The WV Disability History Essay Contest winners Mariah Wilson and Lingjian Zheng, with Superintendent Christie Willis. The contest was designed to reinforce Disability History Week in West Virginia and to provide high school seniors an opportunity to showcase their writing skills and knowledge of the Disability Rights Movement. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education held its regular meeting Tuesday night in the auditorium at Parkersburg South High School.

The meeting opened with a performance by the Parkersburg South High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jennifer Ratliff.

“We’re going to be recognizing a lot of Parkersburg South students, and some staff as well,” Michael Erb, communications coordinator for Wood County Schools, said. “They’ve just done amazing and wonderful things here this past year and we want to give them the recognition they deserve.”

The board recognized teacher Kathryn Nestor for creating and organizing the “School of Thought” column in the Parkersburg News and Sentinel, the 2023 WV Disability History Essay Contest Winners, the United States Senate Youth Program Finalist, the PSHS AFJROTC as the 2023 WV State Drill Team Champions, the PSHS boys basketball team as the 2023 Class AAA State Runner Up, the PSHS boys swim team as the 2023 Class AAA State Champions, the PSHS wrestling team as the 2023 Class AAA State Champions, the PSHS marching band as the 2022 WV Marching Band Invitational Best Overall Twirler State Champions, the PSHS Southern Belles as the 2023 NDA National Runner Up, and the PSHS Performing Arts Students.

A full list of those recognized can be found online at www.newsandsentinel.com.

Superintendent Christie Willis and United States Senate Youth Program Finalist Olivia Raber. The United States Senate Youth Program is an annual event where students interested in pursuing careers in public service spend a week in Washington, D.C., with elected officials. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“It’s nice whenever we travel places…when we’re in the hotels and staff are coming up saying, ‘Are you with Parkersburg South?’, and you go, ‘Yeah’ and they say what a great bunch of kids you have,” PSHS Principal Betsy Patterson said. “They are so polite, they hold the door open for people. That’s what it’s about. We’re producing great citizens. So, I’m very proud of all of these students.”

The Board of Education Student Advisory Council, along with Kennith Cook, director of secondary schools, gave the board an update on the the things the Student Advisory Council are working on.

“I enjoy working with the students, interacting with them, listening to their concerns and addressing their concerns,” Cook said. “I always remind them that Wood County students set the bar for other students in the state, and I think that’s been evident tonight.”

Macie Watkins, from PSHS, said the Student Advisory Board meets once a month to go over ways to make the school better and to reflect on their accomplishments the previous month.

“I can proudly say, as we’ve seen here tonight, that each month we always have great things to say that Patriots are accomplishing whether it’s through arts, sports, or academics,” Watkins said.

Parkersburg South High School AFJROTC Cadets became the State Champions for the 13th year in a row. The 27th Annual WV State Drill Meet was held on Feb. 18 at PSHS. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Cameron McCalin, Blennerhassett Middle School eighth grader, spoke to the board Tuesday night about the problems with traffic at Blennerhassett Middle School, vandalism in the bathrooms and stress the teachers have with overloaded class sizes. She did say she felt very safe at school and enjoyed her classes.

“We have a safe school, which is probably one of the most important things,” McCalin said.

Hank Poole, senior class president at PHS, said students at PHS seem to be happier this last few months but he did have some concerns. He said the National English Honor Society was worried about censorship of books, the school nurse has to pay for a lot of her own supplies, and he said the school has been incredibly cold the last few months.

“But other than that, we’ve had a very good year, and I’m honored to be a part of this council,” Poole said.

He went on to say the council has proven beneficial to students. He said at one of the first meetings he brought up a concern that the water fountains weren’t working properly.

The Parkersburg South High School Wrestling Team was recognized for being the 2023 Class AAA State Champions. The team is also the 2023 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 5A Champions. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“By the next meeting, we had brand new water fountains,” Poole said. “So, it’s really been an honor to serve on this (council) and to speak before you all.”

During board comments, Boardmember Debbie Hendershot said the idea for the Student Advisory Council came from her grandson, J.J. Hendershot.

