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PARKERSBURG - During their regular meeting Tuesday night the Wood County Board of Education recognized numerous groups, including the Williamstown High School girls cross country state champions and the boys cross country state runner ups.
A full list of both teams can be found in the online version of this story.
"The students are what it's all about. That's why we're here," board member Debbie Hendershot said.
Candace Lewis, coordinator of mathematics, gave a presentation on the Unite with Numeracy Team consisting of Chris Pribble, Janette Walker, Jessica Espinosa, Cortney Brunicardi, Lisa James, Sara Klesel and Heather King. She also talked about Espinosa and Steve Freshour being filmed by the West Virginia Department of Education encouraging students to make sense of problems and persevere in solving them using Mathematical Habit of Mind 1.
"We are privileged to have remarkable educators like Mrs. Espinosa and Mr. Freshour in Wood County," Lewis said.
The board heard an inclement weather plan from Michael Erb, communications coordinator, who advised parents to download the school app, available on IoS and Apple, to get the latest information on school closings.
Jonathan Farley, director of technology, presented the board with an update on technology upgrades. He said fresh iPads have been given to students in kindergarten through eighth grades and teachers are set to receive theirs soon.
"So, now we're on a level playing field," Farley said. "Every student has a nine-gen iPad; every teacher has a 10th-gen iPad; every teacher should have an M1 MacBook."
Cathy Grewe, coordinator of student services and assessment, along with members of the Wood County Prevention Coalition, presented the board with the winners of the Vaping Prevention Campaign Contest. A full list of winners can be found in the online version of this story.
"I'd like to thank the members of the coalition for being here and for their wonderful help in helping us teach our students about the dangers of vaping and other drugs," Grewe said.
During the Superintendent update, Christie Willis spoke about a recent article talking about the misuse of pandemic relief dollars.
"I am proud to announce that Wood County Schools ... are in compliance in all areas on both monitoring reports," Willis said.
The next Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Nov. 28. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.
Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com
Williamstown High School Girls Cross Country State Champions:
Amelia Carroll
Kate Florence
Jaden Morgan
Sydney Anderson
Alexis Wynn
Alyssa Sauro
Ava Lightfritz
Gabriella Seese
Isabella Bryant
Sylvia Harris
Cassie Sites
Morgan Nestor
Bridget Kirby
Head coach: Mike Taylor
Assistant coach: Larry Cassady
Williamstown High School Boys Cross Country State Runner Up:
Carter Montgomery
William Coiner
Julian Johnson
Frank Conner
Bradford Stone
Chase Pickering
Zander Boyce
Head coach: Cliff Taylor
Assistant coach: Larry Cassady
Items approved during the consent agenda:
AET grant and budget in the amount of $390 for Career Technical Education
GraeCon Pay App 15 BES Addition in the amount of $239,665.78
Contractual agreement between Chasity Gillespie dba Four Regions Vision Services, Orientation and Mobility Instructor, and Wood County Schools for the 2023-2024 school year commencing Nov. 15, 2023, and ending May 30, 2024, for services not to exceed $10,000.
Donation of a fire truck from Williamstown Volunteer Fire Department with a gift value of $10,000.
School support organization, Parent Teacher Organization (PTO), for Franklin Elementary Center.
2023 VAPING PREVENTION POSTER CONTEST WINNERS:
Elementary:
Honorable Mention: Ryder Grogg, fifth grade, Williamstown Elementary – THE CYCLE OF SMOKING
Honorable Mention: Kendal Hall, fifth grade, Greenmont Elementary – HOW VAPING AFFECTS YOUR BRAIN
Third: Kyndall Florence, third Grade, Gihon Elementary – VAPING IS NOT COOL AT MY SCHOOL
Third: Charlee Windland, fourth grade, Lubeck Elementary – SICK IN BED FROM VAPING
Second: Emmilyn Thomas, fourth grade, Franklin Elementary – DO NOT VAPE OR YOUR LUNGS WILL SHRIVEL UP LIKE A GRAPE
First: Emma Ellis, fifth grade, Gihon Elementary – POP YOUR CORN NOT YOUR LUNGS
Middle:
Honorable Mention: Audrey Singer, eighth grade, Jackson Middle – DON'T PICK THE WRONG MOVE
Honorable Mention - Pablow Lopez Garcia, eighth grade, Blennerhassett Middle – FRED BEAR SAYS NO VAPING
Third: Titus Scholtz, seventh grade, Edison Middle – SAVE YOUR BREATH. SAVE YOUR LIFE
Second: Baylee Hale, eighth grade, Edison Middle – BRAIN DAMAGE
First: Ana Bennett, eighth grade, Edison Middle – DON'T BE A DUM DUM...
High School:
First: Aleta Rader, 12th grade, Parkersburg South High – BEWARE
2023 VAPING PREVENTION VIDEO WINNERS:
Middle School Group Category:
Third: Marcus Retherford and Matthew Cox, eighth grade, Edison Middle – THE AWAKENING
Second: Darla Rhodes, Lillian Trough and Madelyn Stout, eighth grade, Edison Middle – VAPING IS FOR CLOWNS!
First: Jackson Middle School Theater Class – WEAR THE CAPE. DON'T VAPE; Kristin Allodi, instructor (Jeff Kisner)
High School Group or Class:
Kaelynn Seebaugh, Zane VanFossen and Averie Whitacre, Parkersburg South Theater – "TAKE ONE"
High School Single Category:
Sharon Lin, 11th grade, Parkersburg South High – THE ABCs OF VAPING