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Wood BOE votes to suspend Williamstown principal with pay

By Douglass Huxley 2 min read
The Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley was recognized as an Outstanding Supporter of Wood County Schools by the Board of Education Tuesday night. The group has raised more than $362,000 in scholarships for 125 local students over the past decade. They will be holding their annual scholarship dinner April 3 at the Grand Pointe Conference Center. Pictured from left: Marshall University Alumni and Big Green Chapter of the Mid-Ohio Valley President Laurie Martin, staff member Mary Hendershot and Superintendent Christie Willis.

PARKERSBURG – The Wood County Board of Education voted Tuesday night to place Williamstown Middle/High School Principal Jason Ward on paid suspension pending the outcome of an investigation.

The board declined to comment on the circumstances leading to the suspension.

"Because there’s a pending investigation, there have not been any charges against (the) employee that warrants an unpaid suspension," Board President Justin Raber said. "When it comes to an employee wishing to request a hearing on an unpaid suspension and/or termination, that is the time that we as a board are permitted to hear the evidence and make a decision. We can’t receive that information prior to the hearing, that the employee is present at."

Students from Williamstown High School voiced their concerns about the suspension during the meeting.

"Removing him from the school would be the wrong move on the part of the Board of Education," senior Ava Lightfritz said. "He has never put himself over any of the students or staff, (and) always ensures the right thing is done."

A motion to accept the proposed boundary lines for Hamilton and Jackson Middle Schools died due to a lack of a second. The board will revisit the motion at their next meeting scheduled for March 25.

Read more from the meeting in the Thursday edition of the Parkersburg News and Sentinel.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com.

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