Cheryl Hasburger, a fifth-grade teacher at Lubeck Elementary, talked to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night. Hasburger, who said she’s been teaching at Lubeck since 1996, highlighted the need for a new school building, describing the current facility as increasingly compromised by structural issues like cracks and non-functioning bathrooms. She said she was excited to make new memories in a new facility. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

LUBECK — The Wood County Board of Education voted unanimously Tuesday night to award United Construction Company Inc. with the bid to build the new Lubeck Elementary.

“This is a great day for this part of the Wood County community and for Wood County as a whole,” Board President Justin Raber said.

Raber said the bid, totaling $20,838,000, includes a base construction cost of $19,364,000, with additional allocations for a middle school-sized gymnasium ($1,334,000) and a 90-mil roofing system ($140,000).

Cheryl Hasburger, a fifth-grade teacher who began her teaching career at Lubeck Elementary in 1996, highlighted the need for a new school building, describing the current facility as increasingly compromised by structural issues like cracks and non-functioning bathrooms.

“It’s not really just about a building. It’s about the people who are in this building,” Hasburger said. “We do need a safe, secure, accessible building for people to come to.”

Child Nutrition Director Hollie Best, left, announced Tuesday night at the Wood County Board of Education meeting that Jodie Lockhart, Martin Elementary cook, was named the WV School Nutrition Cafeteria Cook of the Year and that Julie Morgan, head cook at VanDevender Middle School, was named the association’s Cafeteria Manager of the Year. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

She expressed her gratitude to the community, and the board, acknowledging the essential role of voter-supported bond initiatives in making school improvements possible. She said there’s an overwhelming sense of optimism about the future.

“I look forward to making new memories and teaching more of those children in our beautiful new school,” Hasburger said.

Raber said a groundbreaking event would be planned for the near future.

Child Nutrition Director Hollie Best talked to the board about Jodie Lockhart, Martin Elementary cook, being named the WV School Nutrition Cafeteria Cook of the Year and Julie Morgan, head cook at VanDevender Middle School, was named the association’s Cafeteria Manager of the Year.

“Her cafeteria has become a source of pride for her students,” Best said of Morgan.

Parkersburg YMCA CEO Benton Walker talks to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about a $25,000 funding proposal to expand youth development and improve facility accessibility. Walker was one of several nonprofit leaders to present to the board about funding proposals. He said the funding his organization is asking for will be strategically divided, with $10,000 dedicated to new and existing programming and $15,000 for facility upgrades. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

She also praised Lockhart’s exceptional interpersonal skills.

“She knows when a student needs an emotional boost,” Best said. “Her smiling face, warm greetings and funny jokes boost the mood of everyone she encounters.”

Both Morgan and Lockhart will be honored with scholarships to attend the National Convention in July, representing Wood County Schools at a national level.

Best also talked to the board about the district preparing for significant changes in its nutrition program, balancing new legislative requirements with innovative approaches to student meals.

“Feeding a child at school is such a simple thing, but it works miracles,” Best said.

Dave Pahl, right, a bus driver for Wood County Schools, and Lisa Elliot, an aide from Williamstown Middle/High School, spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about enhancing communication within and out of the transportation department, resolving conflicts before they begin and supporting students through innovative workplace strategies. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

She said the department’s core mission is ensuring students are “hungry to learn, not hungry.”

She talked about coming challenges including West Virginia House Bill 2354, which prohibits certain food additives in school meals starting August 1, 2025. Additionally, she said new USDA nutrition standards will limit added sugars and sodium in school meals.

She talked to the board about price increases in its nutrition program, with milk costs alone expected to jump dramatically in the upcoming school year.

“When you look just at the chocolate milk, that is an increase of $38,000 a year,” Best said.

She said the price surge stems from multiple factors, including the new federal nutrition standards and global supply chain challenges due to tariffs.

“I am working diligently with our food and supply vendors to review any additional costs or shortages that may be associated with tariffs,” She said.

She said the district serves over 2 million milk cartons annually, making even small price increases significant. The challenges are compounded by additional political and economic pressures, including potential cuts to the USDA’s local Food For Schools cooperative agreement program.

She said despite these challenges, the district remains committed to providing nutritious meals to students.

“My number one concern is that our students do not go without food,” Best said. “We ensure our students are safe, and our students are only hungry to learn.”

The board heard from numerous nonprofits in Wood County as they presented their funding request ahead of the board’s Friday budget meeting.

Those request included:

* Parkersburg Wood County Library: $385,000 + $14,700 for library facilities

* Vienna Library: $60,000

* ArtsBridge: $15,000

* YMCA: $25,000

* Boys and Girls Club: $100,000

* New Era School: $5,500

* WVU Extension: $79,000

Williamstown High School seniors Ava Lightfritz and Alexis Wynn spoke to the board again about the paid suspension of Principal Jason Ward.

Wynn talked about Ward showing consistent support throughout the students’ high school journey, describing how he “celebrated our wins, picked us up when we fell, and made us feel seen and supported.”

Lightfritz said she would like Ward to attend the upcoming graduation ceremony on May 28.

“Mr. Ward has been the rock of every one of the seniors at Williamstown, and we would like nothing more than to have him hand us our diploma,” Lightfritz said.

Superintendent Christie Willis said Ward has requested a personnel hearing that will take place May 19 at 2 p.m.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com