FROM STAFF REPORTS
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A well-known quote commonly attributed to the late Roman philosopher Seneca states that: “Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.”
With its recent closure, Nuttall High/Middle School has — sadly for many in the community — reached its end, but with that end, possible new beginnings and opportunities have been created for the surrounding communities.
A group of interested citizens has formed Midland Trail Community Action Inc., a nonprofit corporation, in an effort to take advantage of these opportunities and secure a viable community use for the old Nuttall Middle School property. The nonprofit was started with the main purposes of acquiring and developing the property for use as a park and community center for the public and for use by the local sports organizations, and recruiting organizations and businesses with an educational, health or other community-based purpose to use the existing school building.
According to Tom Ewing, who’s helping spearhead the drive, the nonprofit has been in positive discussions with the Fayette County Board of Education and the Nuttall LLC about transferring ownership to the old school property to the nonprofit, as well as to plot how a sustainable, viable community use for the property can be achieved.
The nonprofit has also been assisting the Board with relocating and preserving the memorabilia from the Nuttall high and middle schools, Ewing said. However, the main obstacles for the MTCA at this time are focused on the immediate need for funding and identifying organizations or businesses with an educational, health or community purpose that are interested in using the old school building and can help defray the building’s operating costs.
“Therefore, in order to build momentum for the project and to further discussions with the Fayette County Board of Education and the Nuttall LLC, the nonprofit is looking for assistance from individuals, businesses and other community groups that would like to see the old Nuttall Middle School property preserved for the benefit to the surrounding communities,” Ewing said.
As a start-up nonprofit, Midland Trail Community Action is still in the process of acquiring 501(c)(3), tax-exempt status. While this process is being completed, the New Haven Foundation, a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt, non-profit headquartered in Ansted, has agreed to create a separate fund for the project and is presently accepting tax-exempt donations and contributions earmarked for the project. In the event the Midland Trail Community Action is unable to obtain the Nuttall property for whatever reason and the project must be abandoned, then the New Haven Foundation will use those funds earmarked for the project to create a scholarship fund to benefit students from Midland Trail High School, or its successor in the event of consolidation.
If you or your company is interested in contributing financially, donation can be sent to the New Haven Foundation, New Haven Foundation, Inc., c/o Robert T Wilson, PO Box 605 Ansted, WV 25812-0605. Write “Nuttall project” in the memo line of the check.
For more information about the nonprofit and/or the project, or if you are willing to assist the project in any way, contact Ewing at 304-222-4079 or at tewing@kaycasto.com.
