James Deramo and Gideon Watson were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of the ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) course. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education held numerous presentations and recognitions Monday night during its regular meeting including students who completed i-Ready math and/or reading, those who won first place at the 2024 State Social Studies Fair, the Williamstown Middle/High School girls basketball team for placing as runners up at the state tournament, students who completed the ALEKS (Assessment and Learning in Knowledge Spaces) course and the Boys & Girls Club Student of the Year.

VanDevender Middle School student Andrew Sallizzoni was awarded the Ami-John Crawford/J.J. and Harriet C. West Prize by the Parkersburg Area Community Foundation. This is awarded to the best all-around student of any Parkersburg middle or high school, as selected by the board.

“His leadership roles have included various positions in the student government during his time at VanDevender Middle School. This year he was elected to be the student body president.” PACF Senior Program Director Amy Nahley said. “Andrew has spent countless hours volunteering to improve the school grounds and for school sponsored programs and events. He is on the VanDevender Middle School basketball team, has maintained an A average throughout middle school and is supportive and encouraging to his peers.”

Sara Smith, an English teacher at Parkersburg South High School, was named the 2024 recipient of the Laura Tracy Baisden Award for Exemplary Teaching of Writing.

Issabella Giffen, a Parkersburg High School freshman, was named the Boys and Girls Club Student of the Year.

Noah Algmin, Benson Estep and Annabelle Wood were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Giffen said the club helped her family after a flood in 2018. She said she is a part of a program that helps women entrepreneurs succeed and that what makes America what it is is that it is a melting pot of different cultures.

“I hope that by learning from all the different cultures in this world, I can help make the world a better place,” Giffen said.

After receiving their recognition for placing as runners up at the state tournament, Williamstown Middle High School head basketball coach Fred Sauro said it’s not so much about the final destination but the journey it takes to get there.

“The maturity of this team is really something, how they solve problems, how they became a better team and feeding off of each other and learning by cooperation,” Sauro said.

Technology Integration Specialist Jimmy Stewart and Eric Murphy provided an overview of the district’s bond projects and updates currently available on their website. They also showcased new features on the bond projects page, such as aerial site plans. These can be viewed at www.woodcountyschoolswv.com/page/facilities-bond.

Blennerhassett Middle School students Madalaine Lewis, Hunter Drain, Sophia Curry, Masen Burkman and Khloe Blouir were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

They also talked about a new platform called “Rooms.” They said Rooms will be integrated into the district’s existing mobile app, will be the primary mode of communication and will allow easy access for parents, students, teachers and coaches. They said it will bring everything together in one centralized place, simplifying the education experience and allow parents to easily stay up-to-date on their children’s classes, activities and assignments.

They said the platform provides unique security features like individual access codes to ensure only approved guardians can view a student’s information. Translation services allow communication in over seven languages. Teachers and coaches will receive training over the summer and during the new school year on utilizing Rooms. Expectations around response times will also be set to manage the new messaging capabilities. Positive behavior tracking and real-time points systems are additional features to encourage student success. Inappropriate messages can be flagged for review. A full rollout is planned for January 2025 after a soft launch and parent education period.

***

Students recognized for ALEKS Course completion:

* Gideon Watson – Edison MS

Students from Edison Middle School were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

* James Deramo – Jackson MS

* Bradyn Starcher – Parkersburg HS

* Tyler Davis – Williamstown HS

Students recognized for completing i-Ready Math and/or Reading Lessons:

Greenmont Elementary:

Edison Middle School student Ariel Anderson was recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for her completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

* Millie Padgett

Jefferson Elementary:

* Cleora Hepburn

Kanawha Elementary:

* Annabelle Flores

Jackson Middle School students were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Vienna Elementary:

* Noah Algmin

* Annabelle Wood

Williamstown Elementary:

* Benson Estep

Blennerhassett Middle School:

* Khloe Blouir

* Masen Burkman

* Sophia Curry

* Hayla Delancey

* Hunter Drain

* Ihla Freshour

* Alivia Goff

* Sophie Hall

* Maddox Huss

* Madalaine Lewis

* Josephine Myers

* Mason Sims

* Abigayle Wilson

Edison Middle School:

