Kaleb Lawrence, assistant superintendent of operations, spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night about the upcoming projects within the district. Lawrence told the board he has seen a lot of interest from local contractors for the building of the Blennerhassett Middle School entrance. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
PARKERSBURG — Kaleb Lawrence, assistant superintendent of operations, told the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night they are ready to move forward with the Phase I building of the new elementary school in Lubeck.
“Now that we have the floor plan laid out, the blueprint, we’re going to drill down at the corners of the building to make sure there’s no issue. That they can handle the footers of that building,” Lawrence said. “You don’t want to try to build a school there and find out you have some shale or something.”
Lawrence said these core samples would be the final check mark. Boardmember Rick Olcott commended Lawrence for his effort to get the project moving and said he is getting a lot of feedback from the community.
“My hope is that we’ll be able to come up with a plan for the public,” Olcott said.
He again encouraged people to look at the CEFP (Comprehensive Educational Facility Plan) on the Wood County Schools website, which provides information about schools being considered for closure, and to come to the meetings or watch them online to get updates.
“People will make up their schedule if we don’t provide a plan,” Olcott said. “I’m looking forward to it. It’s a pretty exciting time.”
Lawrence told the board a pre-bid meeting was held for the building of the secure entrance at Blennerhassett.
“By my rough count, we had at least 15 contractors show up to bid that job,” Lawrence said. “Seems to be a lot of interest. That’s really good for us to have that many contractors to show up to get a good competitive bid.”
The board recognized Jane Irvine as an Outstanding Supporter.
“She has been serving with many schools in numerous capacities in the last decade,” Parkersburg High School music director Josh Dubs said. “Her talent, skills, wit, giving and compassion make her a unique and outstanding volunteer and support to my program, as well to our county.”
The board also recognized many area choirs and choruses. A full list of the groups and individuals recognized can be found in the online version of this story.
Candace Lewis, coordinator of mathematics and science, talked to the board about the adoption and purchase of math instructional resource materials. The board approved the adoption of the new material with the exception of the 6-8 grade material as they’re still reviewing the middle school adoption recommendation.
A full list of the instructional material, along with the other items approved during the consent agenda, can be viewed in the online version of this story
“In 2017, our ranking as a county was 16 in the area of mathematics, since then, … we are ranked fourth. That is 12 spots of a jump,” said Amanda Bibey, mathematics instructional material review committee member and second grade math teacher at Criss Elementary. “So, I think that those numbers right there kind of speak for what we chose, and I think that it’s going to be a really good curriculum for our students.”
Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis said she was very proud of the work the elementary teachers have done.
Olcott asked if the board could receive the changes made to the standards for the coming year and Lewis said she would be happy to supply that to them.
Dr. Jason Hughes, director of the Wood County Technical Center, told the board the five year grant the tech center has been working on with Chemours has been granted.
“(The grant of) $200,000 is going to come to us to basically renovate that empty shop space (on the Blizzard Drive Campus) and turn it into a very modern, advanced manufacturing learning site for students,” Hughes told the board. “That is in that vacant old welding shop and classroom.”
He said some changes were also made to the adult nursing program as uniforms and technology are now added to tuition fees.
“We’ve added the laptop where everyone has the same technology and they’re not fighting some of the software that we have to use in that program,” Hughes said.
Olcott commented he knew a few students who had completed the program and are now working as LPNs.
“Our placement rate is phenomenal,” Hughes said.
The next regular meeting of the Wood County Board of Education is scheduled for April 23 at 6 p.m. The meeting will be open to the public and streamed online.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com
***
WV Music Education Association All-State Children’s Chorus:
Criss Elementary:
* Kinsley Elliott
* Everly Hively
* Mayci Stephan
***
Franklin Elementary:
* Natalee Ramme
* Elliot Taylor
* Jackson Westfall
***
Lubeck Elementary:
* Olivia Radcliff
* Brylee Whitlatch
***
Madison Elementary:
* Laurel Hayes
* Xyler Maxson
* Esmeralda Reyes
***
Blennerhassett Middle:
* Aiden Philpott
***
WV American Choral Director’s Association Junior High Honor Choir:
Edison Middle School:
* Analeigh Bennett
* Liam Galloway
* Mathis Johnson
* Caydan Moles
* Adrian Poellot
* Madelyn Stout
* Jaiden Tingler
* Alivia Waites
***
Parkersburg High School:
* Riley Ball
