Shown here is a rendering of the Fluharty site.

The Wetzel County Board of Education convened a special meeting Feb. 17 at the board office on Foundry Street, New Martinsville to consider one of two proposed sites for a new high school for Wetzel County.

The board held discussion on the two properties the Blake site and the Fluharty site recommended by the Thrasher Group prior to voting 3-2 to move forward with a feasibility study on the Fluharty site. The school, when built, will be the new education center for students who will move from the consolidation of Hundred into Valley High School and Paden City into Magnolia High School beginning with the 2025-26 school year.

The Thrasher Group had previously presented to the board floor plans for the school. The concepts were not set in stone but were designed to have building footprints that are both functional and sight pleasing. The floor plans clearly showed that the Blake Property at approximately 60 acres was tight in consideration of the boundary lines for buildings. Whereas, the Fluharty plan showed plenty of land for expansion.

Their recommendation for the Fluharty site will allow the Trasher group to proceed further with more comprehensive land feasibility studies and due diligence of all aspects of the site.

In that phase, the Thrasher Group will study the land for potential flooding and any other environmental concerns which also must be taken into consideration.

Voting in favor of studying Fluharty 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.

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.

The Thrasher Group estimated previously that a new consolidated school could open by Summer 2029 if the board proceeds within an estimated time frame. Thrasher also estimated the school and related facilities’ cost at $130 million.