photo by: Joselyn King

Susan Nolte, left, human resources director for Ohio County Schools, and board of education member Anne Hercules get ready for Monday’s board meeting.

WHEELING — The overall number of students in Ohio County Schools for the 2025-26 school year is slightly lower than last year, while the number of pre-kindergarten students has jumped.

Superintendent Kim Miller updated board of education members Monday on this year’s enrollment figures in Ohio County Schools. She reported total enrollment across the school district at 4,622 students – down slightly from the 4,719 students reported last year. A slightly declining enrollment is a trend in recent years.

According to West Virginia Department of Education data, enrollment in Ohio County Schools was 5,023 in 2021-22; 5,005 in 2022-23; and 4,903 for the 2023-24 school year.

But Miller also reported that pre-kindergarten registrations are up 17% in the county for this school year. There are 294 pre-kindergarten students this year compared to about 240 last year.

In other matters before the board, Miller reminded those present that West Virginia’s 2025 “teacher of the year” will be named today in Charleston. Tiffany Barnes, a special education teacher at Wheeling Middle School, is among the finalists for the title.

Miller also told the board Wheeling Park High School has been recognized as an “Innovative Demonstration School” by the West Virginia Department of Education. These schools “serve as a testbed for new teaching methods, curriculum, and technologies, often with increased autonomy from traditional district rules to foster creativity and experimentation in education.”

As such, educators from across West Virginia have been invited to WPHS for a visit on Oct. 2 to tour the school and witness the implemented innovations, Miller said.

Wheeling resident Gary Weekly, representing Scouting America Troop 6000 in Wheeling, appeared before the board to ask why those achieving the Eagle Scout honor aren’t permitted to wear their Eagle Scout cord during graduation ceremonies at WPHS. This past school year, his daughter Emma became the first female Eagle Scout to graduate from WPHS.

Weekly said he had spoken to Principal Meredith Dailer about permitting Eagle Scout cords at graduation, and that he was told it was not allowed as Scouting as an out-of-school activity.

Board members seemed receptive to the idea of permitting the cords at graduation.

“I wouldn’t mind having a conversation about it,” member Molly Aderholt said.

Member Andy Garber added that the cords are “a great way to recognize success.”

The board next meets at 6 p.m. Sept. 22 at the board office, 2203 National Road, Wheeling.