New Superintendent of Pocahontas County Schools Selected
At the May 6th Pocahontas County Board of Education (BOE) meeting, the members voted to approve the hiring of Dr. Leatha Williams as the Superintendent of Schools effective July 1,
Williams, who is originally from northern Greenbrier County, has served as the Superintendent of the Wetzel County Schools and is currently the Director of School Improvement; Federal Programs and Child Nutrition in the Braxton County Schools. She has also worked for the WV Department of Education.
Emery Grimes, Dr. Williams and her Husband Duane
Williams, who is originally from northern Greenbrier County, has served as the Superintendent of the Wetzel County Schools and is currently the Director of School Improvement; Federal Programs and Child Nutrition in the Braxton County Schools. She has also worked for the WV Department of Education.
During her report, current Superintendent Lynne Bostic said she is continuing her weekly talks with the principals, with recent discussions about snow days and the new Student Standard of Excellence Award. More details about that award can be found on the Pocahontas Schools website on the “Student Resources” page. She also talked about how busy the central offices this time of year, with evaluations, summer programs, preparing food orders, ordering text books, and preparing professional training for next school year.
Stephanie Burns talked about the Battle of the Books, which, despite being a new competition for Pocahontas County Schools, had 26 student participants, and impressed the regional coordinators of the event. She said that the Marlinton Middle School team placed second at regionals.
Student Representative Joseph VanMeter told the members that students are upset that there was no student handbook published at PCHS this year. Board President Emery Grimes assured him there will be one published next school year.
Director Kristy Tritapoe said that they have applied for a $7,000 special education training grant. She also talked about the Pre-K curriculum for next year which will include learning through play and observational assessments of students.
Cindy Solak and Briana Morgan said they made changes to the criteria for the National Honor Society (NHS), emphasizing Leadership, Scholarship, Service and Character, and clarifying that membership in the NHS is an honor, not a right. This year the qualification applications had the students’ names removed before being evaluated for membership.
Additionally at the meeting the members:
- Approved the 2024 audited Financial Statement and of the discussion presented at a prior meeting.
- Approved Kim Shinaberry and Brittany Place to take about 26 students from Green Bank Elementary/Middle School by bus to the Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center in Fairlea on May 27th as a reward trip.
- Approved a contract with Developmental Advantage to provide additional services for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
- Approved High School Course Standards for the following courses:
- Philosophy and Writing
- Young Adult Literature
- Approved policy #5410 -Promotion, Acceleration, Placement, and Retention.
- Approved an additional fundraiser for Green Bank Elementary/Middle School.
- Approved 6th and 7th grade textbooks for next year.
- Approved the 2025-2026 BOE Meeting Schedule.
The members then went into an executive (or closed) session to discuss a personnel matter, and then they returned to open session, they approved all of the recommended personnel actions with the exception of employing Adam Harmon at head custodian at Marlinton Elementary School, which was voted down unanimously by the members.
During the Matters of the Board, Member Sam Gibson said he still disagrees with the “late start/late finish” school calendar that the board approved last meeting for next school year. He also encouraged parents and citizens to write letters to their congressmen and senators supporting the continued federal funding of the National Forest SRS money. Member Morgan McComb said he is concerned that some teachers believe they are done teaching once testing is complete for the school year. Members Sue Hollandsworth and Frosty McNabb expressed concerns that bonuses and supplements paid to teachers might not be legal. Board President Grimes said he is also concerned about the school calendar since he just learned that people could, and did vote multiple times on the survey which selected it out of the 3 calendars presented. He said he would like to find a way to revisit it.
During her report, current Superintendent Lynne Bostic said she is continuing her weekly talks with the principals, with recent discussions about snow days and the new Student Standard of Excellence Award. More details about that award can be found on the Pocahontas Schools website on the “Student Resources” page. She also talked about how busy the central offices this time of year, with evaluations, summer programs, preparing food orders, ordering text books, and preparing professional training for next school year.
Stephanie Burns talked about the Battle of the Books, which, despite being a new competition for Pocahontas County Schools, had 26 student participants, and impressed the regional coordinators of the event. She said that the Marlinton Middle School team placed second at regionals.
Student Representative Joseph VanMeter told the members that students are upset that there was no student handbook published at PCHS this year. Board President Emery Grimes assured him there will be one published next school year.
Director Kristy Tritapoe said that they have applied for a $7,000 special education training grant. She also talked about the Pre-K curriculum for next year which will include learning through play and observational assessments of students.
Cindy Solak and Briana Morgan said they made changes to the criteria for the National Honor Society (NHS), emphasizing Leadership, Scholarship, Service and Character, and clarifying that membership in the NHS is an honor, not a right. This year the qualification applications had the students’ names removed before being evaluated for membership.
Additionally at the meeting the members:
- Approved the 2024 audited Financial Statement and of the discussion presented at a prior meeting.
- Approved Kim Shinaberry and Brittany Place to take about 26 students from Green Bank Elementary/Middle School by bus to the Greenbrier Valley Aquatic Center in Fairlea on May 27th as a reward trip.
- Approved a contract with Developmental Advantage to provide additional services for the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 school years.
- Approved High School Course Standards for the following courses:
- Philosophy and Writing
- Young Adult Literature
- Approved policy #5410 -Promotion, Acceleration, Placement, and Retention.
- Approved an additional fundraiser for Green Bank Elementary/Middle School.
- Approved 6th and 7th grade textbooks for next year.
- Approved the 2025-2026 BOE Meeting Schedule.
The members then went into an executive (or closed) session to discuss a personnel matter, and then they returned to open session, they approved all of the recommended personnel actions with the exception of employing Adam Harmon at head custodian at Marlinton Elementary School, which was voted down unanimously by the members.
During the Matters of the Board, Member Sam Gibson said he still disagrees with the “late start/late finish” school calendar that the board approved last meeting for next school year. He also encouraged parents and citizens to write letters to their congressmen and senators supporting the continued federal funding of the National Forest SRS money. Member Morgan McComb said he is concerned that some teachers believe they are done teaching once testing is complete for the school year. Members Sue Hollandsworth and Frosty McNabb expressed concerns that bonuses and supplements paid to teachers might not be legal. Board President Grimes said he is also concerned about the school calendar since he just learned that people could, and did vote multiple times on the survey which selected it out of the 3 calendars presented. He said he would like to find a way to revisit it.
Story By
