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Wheeling Park students and CTE staff showcase SkillsUSA work; district proposes building automation pilot
Summary
Ohio County Schools honored student winners and CTE achievements and discussed piloting a nationally accredited building automation systems program at Wheeling Park, estimating $100,000–$150,000 to pilot 10–15 students with a possible Siemens partnership.
Board members recognized students who placed in the YWCA Martin Luther King contest and Wheeling Park High School students who attended SkillsUSA in Atlanta. Two seniors in the broadcasting program, Will Medevic and Taylen Holt, played a video the board had funded as part of a SkillsUSA showcase.
CTE director Jack Doyle told the board the district currently has 141 "completer" students (those who will have four or more career-technical classes on their transcript) and that the CTE program’s accountability rating rose after staff clarified state rubrics. "When we figured that out, we are above the mark," Doyle said, describing recruitment and community partnerships that support local workforce needs.
Staff also proposed piloting a Building Automation Systems program at Wheeling Park that would be nationally accredited and — if implemented — would be the first such program in West Virginia. The pilot would start with about 10–15 students and require teacher training and equipment modules; staff estimated startup costs between $100,000 and $150,000. Doyle said Siemens has expressed willingness to partner on the program, and the district will explore internal staffing and training, possibly assigning an existing staff member.
Why it matters: The program is intended to fill local workforce openings: staff cited an Association of Control Professionals data-mining search that identified 1,139 openings within 100 miles of Wheeling. The pilot aims to give students direct access to jobs that can pay $50,000–$70,000 annually immediately after high school, with further credentials available via West Virginia Northern.
What’s next: Staff will refine cost estimates, identify the teacher-training pathway, and report back to the board on grant opportunities and pilot logistics. Students who represented the district at SkillsUSA will be supported for future competitions and public presentations.
