18 million during a presentation before the SBA on March 15.

“We are super-excited. It’s the best day ever.” she said Monday after learning of the SBA award. “We are very, very grateful.

“We were hoping for the money we requested — but we were willing to work with whatever the SBA gave us.”

Miller acknowledged that, if Ohio County Schools hadn’t received the $18 million, school officials would have been forced to re-evaluate and perhaps downsize projects.

“But we don’t have to do that now, because we’re so appreciative of the $18 million,” Miller said. “We are also more than grateful to our community, which has always been supportive of the school district.

“We had a vision, and they believed in us enough to fund the projects. This will have an impact on students for years to come.”

The $18 million from the SBA will be used to fund renovation projects at Warwood School, Wheeling Middle School, Bethlehem Elementary School, Elm Grove Elementary School, Middle Creek Elementary School and Woodsdale Elementary School.

Planned upgrades include the construction of innovative spaces, as well as the installation of security and cameras, heating and ventilation systems, roofing, windows, and fire alarm systems. There are also improvements expected to be made in the areas of wellness/gym space, energy efficiency, disability accessibility, water systems and expanded kitchens.