Air Conditioning for Most Pocahontas Schools?
At the July 26th Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting, Director of Maintenance, Ron Hall said he was 90% sure that four of the five county schools can be air conditioned in the near future. He said this, in addition to creating a more comfortable learning environment, would increase school safety by eliminating the need to leave doors and windows open during excessively hot days. Superintendent Beam said the details about how this might be accomplished will be revealed at the August 16th board meeting.
During the Superintendent’s Report, Beam clarified that the first day back for employees will be August 9th, and for students it will be on August 15th. He also said there are only two vacancies that they have not yet been able to fill, a PE / Health Teacher and a Drivers Ed Teacher, both at PCHS.
The board heard from Mrs. Breanne Hummel, who expressed concerns about school safety in light of school shootings across the nation. She suggested that retired police or retired veterans be hired to provide armed security in the schools. Mr. Beam said he was not sure if the WVDE would allow that, but all options for safety will be considered.
PCHS Athletic Director Kathy Mason said some parents would like to see volleyball return as a sport at PCHS. She was not sure how much interest there would be, but it would not be possible to initiate Volleyball this school year because of time and financial constraints.
The board approved financial matters including in addition to the usual financial reports, increasing travel reimbursement from 58.5 cents per mile to 62.5 cents per mile and also adding a $500.00 incentive bonus for all staff, other then classroom teachers, who are absent less then four days during the upcoming school year. Mr. Beam said that incentive may reduce the cost of using substitutes.
In addition, the board:
- Issued official notice that the vacancy on the County Board of Education will be on the ballot for the November 8th General Election.
- Approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Community Care of West Virginia, Inc., to provide healthcare services in the School Based Health Care Center facilities.
- Agreed to accept a reimbursement of up to $2,000.00 from the West Virginia University Research Corporation to pay for substitute teacher coverage while Jennifer Nail Cook is out of her classroom participating in “Mountaineer Mathematics Master Teachers” approved project events.
- Renewed the Memorandum of Understanding with the West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of Child Nutrition.
- Agreed to participate in the WVDE National School Lunch Program Snack Agreement Addendum.
- Agreed to roll-over the bids at past year’s costs for United Dairy, Tri-County Wholesale Produce, and with the Country Roads Cooperative, and they increased the cost of extra milk from 40 cents each to 50 cents for this school year.
- Approved the purchase of a Blue Bird gasoline powered 77-passenger “Vision” conventional school bus at a cost of $100,365.00. The state does provide reimbursement for purchasing school buses. There are currently 18 busses being operated by 18 bus drivers, and about 3 spare busses.
- Approved contracts with Diana Smith, Certified School Psychologist; with Melanie Mason, Physical Therapist; and with Leslie Goodall, Occupational Therapist. These contracts are all effective from August 15, 2022 through June 30, 2023.
- Agreed to continue the following assignments for board members for the current fiscal year: Sue Hollandsworth as the representative on the Southern Educational Services Cooperative Committee; Sam Gibson as the representative on the West Virginia Extension Office Committee; and Morgan McComb as the BOE’s representative on the Day Report Committee.
- Designated the following the 2022-2023 sports gender classifications. The boys’ sports will be Basketball, Baseball, Soccer and Track & Field; the girls’ sports will be Basketball, Softball and Track & Field; and the co-ed sports will be Band. Cheer Leading and Football.
- Approved 14 Revised Neola Policies.
- Approved the recommended list of personnel actions, which can be found at the end of this story.
During their Matters of the Board discussion, Sue Hollandsworth suggested the board get more familiar with current academic programs in the schools by inviting people involved in those programs such as attendance, robotics, academic fairs, test scores etc. to address the board at some of their meetings, as well taking a closer look at the various schools’ strategic plans and goals, and comparing them with the schools’ real-world results.