* Ariel Anderson

* Ryder Barnette

* Emma Beckett

* Analeigh Bennett

* Nathanael Blair

* Mason Bush

* Asher Cox

* Ashley Cross

* Raylen Dawkins

* Emalynn Dennis

* Chloe Dickerson

* Keytree Dillon-Fountaine

* Janerio Dilo

* Zander Duncan

* Lilly Dye

* Jackson Edman

* Aiden Edwards

* Raven Floyd

* Braxton Fullerton

* Allie Gard

* Logan Graham

* Vivian Grimm

* Tyler Guthrie

* Nicolas Johnson

* Ainslie Koreski

* Elliana Lochary

* Tahitoa Makua

* Joyanna Maldonado

* Saria McCartney

* Alex McLain

* Ava Moore

* Trang Nguyen

* Walker Payne

* Michael Phillips

* Olivia Pickrell

* Adrian Poellot

* Joshua Powell

* Audrey Raffa

* Christa Rector

* Hudson Rusk

* Wyatt Sadler

* Ruby Sams

* Elliot Sams

* Jackson Sawyer

* Anniston Shelton

* Lena Skidmore

* Ayden Smith

* Madelyn Stout

* Lincoln Stout

* Nicholas Taylor

* Shessy Thomas

* Pasleigh Thompson

* Heath Vaught

* Christopher Veon

* Gideon Watson

* Peyton West

* Kylee Winans

* Roman Workman

Hamilton Middle School:

* Christian Ball

* Kelina Bunting-Utietiang

* Noah Corliss

* Tejah Donaway

* Julian Edgar

* Tyler Edman

* Mackenzie Fouse

* Adrian Hendershot

* Jackson Hoye

* Aaron Huynh

* Calvin Lantz

* Marley Leisure

* Brayden McDaniel

* Shyanne Polan

* Davin Riffle

* Braydon Riser

* Piper Rutter

* Kendall Spriggs

* Steven Woofter

* Cameron Wright

Jackson Middle School:

* Alexis Alford

* Saige Ashcroft

* Eva Baillargeon

* Jasper Beha

* Gavin Bowman

* Lucas Buskirk

* Madison Buskirk

* Austin Carrodus

* Ella Collins

* Aspen Covert

* Khloe Cunningham

* Isaiah Cunningham

* Parker Delbaugh

* James Deramo

* Addison Florence

* Gabriel Floyd

* Isabella Hendrickson

* Jaxon Holloway

* Samual Justice

* Kayley Kalika

* Amaya Lewis

* Andrew Matheny

* Evan McCleary

* Stephen Padgett

* Kaedon Ramirez

* Regan Rauh

* Raymond Rheel

* Madison Richards

* Anabelle Schmidt

* Isaac Shirey

* Delaney Snodgrass

* Aelissa Stavrakis

* Brayden Thorn

* Addison Thorpe

* Emmy Underwood

* Brylee Winter

VanDevender Middle School:

* Lilyanna Chamberlin

* Gavin Evans

* Cameron Hemingway

* Sarah Hughes

* John Paul

* Aaron Russell

* Andrew Salizzoni

* Emily Williams

Williamstown Middle High School:

* John Amrine

* Hayden Bills

* William Casto

* Meredith Craig

* Rylee Cunningham

* Charles Ellison

* Aftyn Ferraris

* Connor Forshey

* Jackson Fulton

* Jordyn Gains

* Wade Garst

* Skylar Hart

* Nathaniel Hull

* Jacob Maciver

* Brooke Mason

* Jack Moore

* Taylor Moore

* Lukas Mourat

* Noah Powell

* Benjamin Raines

* Christopher Roberson

* Sylas Shotwell

* William Stone

* Madysin Stoops

* Madeline Stout

* Jack Strauss

* John-Philip Strobl

2024 State Social Studies Fair 1st Place Winners:

Division 2, Sociology, Individual:

“FREEDOM”

Lillian Traugh, Edison Middle School

Division 2, US History, Individual:

“There’s No Crying in Baseball”

Mia Archer, Edison Middle School

Division 3, Psychology, Group:

“Schizophrenia Unveiled”

Sharon Lin, Parkersburg South High School

Randy Lin, Parkersburg South High School

Division 3, Sociology, Group:

“Are You Listening?”

