Following consultation with staff, members of the elected Harrison County Board of Education and the parties involved in the statewide teacher and service personnel walkout planned for Thursday and Friday, Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin announced that all schools will be closed in the county on those days.

 

“That means starting tomorrow morning and all the way through Friday night schools will be closed and they will remain closed,” said Manchin. “I waited as long as I could hoping there would be a resolution, but that doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.”

 

What that means is the walkout will take place as planned statewide. Connect-Bridgeport’s media partner WDTV is reporting that other counties are also officially announcing closures. Visit their Web site for additional information.

 

Does that mean school will return to session Monday?

 

“I don’t have an answer for that right now,” said Manchin. “After Friday, we’ll step up and try to figure out how to proceed from there. We don’t know what the status will be.”

 

The weekend events that are planned for schools will still take place. Bridgeport High School has already announced the play “Barnum” will take place Saturday as originally scheduled, but Friday’s showing has been scrapped. A Sunday showing of the play has been set up in its place.

 

BHS Assistant Principal and Athletic Director Matt DeMotto said the girls’ basketball sectional final between Bridgeport and Lincoln set for tonight won’t be played this evening. However, he said it will be played Saturday in Shinnston at 7 p.m. at Lincoln High School.

 

“That’s up to the coaches and the schools on the weekend,” said Manchin. “As for the state wrestling tournament, it’s still taking place because that’s not a Harrison County event. All I can tell you for sure is that in Harrison County on Thursday and Friday buses aren’t going to run, cooks aren’t going to cook and coaches aren’t going to coach.”

 

Manchin said closing the school was definitely the right thing to do. He said there are still ill feelings from past work stoppages, which are few and far in between, years later.

 

“I don’t want to put anyone in the position of having to make a decision that could disrupt a very good working relationship that all of those with a vested interest in education have here in Harrison County,” said Manchin. “ .... I am confident this decision is in the best interest of the community, the students, teachers, staff and parents to cancel.”

 

As for the state wrestling tournament, which begins tomorrow in Huntington, Manchin said the local teams can go. However, they will have to provide their own transportation.

 

Editor's Note: Photo shows Superintendent Dr. Mark Manchin at a Harrison County School Board meeting.