“He’s a PHS student, who graduated a few years ago, and he’s the one who came up with the Student Advisory. He talked to me about it and wanted the students to have a voice,” Hendershot said. “It wasn’t my idea, it was his. Me and Mr. Cook just followed up on it.”

During the consent agenda the board approved a number of personnel matters, including the resignation of Director of Finance/Treasurer Whitni L. Kines.

“It’s been an honor working for the board and Wood County,” Kines said.

Macie Watkins and Harmony Watkins were recognized as the 2022 WV Marching Band Invitational’s Best Overall Twirler State Champions. The 2022 West Virginia Marching Band Invitational was held on Oct. 29, 2022 at Laidley Field in Charleston. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Kines has been with the district for the last six years but will be moving on to Harrison County where she will be the director of finance in that school district. Superintendent Christie Willis said Kines has helped her greatly this last nine months and wished her luck in Harrison County.

Board member Judy Johnson thanked Kines for her service to Wood County

“Her wealth of knowledge is just beyond belief,” Johnson said. “Thank you for being here and helping us all through these last few years. And we appreciate you very much.”

The board also approved Miller Communications to replace all radios in the buses/vans used for student transport and to move all such communication to the SIRN system; approved a change order to add card reader to existing double doors at Blennerhassett Elementary; approved Phoenix Associates Inc. to complete the Refrigeration Warehouse repairs and replacement at the Child Nutrition warehouse; and approved John Merritt, assistant superintendent and director of human resources, to be the interim Treasurer beginning April 5, 2023, until the position is filled.

During the superintendent update Willis said she has received a letter of commitment from the School Building Authority.

The Parkersburg South High School Southern Belles were recognized for being the 2023 National Dance Alliance National Runner Up. The NDA 2023 Dance Competition was held on March 3-4 in Orlando, Fla. (Photo by Duglass Huxley)

“For the Wood County Board of Education in the amount of $21 million for the construction of three new elementary schools,” Willis said. “This letter of commitment is exceptionally important for Wood County Schools.”

Willis said meetings will begin today with attorneys from Bowles Rice, McKinley Associates, Pickering Associates and the public finance investment banking.

During the regular agenda the board approved the paid suspension of Nathan Cunningham pending the outcome of an investigation.

The board also approved the retirement of Assistant Superintendent of Support Services Michael Fling, effective Oct. 1, 2023. The board voted 4-1, with Hendershot voting no, to the superintendent’s recommendation to ratify paid administrative leave for Fling until Oct. 1, 2023.

“We would like to thank Mr. Fling for his decades of service to the Board of Education, and wish him a wonderful, well-deserved retirement,” Willis said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel. com

***

Parkersburg South High School Chamber Choir, under the direction of Jennifer Ratliff-

* Isaiah Albertus

* Caleb Alderman

* Kelly Bargeloh

* Miranda Beatty

* Madison Binkney

* Isaac Bradley

* Sarah Childers

* Cami Derenberger

* Alexandra DeShetler

* Aubrianna Gibbs

* Bryar Green

* Bailey Holcomb

* Rebecca Hunt

* Thea Koskey

* Zoe Koskey

* Ashlyn Limer

* Vanessa Mackey

* Chad Moore

* Ethan Perry

* Tessa Prunty

* Connor Roberts

* Dylan Roberts

* Evie Schaffer

* Briauna Stump

* Ty Street

* Jackson Wingrove

* Isabella Wolfe

The WV Disability History Essay Contest winners-

* Lingjian Zheng – PSHS

* Mariah Wilson – PSHS

The United States Senate Youth Program winner is Olivia Raber of PSHS.

