Marlinton Middle School Celebrated at Board of Education/ LSIC Meeting
On December 4th, the Pocahontas County Board of Education met at Marlinton Middle School. Prior to the regular Board Meeting there was a Local School Improvement Council Meeting where Marlinton Middle School Principal Dustin Lambert proudly informed the Board about achievements at the school, especially in the area of discipline. He said that disciplinary incidents resulting in suspensions have been reduced dramatically this year compared to last year. He also talked about the expansion of opportunities for students at the school . There were also presentations about the school’s new high tunnel, both its successes and challenges in providing a productive space for growing fruits and vegetables. The challenges included dealing with temperature and flooding issues, while the successes include the lessons about horticulture being learned by the students who are involved with the high tunnel project. The Students Against Destructive Decisions, or SADD, talked about a recent trip to the state SADD conference where they learned about the importance of developing good self esteem to help avoid destructive decisions and addictions. Other presentations were about an 8th grade podcast about West Virginia history, and a new positive approach to encouraging good behavior known as the COPS or “Catching Outstanding Productive Students” where students are issued “tickets” when they are “caught” being “good.” The tickets are then placed into a box and there is a drawing of tickets from the box where the winners receive rewards. There are plans to expand the rewards in the future.
In other actions at the Board Meeting, Superintendent Terrence Beam congratulated the Robotics Team at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School for a first place finish in the recent State Robotics Championships. Hunter Tankersley, the student Representative to the Board of Education, reported that the High School Elf Auction would be held to provide Christmas Gifts for special needs kids. He also said the PCHS Rotary Club and National honor Society were also preparing “Christmas Shoe Boxes” for Operation Christmas Child.
The Board approved making an initial deposit of up to $500.00 to help provide funds for the six counties, including Pocahontas, who have filed suit against the WV Board of Education, to pay for expert witnesses. This legal action resulted from severe under-funding by the State over a period of years which was discovered by the State Auditor who said the State used a flawed formula when it determined how much State Aid money the six plaintiff counties received. Through this lawsuit, the County Board hopes to recover the funds they were shorted by the State Board of Education.
The Board also heard from Lauren Bennett, the Director of the County Parks and Recreation who sought permission to build a trail across the Marlinton Elementary School Campus to enable fisherman to have a safer access to Knapps Creek. She said that the fishermen, many of whom are children, currently use a busy bridge to access the creek which is dangerous. The Board tabled any action on this until the December 18th Board of Education Meeting because they need to learn more about possible liability and insurance issues with such a trail; about the issue of fisherman carrying weapons across school property; and about who would be responsible for clean-up and maintenance of such a trail.
They also approved a Professional and Service Personnel Agenda which can be found Below
PERSONNEL AGENDA
December 4, 2017
Professional and Service Personnel
PERSONNEL
Pocahontas County High School:
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following Track Coach (Boys’) at Pocahontas County High School,
effective for the 2017-2018 season, at a supplement of $1,500 (NOTE: Position
to be divided equally among four individuals).
Joshua Abbott
Aaron Pugh
Abram Rittenhouse
Eric Rose
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following Track Coach (Girls’) at Pocahontas County High School,
effective for the 2017-2018 season, at a supplement of $1,500 (NOTE: Position
to be divided equally among four individuals).
Joshua Abbott
Aaron Pugh
Abram Rittenhouse
Eric Rose
Pocahontas County Schools:
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County
Schools, effective December 6, 2017 for the remainder of the 2017-2018
School year, as needed, at state basic pay.
Tabitha Parcell
Britt Parcell
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools,
effective December 6, 2017 for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year, as
needed, at state basic pay.
Timothy Wade
Mark Walton
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