Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources John Merritt spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about the upcoming reduction in force (RIF) the district is facing due to the loss of COVID funding. Merritt said around 400 letters have been sent out to those who might be affected by the RIF. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG – Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources John Merritt spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about the upcoming reduction in force the district is facing due to the loss of COVID funding.

He said the school district is undergoing an unprecedented workforce realignment process for the 2024-2025 school year due to funding constraints and shrinking student population.

Merritt said over 100 employees were notified they were on the list to be considered for RIF (reduction in force) or transfer on Feb. 20, with over 400 total notified to date. He said elementary principals were given a list of employees to be notified on Feb. 13 and high school principals were given a list on Feb. 15.

Merritt used the One Caring Adult Program as an example of an entire program that would need to be cut since it was fully funded by COVID funding.

“And every employee that was receiving those funds, which I think was in the neighborhood of 260 employees, all of those employees had to be notified that that program is ending and that they will no longer have that contract,” Merritt said. “That was an additional 260 on top of the 100.”

Wood County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources John Merritt, along with Stephanie Cunningham, teacher certification and licensure administrator, spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about the upcoming reduction in force the district is facing due to the loss of COVID funding. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Merritt said they held a question and answer session twice on Feb. 21 and Feb. 23 with 75 employees showing up to get more information about the RIF. He said he believes it alleviated a lot of their questions.

He said hearing requests for employees affected by the RIF are due by March, 5, 6 and 7. He said they have received four so far.

“I would encourage the board to have these hearings as quickly as possible so that if a mistake is made, we can fix something very quickly,” Merritt said.

Boardmember Judy Johnson asked what the situation was for new teachers the district has hired.

“Basically the ones we’re hiring tonight will have a letter mailed to them tomorrow,” Merritt said. “It’s better to be hired and be placed on transfer and have a job guarantee for next year.”

Boardmember Ron Tice asked when the board could expect a full list of those affected by the RIF and Merritt said they would have more detailed information for the board during their March 12 regular meeting.

“It will have all of the RIFs, it will have all the transfers, and it will even have all the non-renews,” he said.

The board also heard a facilities and bond update from Assistant Superintendent of Operations Kaleb Lawrence. He said negotiations are still ongoing for property acquisition for the new Lubeck school and that designs for secure entrances are being reviewed with consultants.

“So, we’re making progress on those,” Lawrence said.

He said the list for secure entrances will be Blennerhassett Middle School first, then Jackson Middle School, Gihon Elementary School, Martin Elementary School and then Hamilton Middle School.

“That’s kind of the order of the five that we plan to attack those in,” Lawrence said.

During the consent agenda, the board approved converting three Outside School Environment Days to school days to make up for the three inclement weather days in January. Students will now attend school on May 31, June 3, and June 4. PreK students will attend on May 28 and 29, June 5 will be curriculum development for employees and June 6 will be preparation for closing for employees.

The next Wood County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for March 12 in the Jefferson Elementary Center auditorium at 6 p.m. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

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Items approved during the consent agenda:

* The field contracts for Parkersburg South High School Baseball and Softball for the 2024 season

* Williamstown High School Restroom and Concession Agreement for the Provision of Professional Services

* Agreement between WVDA and Wood County Schools for the 2024-2025 school year

* Kanawha Elementary HVAC Renovation Bid Recommendation to Murray Sheet Metal in the amount of $1,831,224

* Martin HVAC Change Order 2 in the amount of $7,127

* MOU with Pleasants County Schools to utilize the mobile unit for oral disease prevention program

* WVA Electric for Kanawha Elementary School electrical repairs in the amount of $31,008.96

* Tri State Roofing and Sheet Metal for Galloway Roof in the amount of $37,980. The Galloway Roof is on the Transportation Department building.

* MOU between Wood County Schools and First Settlement Physical Therapy for students from the Wood County Technical Center to participate in supervised learning experiences

* MOU between WCS and Ritchie County Primary Care Associates Inc., Ritchie Regional Health Center

* WCS Policy 5114.11: Communication Electronic Devices (revised)

* WCS Policy 5124.2: Marking and Reporting – Secondary (revised)