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Arts Fest for special needs students canceled

From staff reports

PARKERSBURG — Artsbridge’s 20th annual “Very Spectacular Arts” Festival has been canceled.

The VSA committee announced the cancellation Wednesday.

The festival, which brings arts and activities to students with special needs, was set to take place March 13 at West Virginia University at Parkersburg.

According to the press release, committee members felt too much instructional time had been lost due to the recent statewide teacher and service personnel work stoppage, which shut down schools for nine days.

Earlier in the school year a massive fire at the IEI Plastics Warehouse in south Parkersburg closed Wood County schools for five days.

“There are too many missed instructional days,” according to the release. “The VSA Committee met and made the difficult decision to cancel the festival.”

Last year, participating school systems included Jackson County, Pleasants County, Ritchie County, Doddridge County, Wirt County and Wood County in West Virginia, along with Waterford Elementary, Warren Local Schools, Belpre Elementary and Marietta City schools in Washington County. More than 500 special needs students attended the day-long event.

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