The stage is now set: come the 2025-26 school year in Wetzel County, there will be only two high schools instead of four.

The decision this past week by the West Virginia State Board of Education to approve Wetzel County School’s plan to consolidate and merge Hundred and Valley high schools and Paden City and Magnolia high schools is the right decision. A look at test scores at the four schools over the past decade shows a continual decline in student educational attainment, an issue Wetzel Superintendent Cassie Porter noted to the state board.

“We are not preparing our students the way we need to prepare them educationally. Our test scores show that we rank very, very low. We need to pull our resources together in our opinion,” Porter said.

Wetzel County this year has slightly more than 600 students among its four high schools. By reducing the schools to two, it provides better opportunities for students when it comes to technology, and also more resources can be allocated to hiring highly qualified teachers.

The problem in Wetzel County is not about resources; due to oil and gas production, the county school system’s coffers are overflowing. It’s become more an issue with attempting to maintain and staff four separate high schools for a student population less than most other high schools in the region.

Also speaking to the state board was Vince Monseau, a retired educator with experience in both West Virginia and Ohio. He correctly noted that for this to be successful, attitudes and mindsets need to change.

“Consolidation is the proactive approach, but it will require change: some convenient, some inconvenient, but with time, the problems will be ironed out,” he said. “Our current configuration is inadequate. Our four high schools struggle in different ways. Consolidating four high schools to two would combine resources — financial and human — to benefit the students.

“… Our county waited too long (to consolidate). Our current students deserve action. Our … students deserve better.”

Well said.

The decision is done. It’s now up to everyone in Wetzel County to ensure the plan is successful. Continuing to work against this consolidation measure will only hurt students –the ones that will benefit most. Folks in Hundred and Paden City that opposed this plan now must come together with school leaders to ensure success for all.