Parkersburg South High School AFJROTC-

* Julia Acklin

* Remington Blair

* Daniel Burns

* James Byrd

* Bailey Crouch

* Gracie Crouch

* Allison Cunningham

* Maryssa Dennis

* Haylee Fickisen

* Riley Fury

* Arianna Gault

* Aiden Hawkins

* Kimberly Huffman

* Asher Hyde

* Brody Keller

* Austin Kent

* Hailey Moren

* Zander Nichols

* Lauren Parsons

* Miller Pursley

* Kaitlyn Rhodes

Parkersburg South High School Boys Basketball Team-

* Oluwatobi Adebulu

* Aiden Blake

* Turner Garretson

* Miciah Jones

* Cole Joy

* Alec Marshall

* Seth Meadows

* Andrew Pierotti

* Nathaniel Plotner

* Mason Reams

* Austin Reeves

* Harry Silvis

* Jackson Smith

* Brayden Townsend

* Cyrus Traugh

* Triston Walker

Parkersburg South High School Boys Swim Team-

Head Coach: Ryan Radcliff

Assistant Coaches: Don Bailey and Jim Pursley

* Colton Floyd

* Xander Guinn

* Quade Harris

* Jantzen Karcher

* Andrew Kirk

* Killian Koster-Rector

* Anthony Ott

* Maddox Rader

* Ryan Richardson

* Connor Roberts

Parkersburg South High School Wrestling Team-

Head Coach: Shaun Smith

Assistant Coaches: Dave Jeffrey, John Price, David Jeffrey, Andrew Parsons, Andrew Church, Mark Board, Tyler Koreski and Luke Martin

* Brycen Arthur

* Trenton Bush

* Mackiah Claudio

* Ryan Martin

* Ayden Morris

* Uriah Morris

* Nathan Murphy

* Corbin Phillips

* Makiya Powell

* Brady Roberts

* Robert Shockey

* Kyle Wheeler

* Gage Wright

Parkersburg South High School Wrestling Team – Individual State Champions-

* Ryan Martin – 138 lb.

* Gage Wright – 175 lb.

Parkersburg South High School Marching Band-

Best Overall Twirler State Champions-

* Harmony Watkins

* Macie Watkins

Parkersburg South High School Southern Belles-

Head Coach: Kristen Johnson

Assistant Coaches: Morgan Decicco and Kristen Cottrell

* Presley Amos

* Alyse Bailey

* Abigail Brown

* Olivia Edinger

* Emma Haines

* Ella Horton

* Allison Johnson

* Addison King

* Alivia Lough

* Mallory Marks

* Hannah Martin

* Kennedy Mays

* Ava Metheny

* Ellie Nedeff

* Jasmine Porter

* Kamryn Sallee

* Emma Smith

* Reagan Ward

* Ella Wilson

PSHS Performing Arts Students-

Choral Director, Parkersburg South High School – Jennifer Ratliff

Theatre Director, Parkersburg South High School – Douglas Parks

* Patrick Arnold

* Brodie Battin

* Madison Binkney

* Isaac Bradley

* Braden Deguzman

* Alexandra DeShetler

* Alyssan Dowler

* Sarah Ervin

* Alexandria Evans

* Catherine Evans

* Gracie Horton

* Alethea Koskey

* Zoe Koskey

* Garrett Lewis

* Ashlyn Limer

* Caytlin Matheny

* Erin Miihlbach

* Addison Ozanick

* Tessa Prunty

* Olivia Raber

* Caleb Rowan

* Jayme Short

* Aiden Shreves

* Alexis Smith

* Briauna Stump

* Zane VanFossen

* Anna Ware

* Jenna Wilcoxen

* Kaleb Windland

* Adam Woolard

A Legislative Citation was presented by Delegate Scot Heckert, R-Wood, and Delegate Vernon Criss R-Wood, recognizing the Parkersburg South High School Performing Arts Department. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Student Advisory Council member Cameron McCalin, a Blennerhassett Middle School eighth grader, spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about the problems with traffic at Blennerhassett Middle School, vandalism in the bathrooms and stress the teachers have with overloaded class sizes. She did say she felt very safe at school and enjoyed her classes. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

The Parkersburg South High School Boys Swim Team was recognized as the 2023 Class AAA State Champions. The Parkersburg South High School Boys Swim team became state champions for the second year in a row and was also named the 2023 Ohio Valley Athletic Conference 5A Champions. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)