Challenge West Virginia

School consolidation is heating up in two northern WV counties, as student enrollment drops.

Brooke County and Wetzel County officials currently are considering consolidation options for several of their local schools.

The consolidation plan in Brooke County calls for an $80 million investment.

The consolidation proposals are part of their Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan, a 10-year plan that each county develops to get school districts to look at how to best make use of their resources.

Wetzel County officials are wanting to close Paden City High School, a move they say will save money. The school would be consolidated with Magnolia High School in New Martinsville.

link to earlier paden story

A public hearing is set for March 26 at Paden City High School.

Major school closures and consolidations are being planned for Brooke County.

The comprehensive plan has discussed combining the district’s seven primary schools into two and the two middle schools into one.

Brooke County Schools Superintendent Mary K. Hervey DeGarmo said,
“The committee has made no recommendations to the board yet…It’s not been formally presented to anyone yet.”

If the plan moves forward, two new primary schools would be built, one in the northern half of the county and one in the southern half.

A new middle school would be constructed near Brooke High School.

Brooke County currently operates middle schools in both Follansbee and Wellsburg.

Primary schools include L.B. Millsop Primary School in Weirton; Colliers Primary School; Beech Bottom Primary School; Hooverson Heights and Jefferson primary schools in Follansbee; and Franklin and Wellsburg primary schools in Wellsburg.

In addition to state funding, Brooke county taxpayers would be asked to pass a $30 million bond levy to pay for the consolidation.

Officials said there is a projected $536,000 drop in revenue for the school district, attributed largely to a decline in property tax revenue.

DeGarmo, the county superintendent, said she prefers to remain neutral on whether she supports consolidation, but she pointed out several reasons why it might be beneficial - brand new buildings designed to deliver the curriculum of the 21st century.

Consolidating, she said, would allow the district to expand and enhance course offerings and employ more state-of-the art technology.

Follansbee Mayor Tony Paesano, who said taking schools out of the community leaves a “vacuum” that is difficult to fill.

“Bigger does not always mean better,” he said. “I don’t know what they can do in a consolidated school that they can’t do in the existing school.”

“I don’t believe in tearing things down, just because it’s old,” said Paesano.

He said the school board should look for ways to improve technology in the existing buildings and work on developing “the best educational system that money can buy.”