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Wood County BOE holds hearing to discuss school consolidation plans

By Douglass Huxley 3 min read

PARKERSBURG -- In a public hearing Monday night, the Wood County Schools administration presented a proposal to consolidate services by merging VanDevender Middle School into Hamilton Middle School and Jackson Middle School.

Superintendent Christie Willis said the rationale behind the proposed closure is due to the significant decline in student enrollment over the past decade. She said VanDevender’s enrollment has dropped from a high of 415 students in the 2017-2018 school year to just 248 students as of August 2024. She said with a program utilization rate of only 34.1%, the school is operating well below capacity.

Willis went on to say Hamilton and Jackson middle schools have also seen declining enrollments, though not to the same degree as VanDevender. She said Hamilton’s enrollment has fallen from 555 students in 2015-2016 to 458 as of this August, with a program utilization of 54.1%. Jackson Middle School’s enrollment has decreased from 519 students in 2021-2022 to 440 students currently, with a 60.4% program utilization.

She said by merging VanDevender’s students into Hamilton and Jackson, the district projects the combined enrollments would be 580 and 520 students respectively, bringing the program utilization rates up to 74% and 71.4%. She said this would allow for more efficient use of resources and address the district’s declining enrollment, which has led to reduced state funding.

Willis said the closure of VanDevender Middle School is expected to result in the reduction of four professional personnel positions and 3.5 service personnel positions. She said Hamilton Middle School would also be designated as a Title I school following the merger.

Transportation will be provided to ensure students can attend either Hamilton or Jackson, with no commute exceeding 45 minutes as required by district policy, she said.

Accommodations will also be made for extracurricular activities, with an activities bus provided for students without after-school transportation.

The proposed consolidation would save the Board of Education an estimated $1,262,139.52 annually, which she said is necessary due to the declining enrollment and reduced state funding.

Marie Krinosk spoke about her concerns over the significant spending on VanDevender projects, including a new roof, ventilation system, cafeteria, and speaker system. She questioned whether there was an oversight committee where the public could track and review the spending on these initiatives.

Willis explained that the public can access detailed financial information through Freedom of Information Act requests and by attending the bi-weekly Board of Education meetings, where the finances are approved.

Another speaker, Teresa Grogg, who said she was a teacher with extensive experience across the county, described VanDevender as exceptional, with a level of support, pride, and camaraderie unmatched by any other school. She said students, parents, teachers, and the broader community can rely on each other in a way that does not exist elsewhere.

"Vandy is a unique community. No one has a sense of family that we have," Grogg said. "There’s pride among Vandy alumni that is unlike any other alumni group, we are a family."

The Wood County Board of Education will hold four more public hearings before making a final decision on any closures or mergers.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com

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Times for school closure hearings are as follows:

* Hamilton Middle School, 3501 Cadillac Drive, Oct. 24, 6 p.m. Sign in to speak between 5:30-6 p.m.

* Jackson Middle School, 1601 34th St., Vienna, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Sign in to speak between 7-7:30 p.m.

* Martin Elementary School, 1301 Hillcrest St., Oct. 23, at 6 p.m. Sign in to speak between 5:30-6 p.m.

* Fairplains Elementary School, 615 Broadway Ave., Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Sign in to speak between 7-7:30 p.m.

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