Ohio County Schools, Wheeling Park Commission Partner To Upgrade Tennis Courts

WHEELING - Ohio County Schools will be paying nearly $650,000 to resurface tennis courts owned by the Wheeling Park Commission, and in return the Wheeling Park High School tennis team will gain better facilities in which to play.

The school district and the park commission on Monday night announced before the Ohio County Board of Education their partnership to upgrade the tennis courts, which sit across from the Sonneborn Shelter on park commission property only a tennis ball serve away from WPHS.

Assistant Ohio County Schools Superintendent Rick Jones reminded board members that the courts presently being used by the WPHS tennis team at the school "needed completely redone."

"They are really the final athletic facility we have that needs upgraded," he said. "We have the best facilities you will find anywhere both academically and athletically, and this is the last one that really needs to be addressed."

Jones noted that a number of options regarding the current WPHS courts were discussed. The school’s courts not only need to be resurfaced, but also have water drainage problems. They also have no restrooms, no shade or accessible parking.

The park commission’s courts, meanwhile, have ample parking and seating. There also is a spacious pavilion on the property.

But the park commission courts also have a Har-Tru sand/clay surface that may be good for seniors with older joints, but it doesn’t meet the requirements for high school competition play in West Virginia, according to Jones.

Following discussion led by Board of Education President David Croft and former board member Molly Aderholt, the school district will now pay for a hard-court resurfacing project on the six Wheeling Park Commission tennis courts across from the Sonneborn Shelter so the WPHS tennis team may play there.

Jones reported the cost for the project at about $646,000.

"To repair our courts (at WPHS) down over the hill we were at $500,000 for just the resurfacing," he continued. "There are only four courts, our fence is falling down - and that (price) didn’t address seating, shelter, parking and bathrooms.

"So for another $150,000, we’ll have everything and a facility that's visible to anybody who drives by. Our kids will be seen a lot more. People might stop... and watch a few matches."

Jones said the new hard courts "will be beautiful and ready for the spring tennis season."

Robert Peckenpaugh, president and CEO of the Wheeling Park Commission, reminded those present that the land upon which WPHS sits today was once land owned by the commission.

"We appreciate the opportunity to once again get kids outside and athletically motivated," he said. "If there is any chance that we can re-activate any areas of the park on behalf of the youth, we really love that opportunity."

The WPHS tennis team will have first priority for use of the courts during the tennis season, Peckenpaugh confirmed. There will be further discussions about use during other times of the year.

Croft said while there was no time frame set for the partnership, it would likely be in effect for the length the resurfacing lasts, or about 20 years.

In another matter before the board Monday night, Brandy LaFlam, a teacher at Woodsdale Elementary School, was announced as the new vice principal at Triadelphia Middle School.

Amanda McWhorter, vice president of the Middle Creek Elementary PTA, again voiced her concerns about a proposed data center being built in Warwood in close proximity to the elementary and middle schools there.

This time she focused her comments on Croft, who serves as attorney for the firm seeking to construct the data center.

McWhorter criticized the board for not taking action to oppose the building of the data center, and she questioned why they were waiting to make a move. Any needed information should readily be available to them through Croft, she noted.

"Mr. Croft, it should cost you nothing to go to your client and tell them that your other job (as school board president) is to protect the interests of the children of this county," McWhorter said. "You need to share information with this board so they have all the information they need to make an educated decision.

"If there is truly nothing to hide, there is no reason not to do that."

She asked Croft if he has brought any information before the board, or if he planned to recuse himself if there are any votes pertaining to the data center.

Board members typically do not answer or respond to comments made by the public during delegations.

Members Andy Garber and Jerry Ames, however, later offered words on the matter at the close of the meeting.

Garber told her more information was expected to come forward about the data center during the next meeting of Wheeling City Council.

"We will find out more about it," he said.

Ames noted he lives in Warwood on property closer to the proposed data center site than are the schools.

"I have all the confidence in the world in what our board president is doing," he said. "That is his day job. Not only Mr. Croft - but everybody on this board and the central office staff - would ever do anything to harm any children in Ohio County. Just because we haven't put anything out yet doesn't mean that we're not doing something or aren't involved. We just can't be involved at this point.... If something would come up, he (Croft) would recuse himself."