Elizabeth Knapp receives a hug from Wood County Schools Board of Education member Ron Tice on Tuesday during their recognition of the 2022 retirees from Wood County Schools. Knapp taught at Van Devender Middle School from 1978-98 and Parkersburg High School from 1998-2022. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education held its regular meeting in the Parkersburg High School auditorium Tuesday to accommodate the number of 2022 retirees recognized during the meeting.
Those in attendance included both professional and service personnel.
The professional retirees included: Martha Butler, Debra Dewees, Aaron Ellis, Elizabeth Knapp, Brian Reed, Cynthia Shawver, Michele Weaver-Johnston, Cheryl Westfall, and Lisa Whirtley. Those from the service personnel were: Wanda Allman, Myrtle Deems, Connie Drain, Tina Farley, Wavie Minigh, Kelly Rush, Julie Stroehman, and James Ullom.
“I admire your dedication and your willingness to share your knowledge and experience,” board member Sarah Townsend said. “You are the ones that make the school system work. Thank you.”
“I just know how hard you all work, how much you have dedicated your life to Wood County Schools and the students here,” Superintendent Christie Willis said. “I just thank you so much for everything that you’ve done.”
Wavie Minigh receives a certificate from Superintendent Christie Willis during the Wood County Board of Education regular meeting Tuesday held in the Parkersburg High School auditorium. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
The board also heard presentations from Mike Fling, assistant superintendent of support services, on the current construction and paving projects; and from Jonathan Farley, director of information technology, on new computer towers for all school building administrators; and the three specialists in the Special Education Department.
Fling noted that “weather has hampered our efforts” and many of the projects that were scheduled to be completed by the start of the school year were delayed by the heavy rains that moved through the area at times.
Farley talked about the need for new hardware and the benefits that could bring.
“So with these machines, updated graphics cards, updated processors,solid state drives, you put all that together, you have a brand new vehicle that’s going to be able to do the job better, quicker, and more efficient,” Farley said.
During the consent agenda the board approved a purchase order to be issued to Zones not to exceed $191,000 for security camera computer equipment from state contract. They also approved a change order for Murray Sheet Metal Company Inc. for Jefferson Elementary School HVAC renovation and to Phoenix Associates Inc. for the Parkersburg South High School Secure Courtyard.
Henry Sasyn, of Vienna, spoke to the Wood County Board of Education on Tuesday during the public comments portion. Sasyn shared information and ideas about a regional pool facility students could use for swim meets. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
During the public comments portion of the meeting Henry Sasyn, of Vienna, spoke to the board about information and ideas he has gathered about a regional pool facility students could use for swim meets.
“Our kids come first,” Sasyn said. “If you start looking at looking at our kids and put in a regional facility, that’ll benefit the area.”
The board discussed and approved the continuing Excess Levy Call for 2024-2025 through 2028-2029 and authorized the placement on the ballot for the Nov. 8 election. This is a renewal of an exiting levy.
“I think it’s very important to note that this is not an increase in tax,” Board President Justin Raber said. “It is continuing the 80 percent levy rate that we have had for many years at this rate and this levy, the excess levy itself, has been in effect since 1947, I believe.”
During board member comments all talked of the joy they had helping with the first day of school and how they would like to start doing that more, not just as a start of school event.
“It was a wonderful first day and I enjoyed it thoroughly,” board member Judy Johnson said. “It was fun being out there and actually interacting and working with our children and our teachers. So I hope we do do this again. And thank you Mrs. Willis for all the work it took to put this together.”
The next meeting of the board of education will be Sept. 13. The meeting will be held at 6 p.m. at the Wood County Schools Central Office at 1210 13th St. in Parkersburg. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.
