News Summary
The Wood County Board of Education has approved a $24.6 million bid for the construction of a new Lincoln Elementary School during a recent meeting. The bid exceeds the original budget by $5 million, prompting measures to manage the overrun. The district plans to use opportunity savings and funds from its capital improvement fund to cover the excess costs. Upcoming infrastructure plans include the temporary closure of Pond Creek Road and the design unveiling for North Parkersburg Elementary, aimed at modernizing the district’s facilities.
Wood County, West Virginia — September 24, 2025
The Wood County Board of Education has approved a bid of $24.6 million for the construction of a new Lincoln Elementary School. The decision was made during a regular meeting at Parkersburg South High School. Despite the approval, the bid exceeds the initial budget projection by approximately $5 million.
Construction Bid and Budget Overrun
The bid submitted by Grae-con Construction was accepted, marking a significant step forward for the district’s plans to replace the old Lincoln Elementary School, which was closed in June 2001 and later demolished recently. The total forecast for all bond projects, including the new school, is now expected to surpass $6.2 million over the original estimates, according to Ryan Taylor, CEO of Pickering Associates.
To manage the excess costs, the district has proposed using $2.9 million in opportunity savings, which is expected to reduce the overall overrun to between $2 million and $3.3 million. The district will need to allocate up to $3.3 million from its general budget to cover this additional expense.
Funding and Cost Management
Superintendent Christie Willis indicated that the district has $7 million available in its capital improvement fund, which could help offset the budget overrun. Further details on the district’s cost-cutting strategies are expected to be published in the upcoming edition of the News and Sentinel.
Upcoming Infrastructure and School Plans
On September 25, Pond Creek Road in Wood County will be temporarily closed at milepost 1.55 from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Additionally, Discovery World on Market, in collaboration with Akron Children’s, will host the 2025 Worldwide Day of Play, an event aimed at promoting physical activity for children.
New Lincoln Elementary and Future Schools
Designs for the North Parkersburg Elementary School were unveiled during the August 12 board meeting, prepared by Pickering Associates. The new school will be built on the vacant site of the former Lincoln Elementary and will incorporate elements of the original mascot, the Lincoln lion. The school’s colors will be blue and green, with varied interior colors for different grade levels.
The design features creative touches such as paint splatters on the floors that lead into classrooms, emphasizing an engaging environment for students. Once completed, North Parkersburg Elementary will open, leading to the closure of Emerson and Criss Elementary Schools, with a boundary line vote planned to determine student placement between North Parkersburg and Madison Elementary.
This initiative aims to modernize district facilities and improve student services, particularly at Madison Elementary, which is slated for upgrades after the new school’s opening. Construction contracts for North Parkersburg Elementary are scheduled to open on August 28, with construction anticipated to begin in October.
School Administration and Personnel Decisions
In a separate decision, the Wood County Board of Education voted 2-1 against renewing the contract of Special Education Director Kara Small for the 2025-2026 school year following a personnel hearing. The administration cited concerns over dishonesty related to a reduction in force and unauthorized engagement of a vendor for services exceeding $30,000.
Ms. Small defended her actions, stating she followed protocol to ensure urgent service needs for students, despite not receiving prior approval to engage the vendor. Board members expressed safety and compliance concerns regarding the handling of personnel and vendor interactions, emphasizing the importance of adherence to district policies.
Despite the non-renewal, President Justin Raber indicated that Kara Small is welcome to apply for other positions within the district, although her current contract will not be renewed for the upcoming school year.
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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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