The Pocahontas County Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, May 13, 2013, at 7:00 PM at the Board of Education Conference Room with the following members present:
Emery G. Grimes, President
Cheryl M. Beverage)
Janet E. McNeel)Members
Hanna G. Sizemore,)
Kenneth E. Vance)
AGENDA
On motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved the Agenda.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
On motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved the minutes of the regular meeting held on April 25, 2013.
DELEGATE DENISE CAMPBELL
Delegate Denise Campbell (D – Randolph) updated the Board on issues discussed during the 81st session of the West Virginia Legislature that recently closed.
Delegate Campbell told the Board that the 81st session focused primarily on education. She highlighted the topics covered including the balanced calendar and Feed to Achieve.
Delegate Campbell told the Board that the balanced calendar is not intended to force students to go to school year round, but to allow the flexibility in the school calendar to ensure students receive 180 days of instruction per year. She noted that the balanced calendar was designed with the diversity of the counties in mind. She acknowledged that students in Pocahontas County will need more time built in the calendar to account for snow days than Kanawha County where there are fewer snow days, for instance.
Delegate Campbell told the Board that Feed to Achieve was a federal program designed to provide free meals to all students regardless of income level. Delegate Campbell went on to discuss the program and provided suggestions as how to best implement it in Pocahontas County.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Superintendent Lester recognized the following:
- Sherry Radcliff for her hard work and dedication. Mr. Lester told the Board that Ms. Radcliff has been working 12, 14, and 18 hour days trying to prepare the 2013-2014 budget and also the other responsibilities.
- Teresa Mullen was only one of nine ProStart teachers in the state to receive a $1,250 grant for professional development.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Lester informed the Board of the following:
- He informed the Board of a telephone conversation he recently had and indicated that the ROTC was beginning to look like a real possibility for the 2013-2014 school year.
- He said that Shelly DeBerry with the West Virginia Department of Education will be speaking on common core at the Mountain Quest Institute in the near future.
- He informed the Board that the contract between MIRC and the Pocahontas County Board of Education for the construction of the Hillsboro Elementary School cafeteria project will be signed on Wednesday, May 15, 2013.
- He noted that after an agreement with the power company, another $15,000 was saved on the cost of the Hillsboro Elementary School cafeteria project.
INFORMATION/REPORTS/UPDATES…
- Miss Lyndsee Gay, student representative, informed the Board that the track team did very well at the regional competition and several members will be moving on to the state competitions. Miss Gay then updated the Board Members with the following dates/times to remember:
May 22, 2013, at 6:00 PM – Athletics banquet at the Pocahontas County High School gymnasium
May 23, 2013, at 6:30 PM – Senior awards banquet at the Pocahontas County High School gymnasium
May 25, 2013, at 11:00 AM – Graduation at the Pocahontas County High School gymnasium
May 31, 2013, time to be determined – FFA banquet at the Pocahontas County High School gymnasium - Sherry Radcliff, treasurer, provided the Board with financial data and suggested the Board meet to discuss the 2013-2014 budget prior to submission.
- Mr. Jody Spencer addressed the Board about the possibility of starting an archery club in the school system. Mr. Spencer noted that there would be no cost to the Board and he has arranged to take the training to become a certified archery instructor.
The Board Members agreed the archery program would be a wonderful program for the students in the county and suggested placing it on the next agenda to be voted on.
HEAR CALLERS
Melissa Keatly asked to speak to the Board in executive session.
On motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved a call for Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. The Board went into Executive Session at 8:25 PMand, at the conclusion of the Executive Session, on motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously agreed to return to the agenda at 8:40 PM.
APPROVAL OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved the payment of the vendor listing of claims in the amount of $190,354.77.
Mr. Grimes recused himself while the Board voted on his travel reimbursement in the amount of $242.05, which passed with a 4-0 vote.
Dr. Sizemore recused herself while the Board voted on the travel reimbursement of Christine Smith in the amount of $149.78, which passed with a 4-0 vote.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Dr. Sizemore, the Board unanimously approved payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $30,321.96.
APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims (United Bank/local government purchasing card) in the amount of $22,213.24.
APPROVAL OF TREASURER’S REPORT…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Dr. Sizemore, the Board unanimously approved the treasurer’s report, revenue and expenditures summary, budget transfers, and grant awards, a copy of which is on file in the finance office.
APPROVAL OF MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN POCAHONTAS COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION AND POCAHONTAS COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Pocahontas County Parks and Recreation Board for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
APPROVAL TO CONTRIBUTE $18,000 FOR THE PURCHASE OF AN ALUMINUM CANOPY…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board discussed approval to contribute $18,000 for the purchase of an aluminum canopy that will connect Marlinton Elementary School and the Community Wellness Center.
On motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Dr. Sizemore, the Board unanimously agreed to table discussions until the May 28, 2013 Board of Education meeting.
APPROVAL TO EXTEND CONTRACT…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved to extend the contract approved by the Pocahontas County Board of Education on July 23, 2012, between the Pocahontas County Board of Education and David B. Wamsley for psychoeducational services, from a maximum expenditure of $6,500 to a maximum expenditure of $8,500 for the 2012-2013 fiscal year.
APPROVAL TO CONTRACT WITH SOLOMON WORKMAN…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to contract with Solomon Workman to serve as Clerk of the Works for the Hillsboro Elementary School cafeteria project at an amount of $30,000, beginning May 15, 2013 until completion of the project, but not to exceed 180 days.
