Notice of Public Hearings
The Wetzel County Board of Education will hold public
hearings on the Superintendent’s recommendation to
close Magnolia High School and Valley High School
effective upon the completion of the construction of a
new 6-12 School in Porters Falls, WV, and the
reconfiguration of grade levels at Hundred Heritage
School, New Martinsville School, and Short Line School,
from serving students in grades Pre-K through 8 to
serving students in grades Pre-K through 5 only; and the
consolidation of grades 6 through 8 from those same
schools into a new school effective upon the completion
of the construction of a new 6-12 School in Porter Falls,
West Virginia as follows:
-Wetzel County Board of Education Office, 333
Foundry Street New Martinsville, WV (Hearing for New
Martinsville School) November 13, 2025 at 1:00 p.m.
Sign up to speak prior to 12:45 p.m.
-Wetzel County Board of Education Office, 333
Foundry Street New Martinsville, WV (Hearing for
Hundred Heritage School) November 13, 2025 at
4:00 p.m. Sign up to speak prior to 3:45 p.m.
-Wetzel County Board of Education Office, 333
Foundry Street New Martinsville, WV (Hearing for
Short Line School) November 13, 2025 at 7:00 p.m.
Sign up to speak prior to 6:45 p.m.
-Magnolia High School, 601 Maple Avenue, New
Martinsville, WV (Hearing for Magnolia High School)
November 17, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Sign up to speak prior
to 5:45 p.m.
-Valley High School, 44 Lumberjack Lane, Pine Grove,
WV (Hearing for Valley High School) November 19,
2025, at 6:00 p.m. Sign up to speak prior to 5:45 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 p.m., it will be recessed, to be conti
ued 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 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 as originally
scheduled, but on these dates and times:
for the hearing at Magnolia High School, on November
18, 2025, beginning at 9 a.m.; for the hearing at Valley
High School, on November 20, 2025, beginning at 9
a.m.; for the hearings at the Wetzel County Board of
Education Office, November 14, 2025, at the same
times as listed above; for Hundred Heritage School,
New Martinsville School, and Short Line School.
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
In accordance with board policy, those wishing to
address the board may sign up at least 15 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 Wetzel 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.
SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN MATERIAL
The Board will consider any written material submitted
by members of the public concerning the proposals if
the material, with 6 copies, is submitted to and received
by the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 333
Foundry Street, New Martinsville, West Virginia, before
12:00 p.m. on November 10, 2025, including any
findings and recommendations from the local school
improvement councils representing Magnolia High
School, Valley High School, Hundred Heritage School,
New Martinsville School and Short Line School.
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 333 Foundry Street, New Martinsville, West
Virginia, on week days between the hours of 7:30 a.m.
and 4:00 p.m.
FINAL ACTION
The Board of Education will take formal action on the
Superintendent’s proposal to close Magnolia High
School and Valley High School, and the reconfiguration
of grade levels at Hundred Heritage School, New
Martinsville School, and Short Line School, at its
meeting at the Board of Education Office, 333 Foundry
Street, New Martinsville, West Virginia, on November
21, 2025, beginning at 9:00 a.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 November 22, 2025.
Cassandra R. Porter,
Superintendent
Wetzel County Board of Education
16484