$7.5 Million Woodsdale Elementary Renovation Reaching Finish Line
photo by: Photo by Joselyn King
WHEELING – A bright new lighted sign outside Woodsdale Elementary School with messages proclaims, “Come to school. Woodsdale is cool.”
The sign next expresses gratitude to students, families and the community for more than $7.5 million in renovations happening at the school over the past year.
A second sign outside the school breaks down the construction costs – attributing more than $2.26 million to Ohio County Schools and a bond passed by voters in 2018, and more than $5.28 million to the West Virginia School Building Authority.
“We want to thank the community,” said principal Ashlea Minch. “We want to thank them both for the bond passage, and the patience they have had with construction here. There have been trucks and dust throughout the neighborhood, and everyone has been understanding.”
Parking especially has been a problem around Woodsdale School for the past year as construction crews set up needed staging areas and brought more trucks and vehicles to the property.
photo by: Photo by Joselyn King
Minch said she expected to deal with some complaints and issues, but she was pleasantly surprised that they were minimal.
All phases of construction are nearly completed. Construction crews, though, will remain on the site probably until the end of December completing punch list items in the building, according to Minch.
Those visiting the school will first notice the additional parking spots added in front of the school facing U.S. 88. Some of these are designated as spots for those who are physically disabled. A ramp now leads from the parking spots and bus drop-off to the school’s new front entrance. Electronics and hardware are still being installed at the entrance, Minch explained.
Inside, the hallways each have been designated a specific color – either blue, orange, yellow or green. Common areas have square tiles of each color. Eventually, each hallway will be given its own street name, such as “Sunshine Way” and in-school addresses will be established.
Students will be encouraged to write letters to each other and learn the skill of letter writing, Minch said.
photo by: Photo by Joselyn King
The school’s cafeteria which was undersized has now been expanded, and is being used as a multi-purpose room. Strings and band classes now take place there, and students could be seen stretching and exercising on the floor as part of their gym activities.
The school’s media center, meanwhile, has been downsized. Previously located on the second floor, it has been relocated to a smaller area on the first floor.
The move enabled most classrooms on the second floor to be expanded, and classrooms in the school are comparable in size based on state regulations, according to MInch.
Kindergarten classrooms must be larger and have their own attached restrooms, she added.
“About four to five teachers lost space, but everyone else gained it,” Minch said.
photo by: Photo by Joselyn King