WOOD COUNTY, W.Va. — Wood County Schools will hold hearings next week on its proposal to close three schools in the county.
Waverly Elementary, Worthington Elementary and McKinley Elementary schools are being considered for closure, with the students going to different schools in the county if the closure is approved.
The Wood County Board of Education will vote on the closure proposal once the hearings conclude, and the West Virginia Board of Education will also have to approve the plan.
The state Board of Education heard from residents earlier this month on the proposal to close Waverly Elementary School, which will be consolidated with Williamstown Elementary School in late 2020.
“Closing Waverly will require eight buses to transport young children between 5 years old and 12 years old,” said Fred Clark, a local businessman and grandparent. “They’ll ride an hour and a half to two hours per day.”
Clark said while the plan will not affect his grandchildren, it will impact the children of his employees.
“To require the youngest and the most vulnerable of our students — elementary children — to ride an hour and a half to two hours a day to school is unconscionable for me as a parent,” he added.
Sara Hart, a parent of two Waverly Elementary students, said the local board is arguing the county is in financial straits, but the math does not add up.
“Our costs do not exceed our state funding, and the community provides any additional funding for the school as needed by means of fundraising,” she said.
The hearing schedule for schools facing closure is:
— Sept. 30 for Waverly Elementary School.
— Oct. 2 for Worthington Elementary School.
— Oct. 3 and McKinley Elementary School.
All of the hearings are scheduled to begin at 5 p.m.
Hearings will also be held for the four schools expected to gain students:
— Williamstown Middle/High School on Oct. 1 at 5 p.m.
— Williamstown Elementary School on Oct. 1 at 7:30 p.m.
— Emerson Elementary School on Oct. 2 at 7:30 p.m.
— Jefferson Elementary School on Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m.