Wood County Schools has first of three bond informational meetings
Interested residents attended the first of the Wood County Schools bond call sessions at Williamstown Middle/High School on Tuesday. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook addressed the audience at the first of the Wood County Schools bond call sessions on Tuesday at Williamstown High/Middle School. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
Interested residents attended the first of the Wood County Schools bond call sessions at Williamstown Middle/High School on Tuesday. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
Wood County Schools Superintendent Will Hosaflook addressed the audience at the first of the Wood County Schools bond call sessions on Tuesday at Williamstown High/Middle School. (Photo by Larry Launstein Jr.)
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WILLIAMSTOWN -- Wood County Schools outgoing Superintendent Will Hosaflook explained Tuesday some of the reasons for the proposed multi-million-dollar school bond to finance three new schools and other improvement projects in the first of three informational meetings.
The meeting was held at Williamstown Middle/High School and drew a crowd of interested residents to hear and ask questions regarding the proposed projects.
The Wood County Schools Board of Education is planning two more public information sessions next week.
Hosaflook said declining numbers of students from the time he started in 2018 to the present in the distinct is prompting the board to get this new bond call.
"One thing I noticed about Wood County Schools is that we are a pretty large district. At that time, we had about 13,000 students," Hosaflook said. "And with the changes over the last four years, I know they have been very tough changes, but right now, we're looking at approximately 11,565 students."
Hosaflook said that declining enrollment is a problem throughout West Virginia, not just Wood County.
There was a slide-show presentation of what was being proposed, and Hosaflook explained why everything covered in the proposed bond call was needed.
As an example, Hosaflook cited as a need that Blennerhassett Elementary School has an entrance which opens up straight to the cafeteria, instead of a secure entrance.
Another example Hosaflook made was what would happen if the bleachers at Parkersburg High School were just torn out instead of being renovated. If they are torn down, they would have to make complete renovations to the rest rooms, whereas if they renovate the bleachers, they won't have to do so to the rest rooms, he said.
Hosaflook said the cost of the rest room renovations would be around $500,000.
The school system has proposed a $60.85 million bond on the May 10 primary election ballot that would be coupled with another $21 million from the state School Building Authority to pay for the estimated $81.55 million construction projects.
Tuesday's meeting in Williamstown included proposed improvements for the football field. Additional meetings that also will be streamed online will be held at 6:30 p.m. April 11 at Parkersburg South High School and 6:30 p.m. April 13 at PHS.
The school board is proposing three new schools:
* Lubeck Elementary School, $20,579,070.
* A new consolidated elementary school in North Parkersburg, $24,586,709.
* A new consolidated elementary school in Vienna, $23,234,221
Other school projects would include:
* Madison Elementary School classroom expansion and drive improvements, $2.2 million.
* PSHS auditorium seat replacement, sound system improvements and new addition to the Rod Oldham Athletic Center concessions, $550,000.
* PHS auditorium balcony seat replacement, additional rest rooms in the cafeteria and field house concession improvements, $400,000.
* Martin Elementary School access road, $500,000.
* Security vestibule construction at Blennerhassett Middle School, Gihon Elementary School, Jackson Middle School, Hamilton Middle School, Martin Elementary School, $1,250,000.
Athletic facility improvements would include:
* PHS stadium renovation to existing side bleachers, renovations to Building 413 and upgrading existing rest rooms, $2 million.
* Erickson All-Sports Facility improvements include a new turf field, paved parking lot, expansion of home-side bleachers and construction of a new softball and baseball field, $5.25 million.
* WHS stadium improvements include a new turf field and upgrading the existing drainage system, $1 million.
The cost of the bond is $300,000.
According to a fact sheet about the bond from the school system, the maximum tax rate of 4.5 percent on a $200,000 house from the bond is $10.88 per month. The maximum tax rate of the 2017 and 2022 bonds combined on a $200,000 house would be $17.42 per month, according to the fact sheet.
The school board voted in February to approve placement of the bond on the May primary ballot following months of discussion regarding new schools and other facility improvements.