Director of the Blennerhassett Middle School Choir Rick Morgan and students Rachel Farnsworth, Anna Kaufman, Nevaeh Miller, Ella Montgomery and Hannah Taylor were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the Wood County Middle School Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — Wood County Schools Assistant Superintendent of Operations Kaleb Lawrence told the board Tuesday night the district is making significant strides in its comprehensive school construction and renovation projects.

“We are very busy. A lot of things are happening,” Lawrence said.

Key highlights included active construction at Williamstown High School and Parkersburg South High School, where football fields are being transformed. Lawrence said the district is also making substantial progress on relocating supplies from the Lincoln facility, with a particularly noteworthy effort at moving everything they can to the bus garage.

“Our people have stepped up and really have done a tremendous amount of work,” Lawrence told the board.

He also talked about the new Lubeck Elementary School bid opening set for April 17. He said early indications are promising, with over 11 general contractors showing interest and potential bids lower than initial estimates at other construction sites unrelated to the district.

Director of the Hamilton Middle School Choir Robin Samuels and her choir were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the Wood County Middle School Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“McKinley is assuring us that current bids they’ve opened in other locations have come in 15, 20% lower than what they’ve estimated,” Lawrence said. “So we are excited.”

He told the board the district is offering comprehensive facility tours for Vandevender and Lincoln before they are scheduled to be demolished later this summer.

* Lincoln Facility: May 24, 1-3 PM

* Van Davenender: June 13 (teachers), June 28 (public)

* Fair Plains: June 13 (teachers), June 28 (public)

Parkersburg South High School Choir Director Jennifer Ratliff and her students were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the West Virginia American Choral Directors Association 7-9 All-State Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Demolition Schedule Several older facilities are set for demolition:

* Lincoln: June 9

* Van Davenender: July 9

Board President Justin Raber asked Lawrence if they could maybe change the times to allow people to visit both schools. Lawrence said they would add an extra hour to allow that.

Assistant Director of Transportation Pam Reynolds talked to the board Tuesday night about some changes in bus routes ahead of school consolidation next year.

Members of the Parkersburg South High School choir were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the National American Choral Directors Association Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

She said the new routes would prioritize student safety and route efficiency. The proposed updates focus on minimizing student exposure to busy streets and improving route coverage. “The big thing we try to accomplish is not having kids crossing busy roads,” Reynolds said.

Key route modifications include:

* Bus 164 will now include a new stop at Jefferson, with carefully planned pick-up and drop-off points to prevent students from crossing Seventh Street.

* Bus 238 will add new pick-up locations behind Birkenstocks and along Lakeview apartments.

* Bus 260 will expand its route to include areas around PHS and the Ohio River side of Dudley, ensuring students don’t need to cross dangerous intersections.

Members of the Parkersburg South High School choir were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the West Virginia Music Education Association All-State Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“This is all about keeping our kids safe,” Reynolds stated.

She said the district is also updating its transportation policy, requiring regular DMV checks for bus drivers and implementing a more robust incident reporting system.

Technology Integration Specialist Eric Murphy said the district is implementing a new safety measure that restricts public access to bus route information, moving from traditional website posting to a more secure digital platform with the district’s “Rooms” app.

“In our modern world, perhaps publicly displaying bus routes isn’t the best practice,” Murphy said.

He said this allows only authenticated parents to access bus route details through the mobile app. He said parents can now find bus information by navigating through their child’s classroom page, ensuring that sensitive transportation data remains private.

Members of the Parkersburg South High School choir were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for receiving a Solo and Ensemble Superior Rating. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

“We’re ultimately trying to keep kids safe,” Murphy said. “It’s a change in practice that requires us to rethink how we share information.”

He said the district plans to extensively communicate these changes to current and incoming parents, ensuring a smooth transition to the new access method. He said parents will be informed both before the end of the current school year and at the start of the next academic year.

Insurance and Benefits Coordinator Carly Maze talked to the board about upcoming insurance changes, highlighting substantial premium increases for both active employees and retirees. She told the board key changes include a 14% increase to employee premium shares and a 12% rise in retiree premiums across Medicare and non-Medicare plans. She said the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA) will implement several significant modifications effective July 1.

“Open enrollment began Wednesday, April 2, and will continue through May 15,” Maze said. “Any changes made during this period will take effect July 1st.”

Notable adjustments include:

* Spouse surcharge increasing from $147 to $350 monthly

* 40% increase in medical and prescription deductibles

* Co-pay changes:

* Inpatient/outpatient co-pays rising from $100 to $200

* Emergency room non-emergency visits increasing from $100 to $200

* Prescription co-pays: generic medications from $10 to $20

* Brand-name medications from $25 to $50

“I encourage all employees, both active and retired, to take a look at their benefits and make sure what they’re enrolled in is still going to be cost-effective,” Maze said.

She said American Financial will offer one-on-one benefit reviews from April 14 through May 9 to help employees navigate these changes.

Williamstown Middle School choir member Dominic Robison and Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis pose for a picture after Robinson was recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the Wood County Middle School Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

VanDeavender Middle School Choir Director Meaghan Hahn and choir member Natalie Salizzoni were recognized by the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night for being selected to the Wood County Middle School Honor Choir. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Whitney Price, founder of Unpuzzled Parents Connect, shared her mission to support families affected by autism across West Virginia to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday night. Price said she received a grant that has enabled them to launch an innovative inclusion initiative featuring children’s books that explain autism to young students. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)