Wood BOE approves bond call, ends mask mandate
The Wood County Schools Board of Education is seated prior to the school board meeting Tuesday evening, where they voted to approve a bond call and to end the district’s mask mandates. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook addressed the crowd at the Wood County Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
A large crowd was in attendance at the Wood County Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
The Wood County Schools Board of Education is seated prior to the school board meeting Tuesday evening, where they voted to approve a bond call and to end the district’s mask mandates. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook addressed the crowd at the Wood County Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
A large crowd was in attendance at the Wood County Schools Board of Education meeting Tuesday evening. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Schools Board of Education approved the bond call for the May primary ballot and voted to end mask mandates at the district's schools.
The proposed bond call passed unanimously, 5-0, prompting school board president Justin Raber to say, "I fully support this and believe it will move our community forward, I also look at this as an investment in our community. Not only is this an investment for our community, it is an investment for our teachers, it is an investment for our students."
The $60.85 million bond call will now go to the voters on primary election day May 10.
The bond call asks for three new elementary schools, including a new Lubeck Elementary School, and the closure of Neale and Vienna Elementary schools, with those students going into one of the new elementary schools, and the closure of Criss and Emerson Elementary schools, with those students going into the other new school.
It also calls for renovations to other schools in Wood County as well as renovations and upgrades to athletic facilities.
The board also voted to end the mask mandates approved last August, which made them a hot-button topic at Tuesday's school board meeting.
Beginning today, masks will be optional for students and staff, and individuals will have the option to wear them, but they will no longer be required.
Wood County has been gold on the County Alert System map since Feb. 3.
The vote was 3-2 to end the mandates, with board members Justin Raber, Rick Olcott and Debbie Hendershot approving, and Ron Tice and Judy Johnson opposing.
The board heard opinions from members of the public regarding the mandate, including those opposed and those in support.