The logo for Wetzel Woodland High School, as approved by the Wetzel Board of Education on Tuesday.

The Wetzel County Board of Education on Tuesday June 9, 2026 took up discussion concerning approval of a new name, mascot, and colors for the consolidated high school which is expected to be open in 2029.

Board President Linda Fonner stated the discussion on the new name had been tabled at the last meeting, but was now before them for discussion. She added they had before them three different choices, however two had received the most interest from the community and the school kids. She stated the community wanted Wetzel County Blackbears and the school kids wanted Wetzel Woodland Wolves. She said there were way more community people who wanted Blackbears than there were school kids who wanted Wolves, however when you looked at its percentage wise there was way higher percentage of students that voted than there were individuals from the community.

Board Member Christine Mitcher said, “I like the fact that we know that for a fact that the students were the ones who voted. We do not know who voted from the community. It could have been somebody who doesn’t live here; it could have been somebody who went to three different computers and voted three times. We don’t have control of that because it was not on a controlled survey.”

She added 70 percent of the students was a great turnout while she didn’t know what the percentage was of the community but it was around 12 percent, and it wasn’t a good turnout. She said she feels the students should be the choosers. Board member Christine Nice agreed.

“It’s going to be their school and that’s what they chose. Three of my kids took it and the one who graduated chose the Bears and the two younger ones voted for Wolves,” said Nice.

She added she has heard different school names from a lot of different people.

Board member Jimmy Glasscock agreed with the school kids picking the name, while Member Brian Castilow offered a differing opinion, stating whatever we decide on that is the name we’re stuck with. He mentioned they were taking the name the school kids have picked out; however, many of those kids will be gone in a few years.

Board President Hoover said she would like to keep Wetzel County as the name instead of Woodland.

Christine Mitchell spoke up saying, “I did a little research and there are 124 public high schools in West Virginia and out of those 124 public high schools only 12 carry the county name.”

Castilow questioned that statistic, Mitchell said she was wrong, it was not 12 schools, it was 20 percent which is 24 schools.

Glasscock said he didn’t like the idea that they had no control over who voted in the outside world and Mitchell agreed saying she didn’t either.

After more discussion back and forth Board Member Glasscock said the kids have spoken and we need to go with what they chose. Glasscock then made a motion that they go with the Wetzel Woodland Wolves and use the colors Teal, Black, Grey and White as chosen by the students. A vote of the board was taken following a second by Mitchell and passed on a 4-1 vote with Castilow voting no.