Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones told city and county officials he couldn’t be more appreciative of their efforts to protect the health and wellness of the school system’s students and staff members.
The Ohio County Schools Safety Committee met Wednesday at the Ohio County Board of Education Office. Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department Administrator Howard Gamble, Wheeling-Ohio County Emergency Management Director Lou Vargo, Ohio County Sheriff Tom Howard, Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger and Wheeling Fire Chief Larry Helms were on hand for the meeting along with Wheeling and Ohio County law enforcement officers. Jones, Ohio County Schools Superintendent Dr. Kim Miller and principals from Wheeling Park High School and the school system’s middle and elementary schools also took part in the meeting.
Most of the discussion dealt with COVID-19. Jones said he was pleased that the school system has had few positive COVID-19 cases, and he said the schools are effectively enforcing health guidelines. He told city and county officials that school system administrators are truly grateful for their partnerships with Ohio County Schools.
“The principals value you like you wouldn’t believe,” Jones said. “You’ve given them a sense of confidence and wellbeing, and we can’t thank you enough.”
Vargo thanked all of the agencies for their work and collaboration with Ohio County Schools during the pandemic.
“We’ve taken a team approach,” he said. “We’re here to help the students and the schools, and we’ll continue to do all we can.”
Disciplinary Action
Gamble stressed that the school system should continue to follow the established guidelines to ensure safety within in the schools. He emphasized that staff members who have COVID-19 symptoms must stay home from work. Jones noted that symptomatic employees will face disciplinary action for coming to work.
Wheeling Middle School Prevention Resource Officer Gregg Harris noted that there has been a decrease in discipline issues since students returned to classroom more than a month ago. Harris said he believes social distancing has resulted in the decline in student confrontations.
In other matters, committee members discussed safety improvements taking place throughout the school system, upgrades to the schools’ two-way radios and D.A.R.E. training for new prevention resource officers. Jones said he expects the committee to meet again in December.
