West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals rules Paden City High School will remain open during Appeal

The West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals has ruled that Paden City High School can remain open while Superintendent Cassandra Porter appeals a judge’s decision on Monday.

On July 31 Judge Charles Richard Wilson issued his ruling, and Paden City High School will reopen for the 2024-2025 school year. After weighing the evidence presented, Judge Wilson stated that the school is to be “reopened immediately and kept open as if it never closed.”

Superintendent Cassandra Porter asked to have the school to remain closed while the West Virginia Supreme Court made their decision. On Monday August 12, the court rejected the motion that Paden City would be closed while it was under appeal.

“Now, thanks to the swift action of Judge Wilson in Wetzel County and the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals, the students and families of Paden City High School can enjoy the upcoming school year without the harmful stress and worry of being suddenly shut down. Toriseva Law is proud to stand with the Wildcat community.”

Teresa Toriseva

Superintendent Porter claimed the school had to close due to environmental concerns. Judge Wilson claimed that “no governmental organization, either state or federal, ordered or recommended that PCHS be closed.” Additionally, the Judge states that they never received evidence that the PCE plume in the soil, gas and groundwater under or near the high school posed an unacceptable risk to the “health, safety, or welfare of the pupils of PCHS.”

Paden City is set to open August 19

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