Local News

Wood County Board of Education hears discussion from PHS Stadium Committee

PARKERSBURG - The Wood County Board of Education discussed a presentation from the PHS Stadium Committee, a proposal from Educational Consulting Team, and a human resources update on the consolidation and merger hiring process during its regular meeting on Monday night.

Pat McFarland, PHS Stadium Committee member, stated the committee has received firm commitments for over $100,000 with "significant pledges beyond that." However, they have not received a confirmed commitment of donations because "they want to know what they're going to get," he said.

McFarland said the committee wants to work with the board to discuss the process moving forward while maintaining the footprint of the stadium, including soil testing to determine the type of structure or infrastructure that can be installed.

McFarland also argued that a reduction to an 800- to 850-seat stadium would cause the board to "never pass another bond levy ever again."

He stated the bond levy "talks about preserving and renovating not only the stadium, but renovating Building 413 and putting in a locker room. .... The only precincts that had positive votes were in the North End, Vienna and Williamstown. .... Those people were not voting for an 800-seat footprint, regardless of the need or the want to try to put this matter behind you. That's not what those people were voting for."

Board member Simon Hargus said, "I don't think we've done the kind of analysis or surveys of the public to be able to presume what they do or do not want."

Board President Judy Johnson said, "What we were voting on the last time you came forward (with a presentation to the board) is the renovation of the stadium in the amount we could afford, but we haven't taken Building 413 off the table. ... If it's in the bond, we will do it."

Ultimately, the board did not come to a decision.

"(The presentation) has given us something to think about in the future, before this comes to vote again, and we have some questions that we want to ask the designers about (soil testing),” Johnson said. “We're not voting tonight, and we'll take everything under advisement and certainly think very, very hard about it."

Jeff Davis of Educational Consulting Team, gave a finance department update and proposal for Wood County Schools during the transition period following the resignation of Kaylee Litman, director of finance.

Davis said the team would provide someone working in the county two to three days a week and ensure funds are being processed while the board searches for a replacement for the position.

The board approved the services of ECT beginning after Nov. 3 and end upon clients' notification that services are no longer needed with 30 days notice or on June 30, 2027 at a rate not to exceed $200 per hour.

The finance director position has not been posted. Superintendent Christy Willis said the position description should be updated and wants to work with Davis to understand the full scope of the role. Willis said she has reached out to surrounding counties to determine pay rates for the position.

She said she hopes the position can be posted after a board discussion at the next meeting on Nov. 17.

Justin Hartshorn, assistant superintendent of human resources, gave an update on the consolidation and merger hiring process for the new schools.

Hartshorn said service members voted with high approval to prioritize seniority in placement for the new buildings. The process is now moving into the implementation stage, which includes posting positions and providing placement meetings for staff, "where they're able to exercise their priority vote based on their seniority and certification status."

Heather Grant, the elementary education director, and her team are working to provide and review the enrollment placements of students that are impacted by the consolidation of schools, according to Hartshorn.

Hartshorn said the timeline will change the posting of positions to Nov. 13-20, then complete employee placement meetings on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 while prioritizing staffing with enrollment and student needs.

In other business, the board approved the recommendation of principals for the new Vienna and Lincoln schools, effective in July 2027, with Douglas Jones at Vienna and Bree Deuley-Marlow at Lincoln.

The board also approved the creation of three school security officer positions at Summit, Kanawha Elementary and Mineral Wells Elementary.

The meeting was held on Monday because Tuesday is Election Day.

Sophie Wheeler can be reached at swheeler@newsandsentinel.com.