WETZEL COUNTY, W.Va. — Wetzel County Schools has released additional information about a proposed $160 million consolidated campus planned for Porter Falls.
The facility, named Wetzel Woodlands School, would combine the county’s two remaining high schools and serve students in grades six through 12. Plans include a career and technical education center, athletic facilities and an agriculture center.
According to the district, $155 million of the projected cost would be used for construction, while $5 million would cover expenses associated with moving into the new facility.
The district has set aside $39 million for the project and has spent nearly $7.5 million so far. That amount includes $4 million used to purchase the property in Porter Falls.
School officials plan to fund construction through a pay-as-you-go approach and are not proposing a bond issue. The district has cited anticipated natural gas development and continued growth in the county’s energy and business sectors as possible sources of future revenue.
Some residents have raised concerns about the project’s cost and how public money will be spent. Superintendent Cassandra Porter said the school board intends to manage taxpayer funding responsibly as planning continues.
A traffic study remains underway, and the district is working to establish a temporary stream crossing that would provide construction access to the site.
The earthwork portion of the project is expected to be advertised for bids in early 2027. District officials are targeting an opening sometime in 2030.
