|Photo by Joselyn King| Warwood Middle School Principal James Rowing, left, and Warwood Elementary School Principal Robert Demarest pause after officially being named principals at their respective buildings during Monday's meeting of the Ohio County Board of Education. The former Warwood School is separated into an elementary and a middle school effective with the new school year.

The current school year is winding down, but Monday night Ohio County Board of Education named three principals to take over administrative positions officially beginning in August.

The former Warwood School will become a two schools – an elementary and a middle school – each with its own principals.

James Rowing, the current principal at the Warwood School, will take over as principal at Warwood Middle School.

Robert Demarest, the current assistant principal at the Warwood School, will be principal of the elementary side of the building. There will be no vice principals at either school, according to Superintendent Kim Miller.

The board approved the separation of Warwood School in late November, and the move was later approved by the West Virginia Department of Education.

Also on Monday, current Bellaire Middle School Principal Jennifer Berdine was named the new principal at Bridge Street Middle School. She will succeed current principal Jessica Broski-Birch, who is taking on the position of head of school at Wheeling Country Day School.

The hiring of Berdine brings her back to Ohio County Schools. She was previously a media teacher at the Warwood School.

She has been at Bellaire Middle School three years and she said she loved serving as principal there.

“But I am thrilled to accept this role back here in Ohio County,” Berdine told board members. “I look forward to working with the teachers, students, staff, families and community members to continue all the wonderful things happening at Bridge Street Middle School, and in Ohio County Schools.

“I look forward to working under the direction of Dr. Miller and (Assistant Superintendent) Rick Jones to see our students receive a top notch education.”

Demarest explained as assistant principal at the Warwood School, he worked primarily with the elementary students.

“It’s exactly where I want to be,” he continued. “It has been hard work, yet wonderful at the same time.

“I’m excited about the trust made, and the progress built with students, staff, faculty and the community. I’m thankful for the opportunity to build upon that growth.”

Rowing thanked the board for allowing him to lead Warwood School during its final year.

“You listened to me advocate for the reclassification of Warwood School into two separate entities – and you did not allow me to talk myself out of a job and hired me as principal at Warwood Middle School,” he said.

“It has been an honor to have been at Warwood for the past seven years. I’m excited to work with my amazing staff. They continue to show up and innovate and create, and always strive to do better each day, each year.”

Former West Virginia Board of Education member Dr. James Wilson was in attendance at Monday night’s Ohio County Board of Education meeting, and he asked to say a few words.

“I wanted to tell you all that during my nine years on the board I always used Ohio County – and Marshall County, my home county – as models of how a county (school district) should operate,” he said. “You don’t always get along, but you always try to do things right.”

He noted that he never reads in the newspaper about the types of things happening in local school districts that he sees happening elsewhere around the state. There are others being placed under emergency relief programs, or where superintendents “have used federal funds to pay themselves vacation money.”

When he reads about Ohio County Schools, it’s usually about positive achievements, Wilson added.

“I just felt I needed to come here and thank you all for being a model to judge other boards by,” he said.

The board next meets at 6 p.m. Tuesday, May 28, the day following the Memorial Day holiday.