By Shelley Hanson for The Intelligencer
PADEN CITY, W.Va. — Residents expressed relief and gratitude on Thursday that Wetzel County Circuit Court Judge C. Richard Wilson ruled in favor of keeping Paden City High School open.
Wilson filed his decision Wednesday evening, which means the school will be open for the 2024-25 school year.
Wetzel County Schools Superintendent Cassandra Porter in June ordered the school to be closed, citing environmental and health concerns stemming from PCE, aka tetrachloroethylene, in the city’s groundwater and vapor intrusions in the area. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has said there are “allowable levels” of the chemical in the air.
After an injunction was filed in circuit court by a group of residents against Porter’s action, Wilson ordered that the school be reopened until he made a final decision.
“I think it should stay open,” said resident Brittany Goddard on Thursday while shopping in the city.
Paden City resident Helen McIntyre said she was happy to learn the school would be staying open. She said her children and grandchildren attend school in Paden City and her great grandchildren will attend, too.
“Yay for that,” McIntyre said. “That ruling was wonderful.”