Applications filed for Buffalo High to join New Tech

WINFIELD, W.Va. -- Putnam County's Board of Education took action Monday night toward making Buffalo High School part of the New Tech Network.

New Tech is a private, nonprofit organization that works with individual schools to implement project-based learning curricula. Buffalo wants to join the network when it moves into its brand new facility this fall.

The board voted to submit an application to New Tech as well as submit a grant application to the state board of education to cover the $100,000 per year cost. The county is seeking an Innovation Zone grant under the program's dropout prevention provision to fund the New Tech program at Buffalo for three years.

"The New Tech people have actually come and visited and been though the new facility," Superintendent Chuck Hatfield said. "They've met with staff and (Buffalo Principal Richard) Grim, and everything looks real good. It's just a matter of getting some money."

Board member Sam Sentelle voiced his support of the endeavor.

"This is an ambitious program," Sentelle said. "Now is the time to implement it. I think if we can get into this and get this grant it'll be a showplace for the whole state and the region."