Van Devender Middle School Principal Darlene Parsons, seen here addressing the Wood County Board of Education, has announced she and her husband will take ownership of the Vienna Child Care Center in early 2020. Parsons says she will finish out the school year as principal of Vandy. (File Photo)

VIENNA — Van Devender Middle School Principal Darlene Parsons and her husband will be taking over ownership of the Vienna Child Care Center early next year.

Parsons, who most recently has been a vocal advocate of keeping Vandy open amid a series of planned school closures, said she will continue as principal through the current school year.

The change was announced Wednesday on the Vienna Child Care Center’s Facebook page and on Parsons’ personal Facebook page.

“We are pleased to announce that we have found that perfect person to take over ownership of our child care center,” officials said in an online post. “Darlene Parsons and her husband Toby Parsons will be taking over ownership of the center. We ask that you be patient in this time of transition. This transition involves a tremendous amount of paper work and items to be taken care of in a timely manner to assure what’s best for all parties involved.”

Officials said the center will close Dec. 20 as part of the transition. Parsons said the plan is to reopen mid- to late-January. The center will reopen as the Vienna Learning Center, Parsons said.

“We would like to keep the name and the child care center much as it has been for the past 30 years,” Parsons said. “However, we do have plans in the future to be a full service educational facility that encompasses early learning, tutoring, ACT/SAT prep, advocacy and social/emotional services for school age students.”

Earlier this year, the Wood County Board of Education was considering closing Van Devender Middle School to use the building as an elementary center. Parsons, teachers and parents protested the move, and the board opted not to close the school at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

Last month, however, when state officials approved the planned closure of three elementary schools, officials said Vandy would again be considered for closure at the end of the 2020-21 school year. Parsons said the ongoing school consolidation and closure discussion was not a factor in her announcement.

“The opportunity (to purchase the center) just presented itself and I couldn’t pass it up. I would have loved to stay at Vandy until the end, but this opportunity was only available until the end of December,” she said. “Although I will truly miss my students, staff and families at Van Devender, it is an excellent opportunity to provide educational services in the Mid-Ohio Valley while also being able to work alongside my family and provide a business that can be continued for generations.”

In the statement released by the center, signed by Peggy and Randall Menear and Maranda Pauley, officials said it was a difficult decision.

“It is one of the toughest decisions our family has had to make,” they said. “We appreciate all your love and support for the last 30 years and we wish everyone nothing but the best in the future and we hope to see the love and caring continue for another 30-plus years.”

Michael Erb can be reached at merb@newsandsentinel.com