Jackson Middle School Principal Jeff Kisner, from left, Hamilton Middle School Principal Kevin Campbell and Van Devender Middle School Principal Kurt Echard talk to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about their transition plans for students from Van Devender. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education didn’t make a decision on the new attendance boundaries for Jackson Middle School and Hamilton Middle School for the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year Tuesday night after the motion died for lack of a second.

“It’s not that I’m against what you’re doing now,” Board Member Ron Tice said. “I just need to look at the numbers. I have some questions. I want to talk to the principal myself. I want to look at all the numbers and make sure we’re doing it fairly, and then, you know, we can put it back on the agenda for the next board meeting.”

Board President Justin Raber said he made the motion to accept the boundary lines so that it reflected on the meeting minutes that no action was taken.

“That way we can revisit the issue,” Raber said. “I very much agree with having some more information and truly working on that.”

The board did, however, hear a presentation about the collaborative effort from the principals of Jackson, Hamilton, and Van Devender Middle schools outlining a detailed plan to ensure a smooth transition for students at Van Devender when they do merge with the other two schools.

“We have collaborated upon several occasions just to discuss some of these things, and you’ll note and hear, probably from all of us, certain days that are exactly the same because we felt that it was important for us to be on that page,” said Jeff Kisner principal of Jackson.

He said on March 25, current sixth grade students from Van Devender will be brought to Jackson Middle School starting at 9 a.m. They will be divided into smaller groups, welcomed by student council and honor society representatives, and given a tour of the building. Each student will also receive a t-shirt with the Jackson Middle School logo.

The transition plans also include community building activities, presentations from various school programs, and a shared lunch in the cafeteria. A similar process will be repeated on March 26 for seventh-graders who will be eighth-graders next year.

Van Devender Principal Kurt Echard expressed confidence in his students.

“My kids are resilient,” he said. “They’re going to be fine when they come over.”

The principals also discussed plans to send teachers from the three schools to Van Devender for interactions with students and staff, as well as a “bump up day” in May for incoming fifth-graders to visit Jackson.

While the transition plans seem comprehensive, some concerns were raised about the proposed attendance zone modification and its impact on enrollment and Title I services. Assistant Superintendent Justin Hartshorn assured the board that they are closely examining the numbers and working to ensure a balanced distribution of students.

The collaborative efforts of the middle school principals aim to provide a seamless transition for students as they navigate the changes ahead, ensuring they are well-prepared for the next chapter of their educational journey.

“We have high expectations for everybody, and they are already meeting them wherever they are,” Hamilton Principal Kevin Campbell said. “Their teachers, that they have had throughout their school careers, have prepared them for the very next steps that they’re going to take. Whether those steps are the next grade in that same school, during the new school that they’re attending after they’ve moved across the country, or because their school is being closed and they’re having to move on to another school. Reassuring the students in that transition that they are prepared to be successful and that they know how to be successful.”

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com