Marlinton Elementary School to Get a Bus Shelter

Marlinton Elementary School Local School Improvements Council Member J.L. Clifton told the Pocahontas County Board of Education at their August 20^th meeting that he has been collecting donations and support from local businesses and is now ready to construct a 10-foot by 16-foot bus shelter at the front of the school to provide a dry place for the students to wait for the school buses. The shelter will have no sides, but will have a roof and benches.  Clifton said he first talked to Pocahontas County High School Carpentry Teacher Duane Gibson about having his students design and build the shelter. Gibson’s class made a supply list and broke it down to the bare minimum.

Mitchell Chevrolet pledged to provide a skid steer or excavator to prepare the spot for the shelter. Appalachian Aggregate will supply the gravel and Burns Motor Freight has committed to hauling the gravel.

“The biggie was the materials list, and I went to several different places,” Clifton said. “Lowes has agreed to furnish every bit of the materials on the list, minus the crusher run. [It] has agreed to donate the entire materials list, even the bonus bench material through their Heroes Program.”

Clifton added that several other businesses have stated they will pitch in any materials needed that Lowes is unable to provide.

With all the materials in place, Clifton said he spoke again with Gibson, who plans to have the project as the first on his list for this semester.

The Board Members pointed out to Clifton that once the former board office is demolished, there is a plan to relocate the buses there to loading and unloading students. Despite this future change, Clifton said he feels that until that happens, this shelter will provide a dry and safe place for the students to wait. Even after the bus pick-p and drop-off place is relocated, the shelter will still be beneficial for students using the activity bus and the Community Wellness Center.

In his report to the Board, Superintendent Terrence Beam reported that Assistant State Superintendent and Director of Career and Technical Education Dr. Kathy D’Antoni sent him samples for six potential high school models for a technical high school. Beam said he shared the information with PCHS principal Joe Riley for his consideration. Beam added that he heard that several people are upset that PCHS is charging students to drive and park at the school. Beam spoke to Board Attorney Jason Long, who informed him that it is legal for a school to charge for such privileges. The money is used to improve the school. The rates are: full year, $50, one semester, $25 or $2 a day.

In miscellaneous portion of the meeting, the Board approved the following:

• Amanda and Josh Long, residents of Pocahontas County, to enroll their child in Greenbrier County Schools for the 2019-2020 school year.

• Memorandum of Understanding between Pocahontas County Board of Education, representing Hillsboro Elementary School, and Rainelle Medical Center School-Based Mental Health Program, per the terms of the MOU.

• Procedure JKB – Fundraising.

• Policy IFCB – Field Trips and Excursions.

• The Board voted down 1-3 a request from Maureen Stuart to waive the Attendance Zone Policy, so that her child may ride the school bus from the Snowshoe area to Green Bank Elementary-Middle School. Stuart will be required to provide transportation for her child to attend GBEMS.

The Board voted on a proposed professional and service personnel agenda. This can be found with this story on our website. Allegheny Mountain Radio would like to thank the Pocahontas Times and their Staff Writer Suzanne Stewart for providing the information in this story.

The Board approved the following Personnel Actions

Resignation of Amanda N. Ryder as teacher of social studies/multi-subjects at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to August 1.

Requested transfer of Holly N. Chestnut from teacher of health/social studies at Pocahontas County High School to teacher of social studies/multi-subjects at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at state basic pay based on degree and experience, retroactive to August 14, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.

Employment of Teresa Rhea as academic interventionist at Marlinton Middle School, effective September 2, 2019 through May 25, 2020, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $7,000.

Employment of Jerry L. Dale as graduation coach at Pocahontas County High School, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, four days per week, not to exceed $16,640 for the contract term, retroactive to July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020. Position to be funded by Graduation 20/20 grant.

Permission for the superintendent to post and fill positions prior to board approval until September 10.

Change in classification of the following aides from their designated classification to supervisory aide, effective for the 2019-2020 school year: Susan M. Armstrong, Tonja S. Armstrong, Janet L. Cole, Rebecca A. Davis, Carrie, L. Hickman, Renee Hill, Karrie B. Jack, TaBeatha J. McCoy, Carolyn Pennington, Dorthie I. Shamblin, Tina M. Sharp, Heather D. Simmons, Felicia L. Smith and Cindy Wade-Price.

Employment of the following mentors, effective 2019-2020 school year, at $20 per hour, not to exceed 50 hours or $1,000 – Jennifer Nail mentoring Casondra Griffith; Teresa Rhea mentoring Vada Boback; Diane Delfino mentoring Rachel McComb; Mary Sue Burns mentoring Justin Dilley; and Courtney Curran mentoring Kathy Mason.

Employment of the following as substitute aides for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed, in order of seniority – Donna F. Gragg, Kathleen Holzman-Henry, Dottie Chestnut, Cynthia Landis, Amber Arbogast, Ashley Wilt, Shelby Snead, Morgan McComb, Amanda Buzzard, Kevin Thompson, Diane Arbogast, Haley Hensler, Sommer Hickman, Amanda McCarty, Kristine Sharp and Kaitlyn Buzzard.

Employment of the following as substitute cooks for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Cynthia Landis, Amber Arbogast, Dottie Chestnut, Morgan McComb, Loretta Irvine, Amanda McCarty, Diane Arbogast and Kristine Sharp.

Employment of the following as substitute custodians for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Roger Irvine, Dottie Chestnut, Timothy Wade, Morgan McComb, Diane Arbogast, Loretta Irvine, Timothy Sacca, Gregory Rich and Joseph Rose.

Employment of the following as substitute school bus operators for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Daryl Shinaberry, David Vandevender, Thomas Madison and Jerald Ramos. Emergency Use Only – Ian Bennett, Justin Taylor, Duane Gibson and Jamie Walker.

Employment of the following at substitute secretaries/accountants for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Kimberly Jordan, Diane Arbogast, Staci Jo Keffer and Joann V. Estep.

Employment of the following as substitute maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Roger Irvine, Timothy Wade, Richard Dunbrack, Morgan McComb, Joseph Rose and Gregory Rich.

Employment of Jamie Walker – emergency use only – as substitute mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed.

Employment of the following as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, based on degree and experience, retroactive to August 12, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year, as needed – Susan M. Arbogast, Michelle Arbogast, Margaret Baker, Matthew Barkley, Curtis Bennett, Shelby L. Snead, Kay Blackshire, Ross David Boggs, Joyce Boothe, Lynne Bowman, Melinda Gayle Boyette, Mary Sue Burns, Michele Fehrer, Earl Douglas Friel, Patricia Heinemann, Diane E. Hoover, Charlie Hughes, Allen Johnson, Debora Johnson, Cheryl Jonese, Judith Ann Kane, Staci Jo Keffer, Cailey Moore, David Moore, Cheryl Nelson, Rebecca O’Brien, Michael Porter, Susan Ray, Teresa E. Rhea, Nathalie Richardson, Lucy Rittenhouse, Joseph Rose, Virginia L. Shaw, Elaine J. Sheets, Robert A. Sheets, Sharla Sherman, Christin D. Shinaberry, Shenda Smith, Jean O. Srodes, Susan Streisel, Linda H. VanReenen, Madge Vosteen, Alesia Wayne, Rosanne Zeni, Katherine Flood and Gwen Cauley.

The Board voted down 0-4 the unpaid medical leave request of Stephen D. McCarty, Jr., upon approval of medical doctor, effective August 20, for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year.