PERSONNEL AGENDA
July 26, 2022
Professional and Service Personnel
| Marlinton Elementary School: | ||||
| EMPLOYMENT: | KIMBERLY I. JORDAN, as Secretary II/Accountant II at Marlinton Elementary School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2022-2023 school year, shift being 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (Monday – Friday). Term of employment is 215 days. | |||
| Marlinton Middle School: | ||||
| EMPLOYMENT: | ERIN K. MURPHY, as Teacher of English/Language Arts at Marlinton Middle School at state minimum salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. | |||
| EMPLOYMENT: | KRYSTAL D. LEWIS, as Itinerant Teacher of Special Education (Multi-categorical)/Autism at Marlinton Middle School at state minimum salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. | |||
| Pocahontas County Schools: | ||||
| EMPLOYMENT: | SALLY J. LOGAN, as Itinerant Teacher of CTE/Career Exploration for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment being Marlinton Middle School/Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, as state minimum salary base on degree and experience, effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. | |||
| REQUESTED
TRANSFER: |
EVAN E. ROSE, as School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run to run as follows:
Morning Run: Beginning at Hillsboro Elementary School, turn right on North 219 right and travel to intersection Route 39/55, bear left, travel to Tabernacle Church and turn in driveway above church at mobile home, proceed to the intersection of Route 219, and take right to Hillsboro Elementary School. Leaving Hillsboro Elementary School, take right on Route 219 north to Marlinton Middle School picking up students on 219 North at School Days Child Care, LLC. Leaving Marlinton Middle School turn left on to Route 219 South proceed to School Days Child Care, dropping off students, turn the bus and then return to 219 South travel to intersection of Route 39/55 and proceed to the Tabernacle church and turn in the driveway of the mobile home and proceed back to intersection of Route 219, turn right and travel to the intersection of Route 219/Seebert Road (County Rt. 27), turn left, continue and make a right on Rose Road then turn on Puffenbarger Road, turn bus past the Chaney residence and travel back to County Rt. 27, make a right and travel to the old depot lot on left before Jack Horner’s Corner, turn around and travel back intersection of Route 219 proceed to Hillsboro Elementary School. Afternoon Run: Leaving Hillsboro Elementary School, turn onto Route 219 North and proceed to the School Days Child Care. Leaving daycare, travel to Marlinton Middle School, leaving Marlinton Middle School, return to School Days Child Care, travel along Route 219 South to Hillsboro Elementary School, transferring students. Exiting the school, turn right, proceed to the intersection of Route 219/Seebert Road (County Rt. 27), turn right, continue and make a right on Rose Road then turn on Puffenbarger Road, turn bus past the Chaney residence and travel back to County Rt. 27, make a right and travel to the old depot lot on left before Jack Horner’s Corner, turn around and travel back intersection of Route 219, turn right, travel on to intersection of Route 39/55, turn left and travel to the Tabernacle Church and turn in the driveway of the mobile home, proceed back to the intersection of 219 and turn right, travel back to Hillsboro Elementary School. SNOW ROUTE. Morning Run: Begin at Hillsboro Elementary School, take a left and travel to the intersection of Route 39/55, travel to Tabernacle Church and turn in driveway above church at mobile home, proceed to the intersection of 219 South to Hillsboro Elementary School. From Hillsboro Elementary School turn right on 219 North and proceed to Marlinton Middle School and back to 219 South and travel to Hillsboro Elementary School. Afternoon Run: Reverse of the Morning Run, may pick up students that other buses cannot. at State Minimum Salary, effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Term of employment remains 200 days. |
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REQUESTED TRANSFER: |
JOSEPH M. JUDY, as School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run to run as follows:
Morning Run: Beginning at Pocahontas County High School and traveling to Seebert for the first pick up, coming back to the Seebert Lane Road going onto Rose Road and Puffenbarger Road and then coming back out Seebert Lane to Hillsboro Elementary School and from Hillsboro Elementary School traveling Route 219 North to Old Buckeye Road, back to 219 North, to Marlinton Middle School, transferring students, then traveling back to Route 219 North, to Route 39 to Route 28 and ending at Pocahontas County High School where it will be parked during the school day. Evening Run: Reverse of morning run. SNOW ROUTE: Morning Run: The bus will only travel Route 219 and will meet students at the intersection of the above mentioned roads/lanes or at Hillsboro Elementary School. May pick up students that other buses cannot. Afternoon Run: Reverse of morning run. at State Minimum Salary, effective for the 2022-2023 school year. Term of employment remains 200 days. |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | FORREST L. MULLENAX, as School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools, at state minimum salary, effective for the 2022-2023 school year, term of employment is 200 days, to run as follows:
Morning Run: Beginning at Marlinton Middle School, turn right onto Route 219N and proceed to the intersection of Rt 219 N and Route 66, continue to the intersection of Linwood Rd. and Rt. 66 turn bus at the Ralph Beckwith residence return to Route 66, picking up students at or near the Fiddlehead/Big Springs Fork Restaurant then turning left onto Route 219S picking up children on Rt. 219S, transferring students at Marlinton Middle School, then onto Marlinton Elementary School. Shall be required to travel to the high school when necessary for both morning and afternoon runs, as needed, per Transportation Director. Afternoon Run: Reverse of morning run. SNOW ROUTE: Morning Run: Beginning at Marlinton Middle School, turn right on Route 219N, travel to intersection of Rt. 219 N and Rt. 66 picking up students at the restaurant location at Slatyfork. Students will meet the bus at the restaurant area. The bus will then proceed back to Route 219 N to Marlinton Middle School and then on to Marlinton Elementary School or Pocahontas County High School. Afternoon Run: Reverse of the morning run. |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | HALEY G. CUMMINS, as Itinerant Special Education Classroom Aide/Bus Aide for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment: Marlinton Middle School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2022-2023 school year, shift being 7:30 am – 3:30 pm (Monday – Friday). Term of employment is 200 days. | |||
| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Battle of the Books (BOB) Coordinators—Summer program for Pocahontas County Schools, at daily rate of pay, up to 14 days as needed, retroactive to June 21 – August 05, 2022. Wages are contingent upon actually working the Battle of the Books summer program position. Paid holidays are not part of the contract.
