Pocahontas County Schools Superintendent Will Face Similar Challenges In Wood County
Parkersburg, WV – This July, Pocahontas County School Superintendent Dr. Patrick Law will take over as Superintendent of Wood County schools, the third largest school system in WV. Bill Niday, the current Superintendent in Wood County, retires at the end of June. Niday has been a teacher, counselor, coach, principal and finally Superintendent in the course of his 39 year career with Wood County schools.
Niday says Wood County has just completed a 65 million dollar renovation of the counties three high schools, Parkersburg, Parkersburg South, and Williamstown. They’ve also completed a major grade shift, moving 9th grade classes into the high schools, and creating five middle schools. The county also has 19 elementary schools. Niday says Law will face some of the same challenges that he’s faced in Pocahontas schools, including budget cuts, declining student populations, the likelihood of eventually replacing the roof on all Wood County schools.
Wood County has also faced a drop in student numbers over the years, from around 20,000 to the current 13,500 students. So far, the county hasn’t had to lay off teachers, but some service personnel have lost their jobs. Niday says he’s enjoyed just about every position he’s had in Wood County schools, and leaves with fond memories. He looking forward to Dr. Law taking over later this year.
*Please note in the interest of full disclosure, I am related to Bill Niday by marriage, as he is my husbands’ first cousin.