Students from Edison Middle School were recognized during Tuesday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for completing i-Ready Math and/or Reading Lessons. Front row: Kevin Myers, Alex McClain, Lilian Badgett, Baylee Hale, Bristol Florence and Bailee Taylor. Back row: Lillian Traugh, Alyssa Sandy, Marlee Lesher, Matthew Cox, Owen Davis, Niya Debord, Daymien DeVore and Nicolas Johnson. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education met Tuesday night for its regular meeting in the Jefferson Elementary Center’s auditorium where they recognized teachers who became new National Board Certified Teachers and those who maintained their certification.

“National Board is a voluntary process and these teachers have persevered to record lessons, collect data and provide evidence of impact on student learning all because of their dedication to their students in their career,” National Board Certified Teacher Lisa Smith said.

Teachers were given an award funded by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley. A full list of those recognized can be found in the online version of this story.

Students from Edison and Hamilton Middle Schools were also recognized for completing i-Ready Math and/or Reading Lessons.

“They put in a lot of time and hard work, and I appreciate the time and effort that you put into this,” Director of Curriculum and Instruction Jason Potts said.

Students from Hamilton Middle School were recognized during Tuesday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for completing i-Ready Math and/or Reading Lessons. Pictured is: Sawyer Deem, Ayla Khan, Malaya Bowling, Mackenzie Fouse, Colten Lynch and Emery Turner. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

A full list of the students recognized can be found in the online version of this story.

Cathy Grewe, coordinator of assessment and student services, talked to the board about a proclamation from The American School Counselors Association declaring Feb. 5-9 as National School Counselors week.

Board President Justin Raber asked Communications Coordinator Michael Erb if they could spotlight one or two counselors a day during that week and put up a document Grewe shared with the board about the importance of school counselors.

“If you could put this document on our social media as well during that week. I think that would be great information for the public to see,” Raber said.

During the Superintendent’s Update Christie Willis said the Spartan Foundation donated $52,000 for the Golden Ticket summer reading program.

New National Board Certified Teachers, and those who maintained their certification, were recognized during Tuesday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting. Teachers were given an award funded by the Chamber of Commerce of the Mid-Ohio Valley. From left: Superintendent of Wood County Schools Christie Willis, Jill Parsons, president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce, Kristin Walker, Gerri Field, Stephanie Asbury, David Alfred, Candace Lewis, Kevin Mace, Joseph Nesselroad, Edna Patrick, Catherine Shuman, Joanna Mulligan and Lisa Smith. (Photo by Clara Noelle)

“That is really, really important for those kids to continue reading during the summer,” Board member Ron Tice said during board comments. “That money will really go to good use.”

Chad Conley spoke to the board about a policy on comment during public delegation saying he was concerned the wording could invite lawsuits later.

“My main concern with this revision of the policy is the words gender identity,” Conley said. “I urge you to take the word identity out of this policy and just use the statement that you do not discriminate based on gender.”

The board voted not to approve the policy at this time and Raber later said they should look into the language they have written in it.

“I think that the language that’s included is more for employment, not just non-discrimination in our everyday practices,” Raber said. “I’m wondering if we should segregate that out.”

The next meeting of the Wood County Board of Education is scheduled for Feb. 13 at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com