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Waverly residents voice opposition to consolidation as school bond meeting takes on contentious tone

Wood County Schools Superintendent John Flint speaks with a gathering of Waverly parents, educators and community members Monday at Waverly Elementary School. Waverly is part of the $41 million facilities bond call and if passed will close and consolidate the school and Williamstown Elementary School into a new Williamstown-area elementary. (Photo by Michael Erb)

WAVERLY — Wood County Schools’ officials met Monday at Waverly Elementary School with community members who voiced their opposition to the proposed consolidation of the school with a new Williamstown-area elementary.

Wood County Schools is asking voters to approve a $41 million facilities bond Nov. 8 which will be used in part to build a new Williamstown elementary school and renovate the existing Williamstown High School to make it into a true middle/high school.

More than 100 residents, parents and educators attended the meeting in Waverly’s gymnasium. The tone of the meeting quickly turned hostile as residents accused the Wood County Board of Education of targeting Waverly for closure while ignoring schools in worse shape throughout the county.

Superintendent John Flint and Assistant Superintendent Mike Fling, who has been lead administrator on the bond, said Waverly Elementary was one of several schools discussed during development of the bond for possible closure and consolidation. Waverly was chosen because of its small size and proximity to Williamstown Elementary, they said.

“There is a lot of animosity in this room,” Fling said. “No one started out or is making the case that this is something that has to be done because this is not a quality school.”

Waverly resident Fred Clark speaks out against a proposed facilities bond Monday at Waverly Elementary School. The $41 million bond, which goes before voters Nov. 8, calls for the closure and consolidation of Waverly Elementary and Williamstown Elementary School into a new Williamstown-area elementary. Residents say their school is unfairly being targeted for closure. (Photo by Michael Erb)

Officials said Waverly Elementary was brought into the new Williamstown elementary project because of the state School Building Authority, which requires schools to meet an “economy of scale.” Waverly has 130 students, 30 of which are from out-of-district, and has a fifth-grade class of only seven students.

State economy of scale guidelines place most elementary schools at 300 students total and about 18-25 students per class.

Fling said when officials met with the SBA to discuss receiving $10 million in funds for building a new Williamstown-area elementary, the SBA said the district should consolidate Waverly and Williamstown.

“It was a string,” Fling said. “If you want to have this funding from the School Building Authority, these are the things you need to do to get this.”

However, Waverly resident Fred Clark said he spoke to the head of the SBA on Monday and was told the state agency never required the closure of Waverly Elementary.

“He said ‘we do not typically take this position'” of requiring schools to be closed to receive SBA funds, Clark said. “The SBA doesn’t require closing Waverly Elementary. Something’s not right here.”

Those in attendance repeatedly asked whether passage of the bond would require the closure. Fling said it would. Clark accused officials and the school board of having an ulterior motive in trying to close Waverly.

“You’ve got 130 kids,” he said. “They need to add those kids to Williamstown to justify buying an 11-acre Fenton Art Glass plant” for the new elementary school.

Clark also said the Fenton site was nearly twice the size required by the SBA for an elementary school and said the area has severe lead contamination, something not shown in recent soil and water testing which was commissioned by the school board.

“I wouldn’t want my kids going to school there,” Clark said. “There is something going on here. I’m just not sure what it is.”

Residents spoke about the smaller class sizes, the community effort to maintain and upgrade the school, and the caring attitude of the teachers. Residents said they feel Waverly students are routinely discriminated against when they attend school in Williamstown.

At times, those in attendance yelled at officials to not close the school and vowed to fight the board if the bond passed. Clark said he would likely file a lawsuit against the school system.

Former Wood County Board of Education member Tim Yeater, who has been active with the Williamstown Elementary School committee which has been working to identify sites for the new school, spoke during Monday’s meeting, urging Waverly parents to set aside their concerns over consolidation.

“You don’t have to vote for the bond. That doesn’t save this school,” he said. “Right now you have a choice to send your kids to a new facility.”

Fling became angry after repeated questions of oversight and how the district would keep costs under control. Residents brought up issues with the 2008 bond project on the three high schools and more recently the renovation of Stadium Field at Parkersburg High School which ended with a nearly half-million dollar cost overrun and an unfinished stadium.

“You vote your conscience. You vote your heart. You decide what you want to do about your school,” Fling said. “If you don’t want to vote for the bond, don’t vote for it.

“You’re passionate about your school. I’m passionate about it too. I didn’t go into this with the goal of closing Waverly Elementary.”

Fling said he is working to provide top-quality and safe facilities for students.

“That’s my goal,” he said.

Flint repeatedly tried to calm both officials and those in attendance.

“Any loss is not good,” he said. “It’s tough. No one enjoys this.”

Waverly resident Richard Ingram II said the debate was about more than just closing a building.

“The school is just a place,” he said. “This is about the heart and soul of this community.”

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