News Summary
The Wood County Board of Education has approved a $24.6 million bid for the construction of a new Lincoln Elementary School. The project exceeds the original budget by $5 million, but the district anticipates a surplus for other bond projects. Superintendent Christie Willis noted that funds from the capital improvement budget could help mitigate overage costs. Additionally, plans for a new North Parkersburg Elementary School were discussed, with construction expected to begin soon. The board also decided not to renew the contract of Special Education Director Kara Small due to management issues.
Parkersburg – The Wood County Board of Education has approved a bid of $24.6 million for the construction of a new Lincoln Elementary School, despite the project being approximately $5 million over the original budget. This decision was made during a regular meeting on September 24, 2025, held at Parkersburg South High School.
Grae-con Construction will carry out the project, which is expected to elevate the educational landscape in the area, as the new school will replace the old Lincoln Elementary, which has been out of use since its closure in June 2001. The previous structure was used for storage before being demolished earlier this year.
Following the budget overage, the district anticipates an overall forecast surplus of over $6.2 million for all bond projects, according to Ryan Taylor, CEO of Pickering Associates. However, the district will need to find an estimated $2 to $3.3 million from its general budget to cover the overage costs. Superintendent Christie Willis stated that there is $7 million available in the capital improvement fund, which could be utilized to offset some of this budget overage.
To further manage costs, the district proposed potential opportunity savings of approximately $2.9 million, which could help reduce the amount needed from the general budget. Detailed information on the district’s cost-cutting measures will be released in the upcoming Thursday edition of the local newspaper.
In addition to discussions about the new Lincoln Elementary School, the board also reviewed plans for the new North Parkersburg Elementary School. The designs were presented by Pickering Associates during the board’s August 12 meeting. The new facility will feature the Lincoln lion mascot and will be characterized by a vibrant color scheme that includes blue and green. Inside, creative paint splatters will direct students to their classrooms, enhancing the educational atmosphere.
Construction for North Parkersburg Elementary is expected to commence in October, with bids for the construction contracts already scheduled to open on August 28. The completion of this new school will lead to the closure of both Emerson and Criss Elementary Schools, necessitating a boundary line vote to determine student assignments to the new North Parkersburg Elementary and Madison Elementary Schools.
In terms of personnel changes, the Wood County Board of Education decided during the same meeting to not renew the contract of Special Education Director Kara Small for the 2025-2026 school year with a vote of 2-1. This decision followed concerns about her management during a personnel hearing. The administration pointed to issues including dishonesty regarding a reduction in force and unauthorized engagement of a vendor for over $30,000 in services as the basis for non-renewal. Small defended her actions by stating that she was attempting to serve students in urgent need, although she did not receive prior approval for the engagement.
Board President Justin Raber indicated that Small could apply for other positions within the district, despite the non-renewal of her contract. The future of the Criss and Emerson Elementary School buildings remains undecided at this time, as no conclusions have been reached about their use following the opening of new facilities.
As part of ongoing efforts to enhance educational facilities, the Wood County Board of Education remains focused on improving schools and ensuring a supportive learning environment for students.
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Additional Resources
- News and Sentinel: Wood BOE Approves Grae Con for New Elementary Construction
- Wikipedia: Elementary School
- WTAP: Wood County Schools Contends with Federal Funding Pause
- Google Search: Wood County Schools
- Marietta Times: Wood County Schools Board of Education Votes to Not Renew Contract for Special Education Director
- Google Scholar: Wood County Schools
- WTAP: Wood County Board of Education Received Designs for New Elementary School
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Education
- WTAP: Wood County Schools Receives Donation Signs Showing National Motto Compliance with New State Law
- Google News: Wood County Schools
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