Paden City High School (File photo)

NEW MARTINSVILLE — The Wetzel County Board of Education, before a throng of Paden City High School supporters, voted unanimously Monday night against holding public hearings and a vote on the “reconfiguration” of the county’s schools.

That vote led to loud cheers from Paden City High supporters, as the school district had been mulling a possible consolidation of Paden City and Magnolia high schools due to a downward trend in student enrollment and growing expenses.

The meeting, at Magnolia High School, was attended by many connected with Paden City High.

Twenty-three people — including teachers, principals, students and community members — spoke before the board. Most favored keeping Paden City High open, while others said combining the school was necessary to eliminate teacher and staff shortages.

Prior to a vote being taken, newly appointed board member Brian Price spoke up and asked for clarification on the agenda item regarding school reconfiguration, stating he was somewhat confused. The agenda item called for data to be prepared, but Price said Wetzel County Superintendent Cassie Porter had just shown and outlined the data in her slide presentation. Board member Jim Glasscock stated his opposition to the item as well. He said building a new high school to handle the reconfiguration would necessitate a new school levy. He mentioned the amount of delinquent taxes that had just been printed in the Wetzel Chronicle and said that number would only rise if a new levy were passed.

That discussion led to the vote, where all five board members voted against going forward with public hearings and a vote to merge the schools.