Baldwin, Erin Tankersley, Kristi |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Teachers for Early Literacy Initiative—Summer program for Pocahontas County Schools, at daily rate of pay, up to 10 days as needed, retroactive to 5 weeks during June 21 – August 05, 2022, up to two days per week with two additional days scheduled for preparatory instruction. Wages are contingent upon actually working the Early Literacy Initiative summer program position. Paid holidays are not part of the contract.
Murphy, Michelle Owens, Peggy Rose-Taylor, Nicole Wagner, Jeanette |
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| ANNUAL CLASSIFICATION: | Of the following Supervisory Aides effective for the 2022-2023 school year.
Arbogast, Amber R. Armstrong, Susan M. Armstrong, Tonja S. Beverage, Kimberly Broce, Katie Chestnut, Dottie Cover, Sarah Cummins, Haley Davis, Rebecca A. Hickman, Carrie L. Hill, Renee Jack, Karrie B. Johnson, Tomma Landis, Cynthia McCoy, TaBeatha J. Oxier, Jessica Pennington, Carolyn Rider, Tammy Ryder, Michelle Simmons, Heather D. Smith, Felicia L. Tracy, Tina M. |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Aide for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Holzman-Henry, Kathleen Bennett, Shelby (Snead) Hickman, Sommer Brock, Jennifer Nicole McCarty, Amanda Long, Tiffany Dinkins, Kristi Hefner, Elizabeth Peteete, Rebecca Arbogast, Diane Sharp, Kristine Sharp, Kaitlyn Kloeker, Teresa Shamblin, Dottie Rich, Lisa |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Cook for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
McCarty, Amanda Corbin, Laurie Greene, Goldie McCarty, Sandra Sharp, Kristine Miller, Pippi Dinkins, Kristi Beverage, Holly |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Irvine, Roger D. Wade, Timothy Rich, Greg Jaharias, George J. Thompson, Kevin Beverage, Holly |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Shinaberry, Daryl Madison, Thomas Ervine, Shawn K. Barlow, F. Herbert Thompson, Kevin McNeel, Donald Varner, Kenneth “Buster”
Gibson, Duane (Emergency Use Only) Walker, Jamie (Emergency Use Only) Bennett, Ian (Emergency Use Only) Taylor, Justin (Emergency Use Only) Chaney, James (Emergency Use Only) |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Secretary/Accountant for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Dunn, Staci Jo Estep, Joann V. Ray, Susan Rhea, Teresa Arbogast, Diane Rich, Lisa |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Irvine, Roger D Dunbrack, Richard Wade, Timothy Rich, Greg Jaharias, George Ervine, Shawn |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed. (In order of seniority.)
Walker, Jamie (Emergency Use Only) |
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| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following as Substitute Teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, based on degree and experience, for the 2022-2023 school year, as needed.
Ahern, Daniel J. Arbogast, M. Susan Arbogast, Michelle L. Baker, Margaret Beam, Penny S. Berry IV, P. Erwin Blackshire, Kay E. Boggs, Ross David Boothe, Thomas Brown, William Dunn, Staci J. Friel, Earl D. Heinemann, Patricia A. Holcomb, David T. Irvine, Deborah A. Jonese, Cheryl R. Kane, Judith A. Miller, Jay V. Nelson, Cheryl L Nottingham, Alyssa Ray, Susan Rhea, Teresa Rittenhouse, Lucy M. Rittenhouse, Shannon Rose-Taylor, Nicole Shamblin, Dottie Shaw, Virginia Sheets, Elaine Sheets, Robert A. Sherman, Sharla Shinaberry, Christin D. Smith, Shenda Srodes, Jean O. Streisel, Susan K. Taylor, June VanReenen, Linda H. Wayne, Alesia Workman, Katherine Zeni, Rosanne
Barkley-Bircher, Shannon (Emergency Use Only) Carpenter, Cora Lee (Emergency Use Only) Hamilton, Sarah E. (Emergency Use Only) Hamons, Kristi A (Emergency Use Only) |
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| Athletics: | ||||
| EMPLOYMENT: | Of the following coaches at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2022-2023 season, at the supplement indicated. NOTE: All positions are contingent upon proper certification and/or licensure and sufficient number of players to make a team. | |||
| Employee: | Position: | Supplement: | ||
| Shannon Arbogast | Head Soccer Coach (girls’) | $2,250 | ||
| Shannon Arbogast | Head Soccer Coach (boys’) | $2,250 | ||
| Allen Taylor | Assistant Basketball Coach (girls’) | volunteer | ||
| Joshua Abbott | Track Coach (girls’) | $562.50 | ||
| Joshua Abbott | Track Coach (boys’) | $562.50 | ||
| Shannon Arbogast | MMS Head Basketball Coach (girls’) | $1,125 | ||
| Devan E. Gum | Assistant Cheerleading Coach | volunteer | ||
| RESIGNATION: | KATHY L. MASON, as Assistant Basketball Coach (boys’) at Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 athletic season. | |||
| RESIGNATION: | MARK A. LANDIS, as 7th & 8th Grade Assistant Football Coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2021-2022 athletic season. | |||
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