(Photo: Douglass Huxley) VanDevender Middle School eighth grader Aaron Campbell spoke to the Wood County Board of Education Thursday night during a public hearing held at Hamilton Middle School about the proposed closure and merger of VanDevender and Hamilton Middle Schools. Campbell said she was concerned that her classmates would have difficulty reuniting, that it would be a longer road for them and that they might not be accepted at their new school.

PARKERSBURG — After five public hearings, the Wood County Board of Education voted unanimously Thursday night to close VanDevender Middle School with Jackson and Hamilton Middle Schools and close Fairplains Elementary School and merge it with Martin Elementary School.

The closing and merger will occur at the beginning of the 2025-2026 school year.

“It’s one of the unattractive things we have to do to make sure we have the right number of schools, that we have the right assets to provide a good education for all our students, and sometimes we have to do undesirable things. “Like closing schools.” board member Rick Olcott said. “We want the public to understand that these changes are part of a comprehensive, ongoing process to right-size our facilities and resources to fit the changing student population.”

Wood County schools have seen a 1,929 decrease in student population over the past decade, Superintendent Christie Willis said during the hearings. VanDevender, which reached its peak with 415 students in the 2017-2018 academic year, currently has only 248 students as of August 2024. This resulted in the school operating at only 34.1% of its 728-student capacity, VanDevender said.

To address underutilization, the consolidation plan calls for consolidating about 55% of VanDevender students with Hamilton and 45% with Jackson, he said. He said this would yield a total enrollment of 580 students in Hamilton (74% utilization) and 520 students in Jackson (71.4% utilization).

(Photo: Douglass Huxley) Jackson Middle School Principal Jeffery Kisner speaks to the Wood County Board of Education during a public hearing held at the school Thursday night. The board later voted to close and consolidate VanDevender Middle School with Jackson Middle School, with 45% of those students attending Jackson for the 2025-2026 school year.

To support integrated middle schools, the district also plans to increase staffing in each core content area, such as English, math and science, Willis said. There will be six teachers at each grade level, he said. he said this “team building” approach aims to help students better connect with their peers and teachers, especially during the critical first year of transition.

“In the merger, we are trying to increase the educational opportunities of these students.” Willis said. “So we’re adding these teachers so we can have the concept of team building, so teachers have students they can know, especially in the first year, it’s very important to get to know the students and make them feel welcome in the buildings.”

VanDevender staff and students expressed concerns about the reception they might receive during public hearings. Jamee Dalrymple, VanDevender’s school nurse, shared her personal experience of encountering discrimination.

“There are people who look at me sideways and examine me from head to toe. “I am a professional, a registered nurse, and I am being subjected to discriminatory treatment.” said Dalrymple.

He said he is concerned new students may face similar challenges.

Aaron Campbell, an eighth-grader at VanDevender, said he had concerns that his younger peers would have to break away from the strict adherence. “Vandy” society.

“I don’t think they would feel at home at any other school,” Campbell said. “Part of it is that people underestimate us, and that’s what brings us together.”

Jackson principal Jeffrey Kisner echoed these concerns, highlighting the staff’s dedication and efforts to support students during these challenging times.

“It doesn’t matter who walks through these doors. We’re here to educate them, provide for them, and try to love them and be there for them as much as we can.” Kisner said. “It doesn’t matter where you come from, the education, love and support you receive should be equal. Wherever we are, the building does not matter.” Kisner said. “I believe in the professionalism of the current and future staff.”

Board member Judy Johnson shared her previous school consolidation experiences, saying it increased resources and building community led to successful transitions.

“Jefferson Elementary School reunion was a wonderful experience.” he said. “We learned from each other, built a strong community, and provided an even better education for our students. “I am confident that leadership and community involvement will make these transitions positive as well.”

The next step is for the district to provide the necessary documentation to the West Virginia State Board of Education by mid-November, Willis said. He said the state board will then consider and vote on the proposed closure proposals at its Dec. 11 meeting.

Willis said that a public information meeting about the new Lübeck Primary School will be held on Monday, October 28, at 18:00 in the school gym. He said this is an opportunity for community members to learn about the anticipated timelines and plans for the new school to be built. He said community members will be given the opportunity to speak and ask questions at the meeting.