The Future of Paden City High School

The long-term future of three stand-alone high schools in Wetzel County, West Virginia, may be bleak after a Friday work session of the county’s Board of Education.

The five board members emphasized that the status quo will continue for the 2023-24 school year and an unspecified time after that, but they openly pondered school consolidation ideas.

The two options that appear to have the most traction for now are: 1) consolidating Magnolia, Paden City and Valley high schools into one new facility and renovating Hundred High School; or 2) consolidating all four high schools into two new facilities. Either option would serve student bodies of either grades 6-12 or 7-12, and all elementary schools would stay open.

“This year is just the year to plan and see what’s going on,” board president Linda Fonner said, “but we have to have an idea where we’re moving.”

The non-voting work session occurred days after some Paden City High School alumni issued a rallying cry on Facebook to save their alma mater. As a 1985 PCHS graduate, I created the alumni page about 15 years ago, not long before a previous debate about school consolidation in Wetzel County. I am also a journalist by training, and I watched yesterday’s board meeting on YouTube.

This report is based on the meeting, online discussion and historical coverage.

Save our school!
The last attempt to close Paden City High School failed in 2010. The county school board had called for closing PCHS in 2012 as part of its 10-year Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan, but the board reversed course amid pressure from Paden City residents and PCHS alumni.

“The unanimous vote on member Willie Baker’s motion drew cheers and a standing ovation from PCHS supporters who spilled into the hallway outside the meeting room at the board’s office building,” the Wetzel Chronicle reported at the time. “They then traveled back to Paden City, gathered at the Convenient Food Mart, then paraded through town, celebrating the long-fought victory.”

Legendary West Virginia University football coach Don Nehlen visited Paden City during that era and lamented the impact that closing the school could have on the town.

Rumors of a fresh attempt to close PCHS revived the school spirit this week. School alum Rodney McWilliams posted to Facebook a picture of yard signs used in 2010 to rally support for the school. He invited people to replant them in their yards.

Another alum, Pat Stillwagner, warned that the board meeting “is to close Paden City High School” and encouraged people to attend. A debate then ensued on the alumni page, with current and former PCHS students and teachers, town residents, and others sharing their perspectives both for and against school consolidation.

Fonner briefly alluded to online chatter in a jab about “one true thing I saw on Facebook.” But she and other board members, along with new Wetzel County Superintendent Cassie Porter and county school staff, avoided mentioning specific schools at length.

A sentiment to ‘create something new’
Fonner opened the meeting by noting that the board wouldn’t take any votes and “there will be no school closures because of today’s work session.” Then for more than a half-hour, the board superficially discussed numerous challenges facing the school system, just not within the context of school consolidation.

The topics of conversation included teacher shortages, student-teacher ratios, salary costs, school enrollment, busing, and attendance and graduation rates, among others. The officials mentioned the possibility of teachers conducting virtual classes from one school to another or traveling between schools to fill expected curriculum gaps.

“If we are even considering asking if there are any teachers that would be willing to teach three periods of math here and three periods of math at another school,” Fonner said, “we’ve got to get that word out fast because principals of the schools are going to have to work together on scheduling.”

Although the board didn’t take an official vote, the members periodically shared consolidation ideas they have heard in the community. Eventually they explained what they are thinking.

Rob Christen, one of three members elected in 2022, said he prefers either building two new high schools for all students in the county or one new school comprised of Magnolia, Paden City and Valley students, with Hundred as a separate school.

Christine Nice leans toward two new schools, possibly on the Route 7 and Route 20 corridors. “Don’t make somebody something else,” she said in repeating a sentiment she has heard in the community. “Create something new.”

Fonner expressed a preference for one new school, with the current three schools remaining as is until a new building is finished. “All three schools could pick the colors and the mascot,” she said. And Hundred should get enough money for renovations to have facilities on par with the new school.

“I’m kind of ambivalent about it,” Vice President Brian Castilow said when Porter asked his preferences. “Whichever works best for everybody.” Jimmy Glasscock agreed.

No one at the meeting suggested merging PCHS with Magnolia, either as a short-term solution or permanent change. The board didn’t discuss any other options that called for combining one or more schools into an existing facility.

James Kimble, the county’s career and technical education director, said if the board decides to consolidate into one or two new schools, the trade school should be located on a new campus.

The unwritten future
County board treasurer Jeff Lancaster suggested that school consolidation likely would have happened years ago if not for the recent influx of tax revenue from oil and gas drilling in Wetzel County. His own views on consolidation have evolved over time, not because he thinks the county needs fewer facilities but because the board can’t hire enough people.

“We could afford, maybe, to pay extra teachers, but we can’t find them,” Lancaster said.

The board members and Porter repeatedly reiterated that no moves toward consolidation are imminent. Once the board narrows its options, members will have to research and analyze them based on educational merit, cost, location and other factors. Wetzel County taxpayers also will have opportunities to share their views on competing ideas.

“At the end of the day, we have to do what’s best for our students,” Porter said.

Fonner also warned that voters could prevent any school consolidations if they don’t approve the next school bond. “Then we’re going to have to start over again.”

“That would be a whole different direction we have to take,” Porter added, without specifying what direction that might be.