The Wood County Board of Education approved new instructional material for PreK and social studies for the district Tuesday night. The selection process involved rigorous review, with materials evaluated against state standards and classroom needs. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education approved new instructional materials for PreK and social studies across multiple grade levels after an extensive review process Tuesday night during their regular meeting.

“This is local government approving curriculum that’s not being mandated by the state or federal governments,” Board President Justin Raber said.

Ashlee Beatty, director of Curriculum and Instruction, said the PreK and Social Studies Instructional Material Review Committee, which was made up of 30 educators from various schools and grade levels, began its work in January, meticulously examining print and online materials, attending publisher presentations, and conducting independent reviews using West Virginia Department of Education criteria.

“Every year, we have such fantastic team members,” Beatty said. “Their dedication to and passion for education is evident. The workload is heavy as a teacher, and this is a little extra on the staff, so we’re thankful for their commitment to their students and making sure we have the best instructional materials for our kids.”

For Pre-K, the district selected Broad Street Curriculum, which Whitney Dobson, a Pre-K teacher at Blennerhassett Elementary School, said offers a comprehensive program integrating literacy, math, science, and social studies.

“Broad Street uses the Conscious Discipline program to build a strong social emotional foundation from which children can learn and solve conflicts,” Dobson said.

Social studies materials were selected for multiple grade levels with Studies Weekly being chosen for kindergarten through second grade, with Laura Wagner, Williamstown Elementary School kindergarten teacher, noting the curriculum “covers 100% of the content standards” and provides interactive, consumable magazines for students.

“We think that Studies Weekly will be the best option for our Wood County School students,” Wagner said.

Grades 3 through 5 will use Teachers Created Materials, which Lubeck Elementary teacher Samantha Sloan said scored exceptionally high in evaluation criteria.

“My third graders absolutely love our ‘All About West Virginia’ time,” Sloan said, highlighting the curriculum’s dedicated West Virginia content. “And this resource has significantly enhanced their engagement with our state’s history and culture.”

Middle school selections include Gibbs Smith Education, praised for its primary source analysis and cross-curricular instruction. High school courses will use Cengage and HMH resources for various social studies subjects.

Jeremy Bell, coordinator of Safety and Security, talked to the board about an initiative to enhance School Resource Officer support and training.

He said through a collaborative memorandum of understanding between area police forces and the district, they plan to make sure resource officers are not “brushed down the road” when it comes to professional development.

“We decided to get the sheriffs and chiefs to talk about what we can do to help you get some training for the SROs,” Bell said.

He said the proposed memorandum of understanding will create a collaborative approach to resource officer training, with law enforcement agencies working together to:

* Determine specific training needs

* Secure appropriate funding

* Coordinate professional development opportunities

He said the collaborative effort aims to ensure resource officers receive comprehensive support and training, ultimately enhancing school safety and officer preparedness.

“We will collaborate and say, ‘This is what we think these officers need for training,'” Bell said.

The board also held numerous recognitions for students selected to participate in the 2025 Governor’s Schools. Students will be attending the Governor’s Honor Academy, Governor’s School for the Arts and the Governor’s STEM Institute this summer.

“Governor’s schools are rigorous and enriching summer programs for students in grades 7 through 11,” Candace Lewis, director of Curriculum and Instruction, said “Admission is highly competitive.”

Lewis said these programs provide students with extraordinary opportunities to expand their horizons, develop critical skills and prepare for future academic and professional success.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com