Pocahontas Board of Ed Discusses possible 5th Grade Move with Teachers

This is the second part of our story about the February 25^th Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting.

The Board Members had invited faculty representatives from Green Bank Elementary Middle School, Marlinton Elementary School, Hillsboro Elementary School and Marlinton Middle School to engage with them in a discussion about the proposed transfer of Marlinton Elementary School’s 5^th grade to Marlinton Middle School. Here are just a few of the comments from that discussion.:

Greg Morgan, a Music Teacher at Green Bank Elementary/Middle School, said he has no opinion about this since it doesn’t involve the Green Bank School

Nichole Dilley, a 5^th grade Music teacher at Marlinton Elementary School, said she has no strong opinion about the proposed move, and trusted the Board of Education to make the right decision.

Gina Hardesty opposed the transfer, saying that “5^th graders are still kids – 10 years old – and not yet ready to be up there”

Kaitlyn Wratchford, a Kindergarten Teacher at Marlinton Elementary School said she is neither for nor against the proposed move, but questioned what would happen to the current 5^th grade teachers at Marlinton Elementary School. She also handed out a paper on which she had listed some “Pros” and “Cons” of the move.

Here are some of her “Pros:”

• it would be a way to alleviate the crowded conditions at Marlinton Elementary School
• There would be less kids attending school in a flood zone   and
• there are better education resources available for the 5^th Graders at the Middle School.

And now some of her “Cons:”

• There will be a loss of staff at Marlinton Elementary School.
• Students still need nurturing even at the 5^th grade level. and
• Since Green Bank and Hillsboro schools would be allowed to keep their 5^th grades, why shouldn’t Marlinton Elementary keep theirs too.

Mr. Beam addressed Katlyn’s concerns about what would happen to the current 5^th grade Teachers  He said that those teachers would probably lose their present jobs and would need to re-apply at Marlinton Middle School. He added that, unfortunately, there is no guarantee that they will all be selected to fill the new positions if other teachers with higher level certifications also apply.

Dustin Lambert, Principal at Marlinton Middle school said that his School has the classrooms, the facilities and the flexibility in scheduling to keep the 5^th grade students totally separate from the 8^th graders. He added that “probably 100% of the Marlinton Middle School staff would support having the 5^th grade at the Middle School.

Board President Joe Walker and Board Member Justin Dilley each said any decision about this move should probably be put off until after the Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan (CEFP) if done. That Plan will set their facility plans for the next ten years. Waiting for that would mean that the move would not occur next school year, if at all.

The Board approved a Resolution for an ESCO. Energy audit that can only begin when the Board of Education directs Wendel Energy Services to start it.

They approved a list of Community Volunteers, which can be found along with the personnel agenda approved at this meeting on the Allegheny Mountain Radio Website with this news story.

The Board approved the following as Volunteer Sports Coaches:

• Thomas Moats – Baseball coach at PCHS
• Lauren Goodwin – Track Coach (boys and Girls) at PCHS
• Justin Kerr – Softball coach at PCHS
• And Derek Taylor, Chastity Taylor, Melissa Nelson and Scott Garber –Basketball Coaches at Green Bank Elementary/Middle School.

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Community Volunteers approved at the February 25^th Pocahontas County Board of Ed. Meeting.

Crystal Carroll

Sara Ann Madison

Natasha Peck

Lisa Dawn Smith

Cassandra Warner

Rebecca Garber

Cynthia McLaughlin

Kimberley Simmons

Ronda Lynn Taylor

Crystal Dawn Johnston

Pamela Moorhead

Jeremy Smith

Valarie Lynn Monico

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PESONNEL AGENDA

 February 25, 2019

 Professional and Service Personnel

PERSONNEL

Pocahontas County Schools

REQUESTED TRANSFER:                   Steven Mick from School Bus Operator Pocahontas County Schools to School Bus Operator Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 27, 2019, for the remainder of the 2018-2019 school year 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 Route 39 to Marlinton Elementary School transferring students then traveling back to

Route 39 to Route 28 and ending at Pocahontas County High School

Evening Run:  Reverse of morning run.

SNOW ROUTE:  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.

Green Bank Elem./Middle Schoo0l        

RESIGNATION:  Anne Smith as After School Tutor for Green Bank Elementary

Middle School retroactive to January 23^rd, 2019.