PARKERSBURG, W.Va. — Wood County could be getting new elementary schools if voters decide to pass a bond issue on this May’s primary ballot.
The Wood County Board of Education last week voted unanimously to approve a $68.85 million bond that asks for the construction of three new elementary schools, including a new Lubeck Elementary School.
Neale and Vienna Elementary schools would close, meaning students from those schools would transfer to one of the new elementary schools. Criss and Emerson Elementary schools would also shutdown. Those students would go to the other new school.
BOE President Justin Raber told MetroNews he was “absolutely thrilled” about the idea.
“I think it’s important to have a holistic approach because we have to invest in tomorrow,” he said.
Raber cited poor infrastructure, safety issues and a decline in student enrollment.
“We truly believe in the model of replacing old facilities and investing in new while maintaining those facilities that are very cost effective to maintain,” he said.
The bond also calls for renovations to other schools and upgrades to athletic facilities. Raber said, for example, he’d like to invest in high school auditoriums for Parkersburg H.S. and Parkersburg South H.S.
“In Wood County, unlike many other large counties in the state, we don’t have a central pooling like a civic center or municipal auditorium. Our schools are the center of our community,” Raber said.
Raber said having those improvements will allow the school district to invest in the arts in addition to other extracurricular activities.
The bond will go before voters on Primary Election Day on May 10.
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February 14, 2022 at 02:41AM
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Voters in Wood County to decide on school bond issue - West Virginia MetroNews
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