NOTICE OF
PUBLIC HEARINGS
PROPOSED CLOSURE AND MERGER OF VANDEVENDER MIDDLE SCHOOL INTO JACKSON MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HAMILTON MIDDLE SCHOOL
WOOD COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Wood County Board of Education will hold three (3) public hearings on the Superintendent’s recommendation to close VanDevender Middle School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and to merge it into Jackson Middle School and Hamilton Middle School at that time, as follow:
· LOCATION: VanDevender Middle School, 918 31st Street, Parkersburg,
DATE AND TIME: October 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Hamilton Middle School, 3501 Cadillac Drive, Parkersburg, WV
DATE AND TIME: October 24, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Jackson Middle School, 1601 34th Street, Vienna, WV
DATE AND TIME: October 24, 2024, at 7:30 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 7:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
If, at the time a hearing is called to order, the Board determines that the location is of insufficient size to accommodate all who desire to attend, the hearing will be recessed and moved to a new location of sufficient size to accommodate all those who desire to attend. If that happens, the new meeting location will be posted at the original meeting location.
If a public hearing is not completed by 11:00 p.m., it will be recessed, to be continued on a date and at a time designated and announced by the Board just prior to the hearing recess, to be continued day-to-day until concluded. The public hearings, as well as any reconvened session of the public hearings, shall end at the conclusion of each hearing’s business or at 11:00 p.m., whichever occurs earlier.
ALTERNATE DATES AND TIMES
If, due to inclement weather or other cause, any hearing cannot be held on the scheduled date, the hearing or meeting will be held at the same location and time as originally scheduled, but on these dates and times:
for the hearing at VanDevender Middle School, on October 25, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. for the hearing at Hamilton Middle School, on October 29, 2024, beginning at 6:00 p.m. for the hearing at Jackson Middle School, on October 29, 2024, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
If for any reason a hearing cannot be conducted on the alternate date or time, the Board will determine a date or time.
HEARING PROCEDURES
For a period of 30 minutes prior to the commencement of a public hearing, persons may and are encouraged to register at the hearing location for the purpose of making statements, offering testimony, and questioning school officials concerning the proposals. Each hearing will begin with an oral summary by a representative of Wood County Schools of the reasons and supporting data in connection with the proposed action by the Board. Speakers will then be recognized in the order in which they registered. Each speaker shall be limited to five (5) minutes unless, in accordance with Board Policy 1000, the President reduces that time limit to provide all persons wishing to speak the opportunity to do so.
SUBMISSION OF
WRITTEN MATERIAL
The Board will consider any written material submitted by members of the public concerning the proposals if the material, with six (6) copies, is submitted to and received by the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 1210 13th Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, before noon on October 17, 2024, including any findings and recommendations from the local school improvement councils representing VanDevender, Hamilton and Jackson Middle Schools.
REASONS AND
SUPPORTING DATA
Until the date of the first hearing, written reasons for the Superintendent’s recommendations in the form of an Impact Statement and Supporting Data are available for public inspection in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 1210 13th Street, Parkersburg, West Virginia, on weekdays between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
FINAL ACTION
The Board of Education will take formal action on the Superintendent’s proposal to close VanDevender Middle School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and to merge it into Jackson Middle School and Hamilton Middle School, at its meeting at Jackson Middle School, 1601 34th Street, Vienna, West Virginia, on October 24, 2024, beginning at 8:30 p.m. If, due to inclement weather or other cause, the Board meeting cannot be held on the scheduled date, the meeting will be held at the same location and time as originally scheduled, but on October 29, 2024.
Christie M. Willis,
Superintendent
Wood County Board of
Education
Sept 30, Oct 7, 14, 21