PARKERSBURG, W.Va. (WTAP) – School has started again in Wood County.
On the first day, Superintendent Christie Willis and Board of Education President Justin Raber visited the schools and spoke with students and staff about the first day. Willis said they liked what they saw.
“The first day was fantastic,” Willis said. “We went to several schools today. The buildings are so clean; you can tell the janitors have worked really hard to prepare them. The teachers have decorated the classrooms beautifully. We saw smiles on the kids’ faces all day long. So we had wonderful visits to all the schools in Wood County.”
Towards the end of last school year and during the summer, there were numerous personnel changes throughout the district, including staff reductions and the resignations of several school administrators. Willis said she believes that despite these changes, the district is ready to hit the ground running.
“We have wonderful administrators at our schools and yes, I think we are ready for an exciting and great school year,” she said. “Everywhere we went today, some of them were new and everything went smoothly, so I look forward to seeing what they do at their current locations in those places.”
Looking ahead to the coming year, Raber said he has in mind some of the big decisions the board will make this year.
“We have a lot of things coming up this year that the Department of Education needs to consider,” he said. “The first big issue in the next eight weeks or so will be decisions and hearings on school closures that the administration will present to us.”
Raber also said he is pleased with the continued progress on the district’s bond projects, even if some are moving faster than others.
“A big project like the new elementary school, no matter which one, is a much bigger project and requires much more planning than the secured entrance,” he said. “Here in Gihon, where we are right now, we have had a new secured entrance built and are in the process of completing that process. We are still waiting for some doors.”
Both Willis and Raber said they are looking forward to the coming year.
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