The two sides in the Nicholas County, West Virginia dispute over post-flood high school buildings has potentially been settled.  A tentative decision has been reached that includes a new school complex in the Richwood area and a second complex in the centralized area of Nicholas County.

The mediation team included representatives from the county school system and the West Virginia Department of Education.  They met for two days in Charleston to discuss an potential agreement in the dispute.

One recommendation included the option of a community school or community schools located at the same campus near the former Richwood High. 

The intention is to have a campus or campuses that offer elementary, middle, and high school in a single building or located on a single campus.  It will also preserve the current name, mascot, team names, and culture.

Families in the county would have the option of choosing which of the high schools or middle schools would best meet their needs.  The schools will be designed to be flexible with future enrollment changes and demographic changes that occur in the area.

The mediation team intends to host a workshop for the public to gather information and learn more about the concerns and needs of the community.  It is scheduled for mid-April at the Nicholas County High School in Summersville.

The dispute over the schools and the changes in the community are a result of the floods that took place in 2016.  The event destroyed Richwood High and Middle Schools, as well as Summersville Middle Schools.