CHARLESTON – Last week, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin hosted a round table discussion with elected officials and local residents regarding the National Youth Science Foundation proposal for utilizing the Canaan Valley Institute building and property in Davis. Andrew Blackwood, Ed.D., executive director of the National Youth Foundation , issued an update of the group’s work and plans for this week regarding the proposal.
Ron Pearson, above, Chairman of the National Youth Science Foundation Board, tells local residents and elected officials of the plans for a National STEM Education Center should they acquire the CVI Building. Andrew Blackwood, Ed.D., Executive Director of the National Youth Science Foundation, met with Pearson and shared updates from the past week.
In Blackwood’s update, he said he and NYSF Board Chairman Ron Pearson met with W.Va. legislative leaders and W.Va. State Superintendent o Schools Dr. Michael J. Martirano on Monday.
“We are endouraged that the state of W.Va. will provide support for important STEM education programs to be conducted at CVI,” Blackwood said.
Blackwood said the NYSF has established a crowdfunding website to cultivate pledges in support of the project. “Since it launched just a few days ago, more than 60 people have made five-year pledges of more than $30,000 per year.”
He said the NYSF has initiated conversations with businesses about establishing partnerships at the STEM Education Center and providing financial support for STEM education programs that will be conducted there. Blackwood said Pearson hosted a fundraising conference call Monday afternoon to further explore developing financial support for the project.
Finally, Blackwood said NYSF has started to draft its proposal to take ownership of the CVI facilities. He said the first draft should be ready by mid week.
The current status of fundraising can be viewed at http://pledge.nysf.com. Folks may join the NYSF mailing list and receive updates online by registering at http://mailinglist.nysf.com.
Edward Horton of NOAA, who owns the CVI property, sent Pearson a letter asking for a written proposal containing information no later than Feb. 13. Horton asked the proposal contain NYSF financial statements, information on funding NYSF would dedicate to operating and maintaining the CVI property and information on how NYSF would use the CVI property. The letter stated NOAA would be looking to ensure that NYSF’s use of the CVI property would be consistent with NOAA’s mission, and that NYSF would have sufficient funds to operate and maintain the CVI property over the long-term. The letter also asked that NYSF proposal include a timeline demonstrating that the CVI property transfer be completed on or before June 1.
In November, two groups, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and NYSF stepped forward announcing their desire to obtain the CVI property. In December, the Tucker County Commission hosted an open meeting in Davis. Comments from local residents at that meeting, and written comments sent to all interested parties, showed unwavering support for the NYSF to take over the CVI facility and offer science, technology, engineering and math education for students in W.Va., the United States and foreign countries.
In January, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it decided not to acquire the Canaan Valley Institute building and associated land in Davis, prompting the January round table discussion.
