BOE Must Charge “Reasonable Fee” for Home School Sports

At the September 1^st Pocahontas County Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams advised the members that the state Department of Education will not permit the Pocahontas County BOE to allow home-schooled students to only pay nothing or only $1.00 to participate in the school systems extracurricular sports such as football or other extracurricular activities, as the county board had previously suggested doing. Dr. Williams explained that at the board’s request, she had sent that proposed policy change to the state for their review, and they rejected it. Although, Dr. Williams said, the state did not tell them specifically what they should charge for that, they did say the BOE has to set a reasonable fee similar to what other school systems charge. The state included a list for the BOE to consider as examples which shows what eight other county school systems charge for homeschool students to participate in extracurricular activities and sports. The list ranged from a Greenbrier County fee of $905.94 for football participation which is based on 1/6^th of the amount of money home school parents receive from the Hope Scholarship, down to $250.00 charged by Jefferson County for extracurricular activities with only $150.00 for tier 1 athletics. The list did not define tier 1 athletics verses Tier 2 athletics which are $250.00.

With that disappointing information and for the above reasons, the members again tabled the third reading of both policy 9270 which sets the fees for extracurricular activities, and policy 2371 which sets the fees for homeschool students to attend curricular classes. That policy was also sent to the Department of Education and revisions are required in that policy also. Member Sam Gibson expressed his disagreement with charging any fee to homeschool kids to play football, since if a student transfers to the Pocahontas County Schools from another county’s public school system, they are not charged a similar fee to participate in football.

Two State Department of Education (DOE) officials attended the meeting, Jeff Kelly, the Associate Superintendent, and Alexandra Criner, the WV DOE’s Director of the Office of Accountability.

When Board President Connie Rose suggested that the board needs to be given a roll in the hiring process by being allowed to review the applicant’s experience and application before being presented with approving to hire them or not, Kelly stepped in and told the board that would be beyond the role a BOE is allowed to do. He said the board can only approve or disapprove a hiring after the Superintendent and her designated employees conduct the hiring process and present the selected proposed employee to the board for final approval. Member Regina Hall stated that should not be the case.

Dr. Williams offered a “shout out” to all school staff for the great job they did in starting the school year. She said they will be focused on implementing the 3^rd Grade Success Act this school year.

Missy Price, the President of the PCHS Football Boosters made a presentation to the board, explaining that the equipment costs alone to start the 2026-2027 football season is $44,065.64 and they get no money from the state for any football related expenses.

The board also passed the recommended personnel actions, as well as routine agenda items.

Superintendent Dr. Williams said she has addressed the board’s concerns about the parking fee charged to students who drive to PCHS. She said she met with PCHS Principal Wagner and asked her about that fee. Wagner told her that she implemented it after having presented it on Facebook and received no objections. She said the fee is needed to help repair and maintain the school’s parking lots. Dr. Williams said out of a sense of supporting the new Principal, she is letting it stand.

Rose said she is concerned because people have complained they when they call the board office, they are not being called back. Dr. Williams said she was not aware this is a problem, and will address it.

In her final updates, Dr. Williams said this is a very busy time of the year at the Central Office with the opening of school. She said they are monitoring special Education and preparing financial statements.