* Maggie Ice
* Chloe McCloskey
* Cheyenne Stewart
***
Parkersburg South High School:
* Isaac Blair
* Emma Bonner
* McKena Cunningham
* Nickolas Earley
* Kaden Frum
* Eva Ginther-Crocke
* Paisley McDonald
* Haylee Reynolds
***
WV American Choral Director’s Association High School Honor Choir:
Parkersburg High School:
* Hunter Hall
* Emily Lane
* Cyler Marks
* Alexander Marshall
* Christian Marshall
* Crisstian Moyer
* Nathan Thornton
***
Parkersburg South High School:
* Madison Archer
* Miranda Beatty
* Sarah Childers
* Bryar Greene
* Ethan Perry
* Caleb Rowan
***
Southern Region American Choral Director’s Association Honor Choir:
Parkersburg South High School:
* Madison Archer
* Sarah Childers
* Kaden Frum
* Bryar Greene
* Keilan Jagdmann
* Ethan Perry
* Dylan Roberts
* Rylie Robison
* Caleb Rowan
* Isabella Wolfe
***
WV Music Education Association All-State Chorus:
Parkersburg High School:
* Jodriana Barclay
* Dylan Bond
* Mack Coleman
* Brayden Deuley
* Aubrey Lantz
* Aiden Merritt
* Nathan Thornton
* Elliza Towner
***
Parkersburg South High School:
* Miranda Beatty
* Bryar Greene
* Ethan Perry
* Connor Roberts
* Briauna Stump
* Jackson Wingrove
* Isabella Wolfe
***
Regional Solo and Ensemble Superior Rating:
Fairplains Elementary:
* Hope Miller
* Ambriella Lowe
***
Jackson Middle School:
* Parker Delbaugh
* Anna Flanagan
* Andrew Francisco
* Arabella Kemp
* Killian Kress
* Avonlea Lewis
* Bronson Linville
* Levi Morr
* Lilly Pfeifer
* Hannah Przekurat
* Tucker Rice
* Nicholas Romine
* Levi Towner
* Kirian Winebrenner
* Sophie Yoke
***
Parkersburg High School:
* Riley Ball
* Jodriana Barclay
* Josiah Clark
* Daphne co*ckerham
* Mack Coleman
* Natalie Coffman
* Brayden Deuley
* Hunter Hall
* Catherine Hayes
* Kendall Kimes
* Emily Lane
* Peyton Louden
* Alexander Marshall
* Christian Marshall
* Daniel Martin
* Aiden Merritt
* Natasia Miller
* Jackson Mills
* Maya Mincks
* Ava Pyles
* Danica Sheppard
* Angeliki Staats
* Nathan Thornton
* Elliza Towner
* Jackson Wharton
***
Parkersburg South High School
* Sarah Childers
* McKena Cunningham
* Alexandria Evans
* Kaden Frum
* Bryar Greene
* Keilan Jagdmann
* Clayton McCroskey
* Paisley McDonald
* Ethan Perry
* Haylee Reynolds
* Caleb Rowan
* Kaelynn Seebaugh
* Paul Smith
* Briauna Stump
* Isabella Wolfe
***
Regional Solo and Ensemble Recital:
Parkersburg South High School:
* Sarah Childers
* Bryar Greene
* Keilan Jagdmann
* Caleb Rowan
* Isabella Wolfe
***
Wood County Middle School Honor Choir:
Blennerhassett Middle School:
* Nikolas Amos
* Mariah Bryant
* Jaidyn Burkhammer
* Rogen Easton
* Emma Edgar
* Bryson Gribble
* Brady Hofmann
* Elaina Koskey
* Gatlin McLain
* Ella Montgomery
* Brylynn Powell
* Chelsie Wells
* Morgan Wicker
* Eden Winebrenner
* Easton Wolfe
***
Edison Middle School:
* Alaina Bellville
* Liam Galloway
* Ainslie Koreski
* Elliana Lochary
* Olivia Pickrell
* Adrian Poellot
* Aubrey Ritchey
* Pasleigh Thompson
* Alivia Waites
***
Hamilton Middle School:
* Malaya Bowling
* Landon Collins
* Stella Davis
* Amyrah Donaway
* Piper Rutter
* Zaylin Sample
* Kendall Spriggs
***
Jackson Middle School:
* Michael Austin
* Braley Cottrill
* Parker Delbaugh
* Julia Fairchild
* Anna Flanagan
* Andrew Francisco
* Maria Guice
* Carson Hall
* Arabella Kemp
* Killian Kress
* Avonlea Lewis
* Bronson Linville
* Luke McCullough
* Aubree McDonald
* Levi Morr
* Lilly Pfeifer
* Hannah Przekurat
* Tucker Rice
* Aiden Romine
* Annabelle Schmidt
* Anna Spychalski
* Savannah Villarreal
* Kirian Winebrenner
* Sophie Yoke
***
VanDevender Middle School:
* Lilyanna Chamberlin
* Hannah Cox
* Emma Deem
* Carson Dobbins
* Zachary Gaston
* Allison Miller
* John Paul
* Bryson Rogers
* Andrew Salizzoni
* Zoe Staats
***
Williamstown Middle High School:
* Lainey Kimble
* Jennessa Lewellyn
***
Items approved during the consent agenda:
* Approval of adoption and purchase of the following math instructional resources: Grade K – Grade 5, Publisher Curriculum and Associates, Textbook iReady Classroom Mathematics; Algebra 1, Geometry & Algebra 2, Publisher McGraw-Hill, Textbook Reveal Math; Trigonometry/Pre-Calculus, Publisher Cengage, Textbook Algebra & Trig, 11e; Advanced Mathematical Modeling & Introduction to Mathematical Applications, Publisher Savvas, Textbook Thinking Mathematically, 8e; Calculus, Publisher Cengage, Textbook Single Variable Calculus, 9e; and Financial Algebra, Publisher Cengage, Textbook Financial Algebra: Advanced Algebra with Financial Applications
* Certificate of Substantial Completion Edison HVAC
* Approval of Bus Garage Galloway Roof Invoice to Tri State Roofing & Sheet Metal Company in the amount of $37,980.00
* Murray Pay App 8 Edison HVAC in the amount of $216,572.35
* Murray Pay App 5 Martin HVAC in the amount of $368,447.40
* Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement Vienna Property in the amount of $75,351.40
* Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement Lubeck Property in the amount of $25,135.00
* Increase of $150,000 to the Bowles Rice purchase order for a total of $500,000
* $8,000 increase to the Alliance Therapy purchase order
* SNAP-ED Mini Project Awards to help teach and promote healthy eating and physical activity (WVUP)
* One position for an Allied Health Medical Assisting Science Specialization Teacher
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