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NEW MARTINSVILLE - Wetzel County Board of Education members in a 3-2 decision Monday voted to move forward with a land feasibility study on a piece of property for a possible consolidated high school.
The meeting was called to allow board members to decide between two pieces of property - Fluharty and Blake - that were recommended by engineering company The Thrasher Group.
After some discussion, the board decided that, between the two pieces of land, the Fluharty site could possibly be the better choice.
The Fluharty site is situated about 4 miles out W.Va. 20 from W.Va. 7 or about 8 miles from New Martinsville and about 12 miles from Pine Grove.
Voting in favor of studying the Fluharty property were board members Christine Nice, Vice President Brian Castilow and President Linda Fonner. Board members voting against studying Fluharty were Christine Mitchell and Jimmy Glasscock.
Board members noted that both properties had "pluses and minuses," but Fluharty offered more land without having to try and purchase additional nearby parcels.
Glasscock expressed concern about students from the Hundred area and beyond having to travel too far - about 30 miles - to the potential new school site. He also expressed concern about the district spending money on doing the studies. Superintendent Cassandra Porter chimed in via speaker phone to remind Glasscock and the board that the district has been studying the consolidation issue because the existing schools are getting too old, and that the number of children attending is decreasing. It was also noted that it is more difficult to staff multiple schools with certified teachers.
"Our kids deserve this and a consensus from us, and to keep moving forward for them," she said.
Fonner reiterated that the board was not voting to purchase the property, just to have Thrasher do a more in-depth study on it.
For the interim, starting next school year, the school district will close Paden City High School and merge it into Magnolia High and the New Martinsville School. Hundred High School will be closed and merged into Valley High School.
The Thrasher Group estimated previously that a new consolidated school could open by summer 2029 if the board proceeds within an estimated timeframe. Thrasher also estimated the school and related facilities' cost at $130 million. If the board decided to build two high schools and facilities at two different sites the estimated cost would not quite double, but would be close.