The Rotary club met for their weekly meeting on Wednesday February 25, with Wetzel County Superintendent of schools as the guest speaker. Other quests in attendance were Magnolia high school girls basketball team and coaches, plus the two students of the month.

President Chuck Clegg gave opening remarks before welcoming Superintendent Porter and Chief Personnel Officer and County Administrator Ben McPherson who brought Rotary members up to date on construction of the new consolidated high school to be built in Porters Falls.

Mrs. Porter said the start of construction has hit a few snags and is currently being held up by the EPA who won’t allow them to clear the grounds from trees due to the possibility of bats. However, she said they are working with the oil and gas companies to move the gas line that runs through the center of the property and have made some progress in that area. Also they will be working with the Department of highways to determine the size of the bridge needed. Porter stated they are still on track and if they don’t hear from the EPA soon they might have to hire a company to help with the bat study.

Superintendent Porter spoke about the school levy explaining that it has nothing to do with the construction of the new school, saying that funding will come from a bond or direct in house money. However, the levy which has been renewed by voters every year for the past 70 plus years does provide many benefits for county schools, including pay raises, some employment positions, and many other benefits that directly affect students.

McPherson, reviewed the benefits of the levy and along with some additional benefits the school system is proposing to include beginning in 2028. He handed out a pamphlet showing the excess levy at work supporting schools, while helping every student thrive now and in the future.

The levy does or will include improvements to facilities to make the schools safe and secure, including laptops/iPads for every student, Act/Sat Prep courses and scholarship opportunities, school resource officers and support staff, breakfast, lunch, and school supper free of charge for all students, instructional materials, free admission to school events for all Wetzel County residents and students, a modern and safe school bus fleet, and school supplies for all students.

Porter and McPherson answered questions from Rotary members, pointing out that the levy is important to allow the system to keep many of the programs they already have, while also providing funding to budget in new benefits for the county. It was noted that about 40 percent of the excess levy comes from oil and gas tax dollars and without the levy many of the programs that benefit the students would probably be lost while those tax dollars would stay with the oil and gas companies, and possibly leave the state.

Rotary President Clegg, on behalf of the NM club, thanked the Superintendent for the presentation and offered words of encouragement to the high school visitors. The Rotary meets each Wednesday at noon at Quinet’s Court Restaurant in Downtown New Martinsville.