Abby Ferrell, Parkersburg South High School

Donovan McDonald – Parkersburg South High School

Division 3, U.S. History, Group:

“The Deadly Rivalry”

Kristina Heathcoat, Parkersburg South High School

Britney Henthorn, Parkersburg South High School

Girls Basketball State Runner Up:

Williamstown Middle High School Girls Basketball

* Havva Aydin

* Makaela Bandy

* Georgia Bunch

* Arissa Burt

* Anna Cosner

* Anna Curry

* Annabelle Haught

* Addisyn Kerby

* Riley Landis

* Akhia Miller

* Gracie Montgomery

* Faith Pickens

* Cassie Sites

* Callie Smith

Head Coach: Fred Saura

Assistant Coaches: Larissa Cothern, Danny Bunch

Items approved during the consent agenda:

* Contract between WCS and Dr. Ray Joslyn for behavior analysis consultation at a rate of $1,200 per day (8 hours) or $200 per hour for on-site work; consultation time may not exceed 40 hours for this service

* 2024 Paving Projects for McKee Contract in the amount of $230,155

* Memorandum of Understanding between Wood County Schools and the Southern Educational Services Cooperative (SESC) for bus operator training/examination services which includes a $30 per hour plus benefits and a 20% administrative fee

* Memorandum of Understanding between Wood County Schools and Human Resource Development Foundation Inc., for Youth Behavioral Health Threat Assessment Program. The Youth Behavioral Health Threat Assessment Program is grant funded for five years

* Wood County Child Nutrition Department to remain a member of the multi-county nutrition cooperative for the 2024-2025 school year

* Pay App 6 for Martin HVAC to Murray Sheet Metal Co. Inc., in the amount of $208,800

* Kanawha HVAC Pay App 1 to Murray Sheet Metal Co. Inc., in the amount of $49,957.20

* Memorandum of Understanding between Wood County Schools and the Supreme Court of Appeals for School-based Probation Officer(s)

* of the bid recommendation to Grae Con Construction in the amount of $521,202 for the Blennerhassett Middle School secure entrance, and approval for the superintendent to negotiate, execute and enter into, on behalf of the board, any contracts, documents, or instruments for the amount of $521,202 with Grae Con Construction necessary to effectuate construction of the Blennerhassett Middle School secure entrance

* of the bid recommendation to Grae Con Construction in the amount of $478,700 for the Gihon secure entrance, and approval for the superintendent to negotiate, execute and enter into, on behalf of the board, any contracts, documents, or instruments for the amount of $478,700 with Grae Con Construction necessary to effectuate construction of the Gihon secure entrance

* to sell iPads and Apple technologies to Diamond Assets for a guaranteed minimum of $475,405 with a maximum of $679,150

* consideration and action to declare the following real property as surplus for the purpose of offering the same at auction for sale pursuant to West Virginia law: a portion of a certain tract or parcel of land designated as Parcel S1 on Map 50, in Slate District, Wood County, West Virginia, containing approximately 0.29 acres

* pursuant to WV Code å18-5-7, to authorize the superintendent to take all actions necessary to sell, at a public auction, a portion of a certain tract or parcel of land designated as Parcel S1 on Map 50, in Slate District, Wood County, West Virginia, containing approximately 0.29 acres. This authorization includes the authority to approve bidding rules for the sale of the property at public auction, including, but not limited to, setting minimum bid amounts, reserving the right, in the sole discretion of the board or its superintendent, to reject any and all bids, to approve and pay for advertisements for the public auction, to conduct the public auction herself or assign a designee, and to enter any other agreements on behalf of the Wood County Board of Education necessary to effectuate sale of the property, and all other necessary and proper actions to affect the lawful sale of said property, pursuant to WV Code å18-5-7

* to authorize the superintendent to enter into an agreement between the board and C. Wesley Bargeloh to convey, subject to the public auction requirements of WV Code å18-5-7, a portion of certain tract or parcel of land designated as Parcel S1 on Map 50, in Slate District, Wood County, West Virginia, containing approximately 0.29 acres, and for the board to purchase a portion of a certain tract or parcel of land designated as Parcel S on Tax Map 50, in Slate District, Wood County, West Virginia, containing approximately 0.23 acres

VanDevender Middle School students Emily Williams, Andrew Salizzoni and Cameron Hemingway were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Williamstown Middle/High School students Skylar Hart and Rylee Cunningham were recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for their completion of i-Ready math and/or reading. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Edison Middle School student Lillian Traugh was recognized during Monday’s Wood County Board of Education meeting for finishing first in the 2024 WV Social Studies Fair. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

Sara Smith, center, an English teacher at Parkersburg South High School was named the 2024 recipient of the Laura Tracy Baisden Award for Exemplary Teaching of Writing. Also pictured is Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis and Joanna Mulligan, curriculum coordinator for English Language Arts. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)