Former educators seek handrails at PHS field house
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PARKERSBURG -- Two former Wood County educators urged the Board of Education on Tuesday to install handrails at the Parkersburg High School field house, saying the seating areas pose difficulties for older spectators and people with limited mobility.
Gary Crabtree and Carl Harnish, who both spent decades teaching and coaching in the county, told board members that navigating the steps has become increasingly difficult.
"When I was teaching in there, I really didn't pay any attention to the fact that in the bleachers there's no handrails, and I didn't need them," Crabtree said.
As he grew older and his balance changed, Crabtree said, he found himself limited to the first row or dependent on others to help him reach a seat.
He said other spectators face the same problem, including visitors who may not have someone available to assist them. Crabtree warned that someone could fall and asked the district to obtain an estimate for installing handrails.
If school funding could not cover the project, he suggested seeking contributions from community members and former athletes.
Harnish said sitting for an extended period makes it more difficult to get up and walk down the steps.
Board members expressed support for investigating the request during their closing comments. No installation project was approved Tuesday.
The board also postponed two consent agenda items until Nov. 2: an agreement with E-Rate Central for consulting services and carryover budget journal entries.
Members sought more information about the consulting agreement, including its cost. Administrators said the company works with the district's technology department, but they could not provide a dollar amount during the meeting.
The carryover entries were delayed so board members could review completed figures before voting.
Finance Director Kaylee Litman explained that the entries move remaining funds from the previous fiscal year into the current year while keeping them within their designated projects.
Litman said the state's deadline had been extended to Nov. 2 because Oct. 31 falls on a Saturday.
Board member Debbie Hendershot said she appreciated Litman providing the information but wanted the final figures before approving the entries.
"I just don't want to vote on anything that could change," Hendershot said.
The board approved the remaining consent agenda, including construction payments of approximately $1.13 million for the new Lubeck Elementary School, $1.43 million for the new Lincoln Elementary School and $1.04 million for the new Vienna Elementary School.
Members also awarded a $218,845 contract to American Star Painting for resin flooring in restrooms at the three new elementary schools.
Other construction approvals included a $6,000 change order for additional stone around the Madison Elementary School playground and work at the new Vienna Elementary site to remove organic material and replace it with engineered fill, at a cost not to exceed $8,500.
The board approved an access and easement agreement with the city of Parkersburg for a road connecting Madison Elementary School property to Elm Street.
Members also approved an agreement with Redemption Services LLC to provide behavioral health services to students through the Children with Serious Emotional Disorders Program, along with a driver education practicum agreement and a child development program agreement with West Virginia University at Parkersburg.
Following an executive session on personnel matters, the board unanimously approved three suspension recommendations.
One involved a half-day paid suspension Oct. 2 and an unpaid suspension Oct. 5-9. The other two involved paid suspensions Oct. 6-9 and Oct. 15-16.
The agenda identified the employees by number and did not state reasons for the suspensions.
During the superintendent's update, Christie Willis said families affected by upcoming school consolidations and mergers have until Nov. 2 to submit priority school selections. The previous deadline was Oct. 23.
She said the extension gives families more time to consider their options and allows the district to collect requests during parent-teacher conferences.
The change also required revisions to the proposed staffing schedule for the 2027-28 school year.
Depending on the outcome of an employee vote concerning statutory priority, positions would be posted Nov. 6-16. Proposed placement sessions would be held Nov. 30 at Madison Elementary for new Lincoln and Madison positions and Dec. 1 at Vienna Elementary for Vienna and Greenmont positions.
Willis said the district still hopes to bring as many affected personnel placements as possible to the board Dec. 8. A human resources update is planned for the Nov. 2 meeting.