APPROVAL TO PLACE THE REVISIONS OF POLICIES ON 30-DAY COMMENT…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to place the revisions of the following policies on 30-day comment:
a.EBD – Heating and Ventilation Indoor Air Quality
b.GAHB – Staff Political Activities
c.KCB/LEBA – Parent Involvement
PERMISSION FOR POCAHONTAS COUNTY RESIDENT TO ATTEND RANDOLPH COUNTY SCHOOLS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved for Trista Bennett, a resident of Pocahontas County, to transport her child to Randolph County to attend Randolph County Schools, effective for the 2013-2014 school year.
APPROVAL TO ADOPT SOCIAL STUDIES TEXTBOOKS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved to adopt the following social studies textbooks for the 2013-2014 school year:
K / Our World Now and Long Ago (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)1 / A Child’s View (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)
2 / People We Know (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)
3 / Our Communities (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)
4 / The United States: Making a Nation (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)
5 / The United States: Civil War to Present (Houghton-Mifflin Harcourt)
6 / United States History: Civil War to Present (Holt-McDougal)
7 / Ancient Civilizations: Through the Renaissance (Holt-McDougal)
8 / West Virginia: 150 Years of Statehood (Clairmont Press (WV History))
9 / World History: Patterns of Interaction (Holt-McDougal)
10 / The Americans: Beginning to 1914 (Holt-McDougal)
11 / The Americans: Reconstructing to 21st Century (Holt-McDougal)
12 / United States Government/Economics: Concepts and Choices Bundle Geography (Holt-McDougal)
EXECUTIVE SESSION
On motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved a call for Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter with no action. The Board went into Executive Session at 9:15 PM and, at the conclusion of the Executive Session on motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously agreed to return to the agenda at 9:35 PM.
PERSONNEL
On motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved the recommendation of the superintendent for suspension of professional employee, Cynthia Shreve, without pay for one day.
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel the Board unanimously approved the following personnel:
Marlinton Middle School:RESIGNATION: / LESLI MENSING, as teacher of mathematics at Marlinton Middle School, effective at the end of the 2012-2013 school year.
Pocahontas County High School:
EMPLOYMENT: / DAMIAN ELLIOTT, as assistant football coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $2,000. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / TIMOTHY L. McCLUNG, as head basketball coach (boys) at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $3,300. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / ANDREW McNABB, as assistant basketball coach (boys) at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $1,700. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / J. MICHAEL KANE, III, as head basketball coach (girls) at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $3,300. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / RICHARD HARTZELL, as softball coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $1,500. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / Of the following as co-cheerleading coaches at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $1,500 (to be divided equally). (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
Darlene D. Arbogast
MelodiKnisely
EMPLOYMENT: / CINDY L. BROCK, as EMT for Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $2,500. Must attend all games and practices. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
RESIGNATION: / KATHRYN WHITE, as head soccer coach (girls) at Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2012-2013 season.
EMPLOYMENT: / DOUGLAS BURNS, as head football coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $4,000. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / KAY WILEY, as athletic director at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $4,000. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / CYNTHIA PRITT, as athletic seasonal coordinator – soccer, at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $500. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / CYNTHIA PRITT, as athletic seasonal coordinator – softball, at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $500. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / ALEXANDER WILSON, as teacher of health/physical education at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2013-2014 school year (term of employment 200 days) at state basic salary based on degree and experience.
Pocahontas County Schools:
RESIGNATION: / JERRY A. MATHENY, due to retirement, as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools, effective June 30, 2013.
RESIGNATION: / JAMES W. SHEARER, JR., due to retirement, as chief mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, effective at the end of the day, May 31, 2013.
RESIGNATION: / SHERRY L. RADCLIFF, as substitute teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to April 26, 2013.
RESIGNATION: / SHERRY L. RADCLIFF, as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to April 26, 2013.
RESIGNATION: / SHERRY L. RADCLIFF, as substitute custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to April 26, 2013.
CREATION OF POSITION: / Secretary II/Accountant II for Pocahontas County Schools, at $12 per hour, not to exceed 17.5 hours per week, not to exceed 40 weeks per fiscal year, effective May 30, 2013 until the expiration of funding through the Innovation Zone Grant.
CREATION OF POSITION: / Itinerant Speech Therapist – extended year program for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment – Hillsboro Elementary School), effective June 17, 2013 – July 19, 2013, not to exceed 18 hours per week at $20 per hour.
MATTERS FROM THE BOARD
Ms. Beverage asked if the county was seeking out an alternative discipline program to the BIF program.
Mr. Lester said that the county was looking into discipline programs that are working in other counties. He pointed that that the BIF program was never meant to be used as a ‘gotcha’ program; the BIF program was only meant to open lines of communication between schools and the parents.
Mr. Grimes informed the Board that he has been receiving telephone calls from community members with concerns about the block scheduling.
Mr. Vance pointed out that scheduling for the 2013-2014 school year is already underway.
NEXT BOARD MEETING
Superintendent Lester called for a special Board of Education meeting on Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at 5:30 PM to discuss the 2013-2014 budget.
The Pocahontas County Board of Education will meeting on Tuesday, May 28, 2013, at 7:00 PM at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Conference Room.
ADJOURN
On motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously agreed to adjourn.
______
PresidentSecretary