(Photo by Ed Parsons) A large crowd shows up last Wednesday at Valley High School to the final Wetzel County school consolidation hearing.

About 150 people attended and nearly two dozen signed up to speak at a public hearing on Wetzel County school consolidation Wednesday at Valley High School.

It was the final hearing before the Wetzel County Board of Education votes at 9 a.m. Friday on whether to consolidate the county’s four high schools into two.

That proposal would combine Paden City and Magnolia high schools into a new high school in Magnolia’s building, while consolidating Valley and Hundred high schools into a new high school in Valley’s building.

If passed Friday, the school district will send the impact statement and consolidation plan to the West Virginia Board of Education in Charleston for approval. If it passes there, the consolidations would take effect beginning with the 2024-25 school year.

Students, residents, teachers, business leaders and others took to the podium to speak to the board about their concerns. The board heard from people both in favor and opposition to the plan.

The first three speakers were Valley high school students who told the board they were in favor of consolidation. They spoke mainly about welcoming Hundred students to Valley, not bullying them. They also stressed the increased opportunities that would be offered.

Others spoke about teacher shortages and loss of enrollment at all schools.

Hundred High math teacher Sean Snedden spoke against consolidation and questioned the administration about job postings, certified teachers, the impact statement, and lack of direct communication from the superintendent and teachers.

Hundred teacher Beverly VanScyoc spoke about the loss of students and teachers that Wetzel County would see from the Hundred area if the school closes.

Wetzel County teacher JD Morris discussed the positive effects the consolidation would have on the students and on the school system. He felt consolidation was the right thing to do instead of continuing down the same road.

Hundred graduate Rachel Hilton made her concerns known about the amount of time Hundred students would spend on the bus and the poor condition of the roads. Retired teacher Howard Henderson, a 1973 Hundred graduate, said closing Hundred would “devastate” the community. He also stressed the problems with transportation for Hundred students to Valley.

“You have to look at the whole picture when you look into closing schools,” Henderson said, “and I don’t think there has been enough thought into the planning process. I would think you would get

all the teachers aware of the closing and get them on board and well informed. I don’t think that happened.”

Henderson said more diverse studies need to happen before going ahead with consolidation.

“I think there needs to be an economic study,” he said, “because if you abandon that Hundred High School building and leave that building empty and don’t have the foresight to develop a business or have a business come in to create jobs or opportunities, you’re basically just drying up that community. And I think that is morally not right.”

Jacie Shepherd, stated she hadn’t been able to attend the other meetings but she had watched and listened. She quoted a statement made by Mr. Yost at the Hundred meeting. “We need to look at this from a different light and another perspective.” He said we all want to work together and do what’s best for our students and he’s exactly right.

“We do need to look at this in a different light. Each and everyone of our high school \have standout students and programs, but what every high school does not have is a fully staffed building. This mini consolidation is simply a restructuring of our resources until the one new school can be built because all of our students need to have the best education we can offer no matter if they are entering high school next year or in five years.”

“What we cannot do is tell our current 9-11 graders and our 5-8 graders that while we realize that there are not enough qualified certified teachers to cover your classes throughout your high school years, those that come after you and are in the new building are going to have amazing opportunities. Our current students matter, they all deserve the best we can provide. If it takes a restructuring of our resources to make sure that happens why wouldn’t we do it?”

She said none want s to see any of our students suffering because of restructuring and with the right leader I believe the Valley and Hundred communities can come together and provide incredible opportunities, resources and experiences for our students. I don’t think teachers will stop teaching because we combine students. Or do I think parents will stop caring and supporting their students for that reason.

“I believe our communities will continue to do everything they can to support our schools and students. And I’m going to mention Chip Goff, he’s family. He’s the Mayor of Hundred and he bleeds for the Hornets, he absolutely does and I also know how much he has invested in his community and building a strong relationship with Hundred High School and he’s done amazing things. But I also know Chip and I know he will continue to do everything he can to support students. And I believe the people from the Shortline/alley communities will do the same.”

She said all the communities need to come together now and work to make this the best for the students. She mentioned Hundred high schools businesses they run out of their school. He said why not take Valley students on a tour of Hundred’s facilities and see what they would need to continue growing those businesses at the Pine Grove Campus. And allow Hundred students to then tour Valley with Valley students showing them what areas of the school would work best to set up their work space. She added our kids are smart and they can work together. Valley athletic teams have made the playoffs this year. Let our athletes show the Hundred teams their work out spaces, their gym, football field, band room and show them the FFA workspace. She said both schools have amazing FFA programs, if they were to join forces it excites me to think of what could happen for our students. Instead of focusing on student fears let’s help them see the positives that can come from this change both academically and socially. “Isn’t that what we as educators do?”

“Let’s help students realize their full potential, build their confidence and equip them to do hard things. Our students trust us to be a guiding force in their lives. She said instead of fighting and creating fear we should be proactive and work together for the good of our students. If we focus on the positive they will too. We cannot wait five years. That’s the same as telling our students they don’t matter and their educational opportunities aren’t as important as those that will come later. Let’s work together as adults and give our students the best we have to offer.”

She told Mrs. Porter that there are a lot of people out there who are not loud and who are not here that do respect you sticking with and being determined to do what’s best for our kids.

Following Shephard addressing the board a motion was made to adjourn and the meeting ended at 8:04 pm.