Part 2 of the Pocahontas BOE’s June 7th Meeting

In Part 1 of the Pocahontas County Board of Education’s June 7^th Meeting, we covered the work session that proceeded the regular meeting, in which the issue of allowing school staff to access the BOE’s broadband network was discussed. During the regular meeting, that network allowance was voted down, 4 to 1. In this second part of that meeting, we will let you know what other issues were discussed and or approved during the regular meeting.

During the Superintendent’s Report, Ruth Bland, who was filling in for Superintendent Beam at the meeting, told the members that this time of the year is actually the busiest period for the Central Office staff, since there are numerous fiscal-year ending reports that must be compiled and submitted before June 30^th, as well as a lot of work regarding hiring to ensure adequate staffing next school year, and regarding working on grants due soon.

Bland also said that the dramatic price increase in fuel will be hitting the schools hard next fiscal year, since even though fuel costs are 95% reimbursable from the State, that reimbursement will not be received for a year, and meanwhile the schools will have to foot the increased fuel costs. She said that the anticipated $320,000 National Forest money has not been received, and it is unknown when that will come.

During delegations, an angry grandparent complained that her student, who she is the legal guardian of, has emotional and academic issues and should be held back from promoting to the next grade, but mysteriously all the student’s failing grades became passing grades at the end of the school year. She said she has complained to the Central Office, but has not yet received an answer. The board members seemed inclined to look further into this.

In addition to passing the routine financial matters, the board approved several miscellaneous items, including:

• They amended their lease agreement with Country Roads Leasing. LLC, regarding their energy savings project by extending the first fixed payment from June 1st to October 1^st. That payment will be in the amount of $165,575.
• They approved using Wesco Insurance Company, the lowest bidder, to provide Workers Compensation Insurance at an annual renewal rate of $29,518.
• They approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the southern Educational Services Cooperative Commission for school bus operator examining service for the upcoming fiscal year. The trainers will be Donald McNeel, Charles McQuain, and Jimmie Ryder, Jr.
• They approved School support Organizations for school and School Board fundraisers for 2022-2023.
• They approved out-of-season athletic practice dates from June 13^th to July 1, 2022,
• They the recommended Service and Professional personnel actions, which can be found at this link: 6-7-22 BOE Personnel Actions DOC

They conducted a Matters of the Board discussion prior to adjourning, which consisted mostly of thanking Board Member John Burns for his service, since this is his last meeting because he chose to not run for reelection to the board.

Additionally, after the meeting, the Central Office sent out a board vacancy announcement, a link to which can be found here: 6-7-22 BOE Vacancy Announcement