Nicholas County school board members Monday night approved a base bid of $42.5 million for building a new large school complex to replace Richwood schools damaged in the 2016 flood.

Richwood Middle School and Richwood High School will be included in the project at Cherry River Elementary, a school spokesperson said.

Board members tabled an alternative that would have increased the size of the gymnasium and an alternative that would have added two classrooms.

The project was first brought back to the board because it was $17 million over budget.

Construction on the Cherry River Complex will start in the new year and is scheduled to be finished in May 2025.

Meanwhile, another project, the Glade Creek Complex, will house three schools and Summersville Elementary will be housed at the current Nicholas County High School after it is vacated and retrofitted.

Under the plan approved by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, seven schools in Nicholas County will be built and renovated.