Photo by Douglass Huxley Vienna resident Brenda Powell talked to the Wood County Board of Education Thursday about a new consolidated school being planned for the city and what would happen to the existing school buildings at Vienna and Neale Elementary.

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education met in special session Thursday to approve bond construction projects and to approve the retirement of Parkersburg South High School Principal Betsy Patterson effective April 30.

Patterson had been on administrative leave and had not been at the school since April 15. She was joined Tuesday at the Blennerhassett Hotel by attorney Bill Merriman to announce she was retiring. Merriman acknowledged an investigation is ongoing, but declined to elaborate or say what entity is conducting it.

School officials have not commented on why Patterson is on leave and members of the community voiced their concerns on why the board should not approve her retirement while an investigation is ongoing.

“An employee should not be approved for retirement, and collect benefits at the expense of taxpayers, if they are under investigation,” Chad Conley said during public comment. “Retirement should not be approved until the investigation is complete.”

Angela Summers also expressed her concern about the board approving Patterson’s retirement and said by not saying anything the board is feeding the rumors.

“Rumors are rampant all over this county about what’s happened,” Summers said. “The allegations, whatever they are, were strong enough to warrant administrative leave.”

She went on to say public trust in the board was waning and they needed to be more open and transparent.

Board President Justin Raber said approving her retirement would not interfere with any investigation.

“Wood County Schools does not make decisions regarding an employee’s retirement,” Raber said. “All retirement decisions are subject to the rules and regulations of the Public Employees Retirement Board. Pending investigations will continue moving forward.”

Vienna resident Brenda Powell also told the board she would like more transparency but directed that towards the proposed school that is to be built in Vienna. She said she is not getting the answers she needs.

“We have a hard time with transparency in Vienna also, and not getting information,” Powell said. “They held the meetings but there’s just no transparency. That’s why I’m here today.”

She inquired about utility availability and property plans for the current school sites if consolidation moves forward.

She also advocated preserving the historic Neale Elementary building rather than selling or demolishing it.

“Possibly even be given to Vienna,” Powell said. “They could use it maybe for a city hall and their police department. It could go to good use and it can be kept up by the city.”

Raber said they haven’t decided what to do with the current properties as they are still looking into their options.

The next regular meeting of the board is scheduled for Monday, May 13, due to elections being held May 14. The meeting is open to the public and will be streamed online.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com