Wood County Board of Education President Justin Raber holds up a binder with an Impact Statement and Supporting Data the superintendent presented to the board about the closing and merging of some local schools. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — During a special session Tuesday night, the Wood County Board of Education approved two proposals from the superintendent to move forward with procedures to close some area schools and merge them into others.

The proposals from Superintendent Christie Willis stated they were presented in the form of an Impact Statement and Supporting Data.

One proposal said it supported Van Devender Middle School closing at the end of the 2024-2025 school year and merging into Jackson and Hamilton Middle schools. The other said it supported the closing of Fairplains Elementary School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and merging into Martin Elementary School.

The proposals said public hearings would be held at all of the schools affected where members of the public may be present, submit statements and testimony and question county school officials.

The proposal also said the superintendent is to publish a Class III legal advertisement of the proposed action by the board, and of the required public hearings on the superintendent’s recommendation.

Board President Justin Raber said copies of the proposals and supporting data will be made available for public inspection at the Office of the Superintendent, at all schools affected by the closures and in all bus garages and maintenance offices. Notices will also be posted at all affected schools and district facilities.

Willis said one of the main drivers behind the mergers is declining enrollment, such as Van Devender which currently has under 300 students enrolled.

“To appropriately staff a middle school with that low enrollment is very difficult,” Willis said.

She said she believes that by merging Van Devender into the larger Jackson and Hamilton middle schools, they can provide students with better access to certified teachers and a more robust curriculum.

Willis said the mergers aim to reinstate a more traditional middle school model, with teams of six teachers per content area. She said this would enable educators to focus on a single subject, rather than juggling multiple subjects. The teaming concept would also foster stronger relationships between teachers and students, supporting both academic and social-emotional growth.

“Wood County Schools has been very thoughtful in planning for these mergers and the decisions have been student centered,” Willis said.

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Public Meetings on School Closures

* Van Devender Middle School, 918 31st St. Oct. 21, at 6 p.m. Sign in to speak between 5:30-6 p.m.

* Hamilton Middle School, 3501 Cadillac Drive, Oct. 24, 6 p.m., Sign in to speak between 5:30-6 p.m.

* Jackson Middle School, 1601 34th St., Vienna, Oct. 24, at 7:30 p.m. Sign in to speak between 7-7:30 p.m.

* Martin Elementary School, 1301 Hillcrest St., Oct. 23, at 6 p.m., Sign in to speak between 5:30-6 p.m.

* Fairplains Elementary School, 615 Broadway Ave., Oct. 23, at 7:30 p.m. Sign in to speak between 7-7:30 p.m.