At the regular Wednesday meeting and luncheon of the New Martinsville Rotary held at Quinet’s Court Restaurant on October 15, President Chuck Clegg welcomed the day’s guest speaker, Wetzel County Schools Superintendent, Cassie Porter.

Mrs. Porter began by speaking of the new school site located in Porter Falls on the far side of Fishing Creek. She explained the property is an 86 acre site that is in the process of being reviewed for due diligence prior to the final purchase agreement being signed. She estimates that the process is nearing completion and hopes by mid-November ownership documents will be signed and the work on the new Wetzel County School campus can begin.

Porter gave a review of the purchasing procedures and inspection that needs to be completed before any deal can be sealed. An archeological study had to be done to determine if any native American settlements were in the area, also environmental studies to make sure that no soil or water contaminations were on the tract of land, and a wet land study was conducted to determine if any portion of the land falls under that classification. She spoke about the two gas pipelines that now run through the middle of the property, and explained that both will be moved and the process will take approximately 30 days. The new location for the lines will be alongside fishing creek and 500 feet from the school. With the hilltop removed and land prepared for the new school the school’s elevation will be 100 feet higher than the location of the pipe lines. The gas line will have its strength specification upgraded to ensure another measure of safety.

The new school will have three areas. The main school will be the high school for grades 9 through 12. The second and separate school will be a middle school for grades 6 through 8. The third school will be the technical career center. The three schools will be one large campus, but separate from each other. This will ensure a true middle school for the students, classes and activities.

She stated the reason for a separate middle school is to provide students with more advantages that are not available to them when joined with K-5 grades.

Mrs. Porter said that on Friday, October 17, Mr. JC Kimble will meet with Thrasher engineering to discuss the new tech center and its needs. In addition to the present training areas, the new center will have a green house and barns for animals. These two-additional elements, will better serve for the training of FFA students.

The schools will have modern athletic facilities for all sports. Along with practice fields and inside the school will be two gymnasiums. One will have an indoor walking track around the second floor. There will also be an arena for wrestling.

Magnolia Basketball Coach Dave Tallman asked Mrs. Porter about future parking at the school, with Porter replying they are not sparing any expense. She stated she wanted to make sure they have plenty of parking and are planning to be able to accommodate up to 7-9 hundred vehicles.

Mrs. Porter told Coach Dave Tallman that in the near future she and her staff will be meeting with coaches and athletic directors to get their input and views for the new schools’ athletic areas.

Mrs. Porter also explained that Mrs. Miller, Principal at Magnolia and Mrs. Shepard, Principal at Valley, are working together on a program to have classes and curriculum at each school mirror each other so in the fall of 2029 when the two schools come together, students, teachers and staff will have already formed a relationship. What is being taught in one school is being taught in the other. The process will help to align the merging and create less stress and confusion for all once the new consolidation takes place..

The Rotary members and the two students of the month from Magnolia posed several questions and concerns for Mrs. Porter. She took her time in explaining to each one the benefits the new school will have and the hard work put into having it all fall into place. She noted that the timeline for the new school to open is still in the fall of 2029. She received a nice round of applause from those present and the Rotary thanked her for sharing information with them.

The Rotary meets each Wednesday at noon at Quinet’s Court Restaurant.