Wetzel County Board approves multiple school closures and grade reconfigurations to consolidate students into new Porters Falls and Fortress Falls schools

The Wetzel County Board of Education voted unanimously at a special meeting to close Magnolia High School and Valley High School and to reconfigure a set of elementary and middle-grade configurations so that grades 6–8 will be consolidated into newly constructed schools in Porters Falls and Fortress Falls, the chair said.

"This is a motion on the proposed closure of Magnolia High School and consolidation into a newly constructed school in Fortress Falls, West Virginia," the chair said when introducing the motion on agenda item 3; Mrs. Mitchell moved the motion and Mrs. Nice seconded. The chair recorded the vote as unanimous.

On agenda item 4, the chair introduced a motion to close Valley High School and consolidate its students into the newly constructed Porters Falls school. The chair again recorded unanimous approval. The board then moved through agenda items 5–7, approving changes to grade configurations at Hunter Heritage School, New Martinsville School and Short Line School so each would serve pre-K through 5 while grades 6–8 would be consolidated into the Porters Falls school. Motions were moved and seconded by board members in each case and recorded as carrying unanimously.

The transcript records the motions and seconds by board members (for example, Mrs. Nice, Mrs. Warner, Mrs. Foner, Mrs. Mitchell, and Mr. Castillo participated as movers or seconders across items). The motions were described as "as outlined" under each agenda item; the transcript does not provide the underlying packet details, student counts, timelines for construction, nor budget figures for the new schools.

Following the votes the board adjourned. The transcript does not state a construction schedule or implementation timeline; those details would be expected to appear in meeting materials or future meetings.