STOP MON BOE FROM LOCATING JUVENILE SERVICES REPORTING CENTER IN RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD

We, concerned parties, respectfully request that the Monongalia County Board of Education (BOE) reverse its decision to locate a West Virginia Division of Juvenile Services (DJS) Youth Reporting Center (Reporting Center) at the former Suncrest Primary Building in the heart of a residential neighborhood, which occurred without any request for public input and briefing to the community.

We support the work of the DJS Reporting Center program, but do not believe that the Suncrest Primary Building is an appropriate location for a facility that will operate from 8 am to 8 pm during its twelve (12) month program providing education and intense counseling services. 

In short, this is a good program, but a bad location choice due to its services being out of character with the heart of a residential neighborhood. 

Further, we believe that the location of the DJS Reporting Center would be in violation of the deed under which the BOE has a right to utilize the land, which was designed to support a community school for instructing children who lived in proximity to the school.

Thus, we respectfully request that the BOE rescind its decision to locate the DJS Reporting Center at Suncrest Primary, given the nature of the services being offered, the operational schedule, and the deed, but find a more appropriate location for the work of the DJS Reporting Center to occur.