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Wood BOE sets new school boundaries, discusses behavioral health

By Gwen Sour 5 min read

PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Board of Education approved new elementary school attendance boundaries Tuesday evening but tabled a proposed $217,693.69 purchase of school signs to seek additional information and pricing.

Additionally, they heard a presentation on student behavioral support.

The approved boundaries will take effect for the 2027-28 school year at the new Vienna and Lincoln elementary schools and at Greenmont and Madison elementary schools.

The Vienna-area changes place 37th Street within Greenmont's attendance area and 36th Street within the new Vienna Elementary area, with portions of 10th and 11th avenues divided as shown on district maps.

The Madison and Lincoln changes adjust attendance areas along several streets, including 23rd, Race and 17th streets, and portions of 16th and Seventh streets, U.S. 50 and Interstate 77. A portion of Madison's current attendance area extending from Murdoch Avenue to 27th Street and West Virginia 68 will become part of the new Lincoln Elementary attendance area, according to the approved boundary description.

The board tabled a proposal from Paris Signs to provide signs and installation at the new Vienna, Lubeck and Lincoln elementary schools and Madison Elementary School. The proposal includes $82,089.26 for Vienna, $34,432.75 for Lubeck, $53,413.22 for Lincoln and $47,758.46 for Madison.

Board member Debbie Hendershot questioned whether less expensive options could preserve money for other projects and requested additional information about the signs' dimensions and designs before proceeding.

Ryan Taylor, CEO of Pickering Associates, said purchasing through a cooperative allowed the district to work with a preapproved vendor and cautioned that other proposals could differ in materials and design. Following the vote to table the purchase, board members expressed support for exploring other West Virginia vendors through purchasing cooperatives.

The board also discussed a proposed behavior intervention coach to help school employees address challenging student behaviors.

Special Education Director Valissa Porter said elementary principals identified additional behavioral support as their top request. Teachers and administrators are spending substantial instructional time responding to disciplinary incidents and crises, she said.

The proposed position would carry a 200-day contract, be paid through federal funding and work under Allison McMurray, the district's board-certified behavior analyst. Duties would include helping implement behavior intervention plans, working with students and coaching school staff.

McMurray said the district received 53 behavior support requests during the 2025-26 school year. Some cases can be addressed through a few visits, while others require several hours of daily support, she said.

Porter said 37.9% of respondents to a Teaching and Learning Academy entrance inventory requested training involving behavior management, social-emotional learning, de-escalation or related topics.

"We've learned that we can't suspend, remove or discipline our way out of our behavioral challenges," Porter said. "Students must be taught the behavioral skills necessary for success, just as they're taught their academic skills."

Porter said the district had provided behavior-focused professional development, including training Monday, but ongoing coaching was also needed to help employees apply those strategies.

Board President Judy Johnson called for a broader, long-term plan involving principals, teachers and service personnel, including employees who work with students on buses.

McMurray said the goal would include helping teachers become more comfortable implementing strategies while providing students with intensive support when necessary.

In another presentation, Corinne Full, dean of early college at West Virginia University at Parkersburg, outlined the impact of the state's Level Up dual-credit program.

Full said 469 Wood County students are taking 2,182 college credit hours this fall through the program, saving families $109,100 in tuition. In fall 2023, the program served 300 county students taking 1,323 credit hours, providing $66,150 in tuition savings.

The program covers tuition for eligible high school juniors and seniors taking courses connected to designated educational pathways.

Full said the four-year pilot is in its final year and continues through spring 2027. Its future depends on legislative action.

Board member Simon Hargus suggested preparing information about the program's local impact for an upcoming legislative visit and potentially including a student in those discussions.

Full also announced an $80,000 grant that WVU Parkersburg will administer to help dual-enrollment programs across West Virginia cover textbook costs, which Level Up does not pay.

Other agenda items passed included approving a security and technology systems specialist position and ratifying paid suspensions for two employees beginning Sept. 25.

The board also approved $320,600 for two Lubeck Elementary playgrounds, a $423,731.62 payment for the Madison addition and a $199,350.90 payment for the Route 68 turn lane project, plus $10,807.67 for a temporary traffic signal and fence replacement. $13,328.13 in elevator-related payments at Parkersburg High School, and $3,144 for planetarium renovations.

Cybersecurity purchases totaled nearly $148,000, including a $23,014.07 Cohesity purchase, which is eligible for grant reimbursement.

The board approved school-based dental services through Dr. Michael Wilson and increased Precious Angels' prekindergarten allocation by $28,000, to $68,000 for 2026-27, due to increased enrollment.

The board also appointed ChrisAnn Poling as Hamilton Middle School's teaching, learning and student success assistant principal.

The board recognized the Cafaro Foundation for donating $25,000 to the Jackson Middle School wrestling facility. Joe Bell, director of corporate communications for Cafaro Company, accepted the recognition on behalf of the company’s charitable foundation.

Gabe Floyd also received recognition for creating a sensory room and an emotional regulation room at Jackson Middle School. Floyd, a member of Scouting America Troop 20 at Wayside United Methodist Church, said he developed designs, raised money for materials and helped paint the rooms as part of his Eagle Scout project.

"I've heard great things that it's having positive impacts upon students there, and I'm very glad to make a positive impact upon my community," Floyd said.

Gwen Sour can be reached at gsour@newsandsentinel.com.

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