Legal filing asks judge to find West Virginia Superintendent in contempt over football

On the day that Paden City High School (PCHS) students returned to school a legal filing was made for a judge to find Wetzel County Superintendent Cassandra Porter in contempt.

The filing comes after an email was sent to the principals of Wetzel County Schools by Paul Huston, Secondary Education Director, and County Administrator, who reports and works under Porter.

“Principals, If you have scheduled or plan to play MS or HS football games with PCHS they must be played either at your home field or on a neutral site. You are not allowed to play on their field. This is a safety concern. This only applies to football. Volleyball and basketball are ok. We are currently in a legal battle concerning student safety, and the field is sitting on top of ground
zero for pollutants. We in good conscience cannot turn a blind eye and allow our students to
risk chemical exposure from vapors coming up through the field. If you are supposed to play at PCHS and the game is moved to your field, please consider giving them some or all of the gate revenue after expenses.”

Those against Porter argue that part of a high school being “open” is the existence of its football team and conducting games against other football teams at its “home field.” Also, they argue that the act of not allowing football at the PCHS high school football stadium is in direct violation and is in contempt of the Court’s Order dated July 31, 2024, that said “…Paden City High school is reopened immediately and kept open as if it never closed.”

Wheeling Attorney Teresa Toriseva provided the following statement regarding the filling,

“On July 31, 2024, Judge Wilson ordered that Superintendent Porter must open Paden City High School “as if it never closed. On August 14, Paul Huston, II, an employee of Wetzel County Schools, sent an email to all principals of Wetzel County Schools and told them that no one is allowed to play on the PCHS football field stadium. Mr. Huston claimed that the football field sits “on top of ground zero for pollutants.” Thus, Superintendent Porter closed a portion of PCHS. Yesterday, TORISEVA LAW filed a motion seeking that Judge Wilson hold Superintendent Porter in contempt for closing a portion of PCHS. Court orders must be followed and we will continue to fight when the law or court orders are ignored.”

The petitioners also request the court to award the costs to the petitioners for bringing the motion and other relief the court sees fit.

On August 12 the West Virginia Supreme Court of Appeals ruled that Paden City High School can remain open while Superintendent Cassandra Porter appeals a judge’s decision.

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 remain closed while the West Virginia Supreme Court made its decision. On Monday August 12, the court rejected the motion that Paden City would be closed while it was under appeal.

On Monday August 19, students returned to the high school as if they never left.

7News reached out to Porter for a response.

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