Photo by Douglass Huxley The 2022 Vaping Prevention Video winners: Gabrielle Alvarez, PHS grade 11 2nd Place, Camden Hawkins, PHS grade 12 1st Place, and High School Group or Class winners Therapeutic Services Class members from the Wood County Tech Center, and teacher Natalie Lee.

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education heard presentations on vaping, facilities and other issues during its regular meeting Tuesday at the offices on 13th Street.

The board heard presentations from Cathy Grewe, coordinator of assessment and student services, about the Vaping Prevention Campaign Contest winners, the Wood County Schools (WCS) Student Advisory Council report, Larry Johnson introduced Kyle Pugh, Juvenile Probation Officer, who began work in Wood County Schools on Oct. 24, from Justin Hartshorn, director of elementary education, on the 2023-2024 school calendar, and from Mike Fling, assistant superintendent, on the School Building Authority (SBA) Planning Grant and construction updates.

Grewe, along with Wood County Prevention Coalition (WCPC) chairman Bob Newell, presented the winners of the Vaping Prevention Campaign Contest.

“Each year for about 25 years, at least, Wood County Schools has celebrated Red Ribbon Week during the last week of October,” Grewe said. “That is to discourage adolescent drug use, and encourage healthy choices.”

Grewe said for the last two years the focus has been on vaping prevention. She said this year a video contest was added as well. Grewe said the WCPC donated the Walmart gift cards that were presented to the winners, items for students for Red Ribbon Week, and has donated close to $16,000 to Wood County Schools this year.

“We thank you for that,” Grewe said. “And the coalition support of our schools and our efforts.”

Members of the WCS Student Advisory Council, consisting of students within Wood County Schools, gave the board their quarterly report.

“It’s definitely an honor to be a part of this,” said Noah Ray, the Parkersburg High School representative. “It’s very helpful for our schools, with how many students there are.”

Ray said there is horrible traffic outside of PHS and he thinks there should be a new sign put outside to solve this.

“I think we’re getting a lot done, and it’s really helping a lot,” Ray said. “And hopefully we can get more done in the future.”

Board member Debbie Hendershot said the WCS Student Advisory Council is a great opportunity for students to voice their concerns.

Johnson introduced Pugh as the new PHS and Parkersburg South High School school-based probation officer. Pugh said the main concern, and focus, will be truancy.

Hartshorn spoke to the board about the 2023-2024 school calendar. Hartshorn said the schedule was unanimously approved by the Calendar Committee. Board member Ron Tice said that getting the public input on it would be extremely helpful.

“It’s really the public that we need to get their input on,” Tice said. “And make sure they are happy with it.”

Hartshorn said public comments would come out Nov. 1.

Fling spoke to the board about the $100,000 (SBA) Planning Grant. Fling said the grant would provide money for a survey, environmental budget and geotechnical budget, which he said are core drillings to test soil, the pre-engineering review, and land acquisition support.

“That’s what the categories are broken down into,” Fling said. “And all those break down into that $100,000.”

During the Superintendent update Christie Willis said Robert Cunningham, Deputy Cabinet Secretary of West Virginia Homeland Security, would be giving a public information meeting Nov. 1 on the the new “See Something, Send Something” reporting system. This new reporting system will provide another avenue to report crime/suspicious activity, school threat or safety issues, and has the capabilities for help to be requested for suicide or addiction.

During public comments Jessica Rowley was scheduled to speak, among others, but left early to address her concerns to Parkersburg City Council.

During the consent agenda the board approved a number of matters including financial transactions, out of state trips, the approval of a custodian supervisor/general maintenance position, a change order to Phoenix Associates Inc. for PSHS Secure Courtyard cost extension due to delays in receiving materials, a purchase order increase for Pickering Associates for the playground site developments at Blennerhassett, Gihon, and Jefferson Elementary, an agreement with Pickering Associates for design and bidding services for the Jefferson Elementary School auditorium seating, and an approval of engineering services agreement with McKinley Associates for the SBA Planning Grant awarded to begin the next phase of planning for the Bond Projects.

During board comments board member Judy Johnson thanked the winners of the vaping prevention contest.

“It’s wonderful that we can use their creative artistic expression to put a powerful point in with students,” Johnson said.

The next meeting of the Wood County Board of Education will be Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 6 p.m. at the Central Office at 1210 13th St. The meeting is open to the public and will be live streamed.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com