Pocahontas Board of Education Votes Free Lunches for ALL students
In what Pocahontas Board of Education member Joe Walker described as one of the toughest decisions he has had to make, the Board took up the following agenda item about this year’s school lunch program. Board President Grimes read the proposed motion which was presented and seconded.
“Approval of one of the following options regarding Pocahontas County Schools providing meals to students at no cost to the student:” Grimes read from the Agenda.
- “Option a.) Pocahontas County Schools shall provide all meals to students at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Hillsboro elementary School, and Marlinton elementary School at no cost to the student.
- Option b.) Pocahontas County Schools shall provide all meals to all students enrolled in Pocahontas County Schools at no cost to the student.”
So the choice faced by the Board was whether to give free meals to all the students except for students at Marlinton Middle school and the High School- who would continue in the same system now used in all schools, – either pay for each meal or if they qualify for free meals, continue to receive them for free.
The attraction to plan A would be that under new Federal guidelines, the school board would receive a refund of about $29,000 out of the $506,000 Federal Revenues that they would not receive if they chose to provide free meals to all County students. The advantage to choosing to feed all students for free included fairness to all students, removing the stigma from the students who now qualify for free meals because of poverty, encouraging more students to eat healthy meals rather than bring junk food from home for lunch and enable the schools to track meals better to allocate the correct number of cooks needed at each school.
Mr. Beam said he was torn by this decision, describing it as a “double edged sword” with advantages and disadvantages to both options. In the end they voted to provide free meals to all students in all schools because they felt it was better for the students and the community. The vote was 3 for Option B (Emery Grimes, Joe Walker Steven Tritapoe), one for option A (Rebecca Campbell) while Board Member Jessica Heffner abstained from the vote.
The Board heard from Roger Trusler and Charlotte Slagle who are proposing a trip for 9th grade students in October to the Denmar Corrections Facility where violent offenders will talk to them about how to avoid the mistakes they made in life, including dropping out of school. The students will be under the protection of the guards. The Board will have to take this up at a future meeting.
The Board approved their usual financial reports, payrolls and grants. Superintendent Beam offered special recognition to the “Bikers Association of Durbin” for assistance they provided the schools.
Kayla Gibson, the Student Representative from PCHS to the Board delivered her report which included updates of the football and soccer teams, praise for the new Principal –Joe Riley- at the High School because he “mingles” with the students rather than staying in his office, and expressed her support for the foreign Student Exchange Program which currently has six foreign students enrolled at PCHS.
Ruth Bland delivered a report where she said there are currently 1082 students enrolled in the county schools –compared to 1048 last June, but that number may change before the official count goes to the State on October 1st which will determine state funding.
Ron Hall reported that the WV Department of Education recommends that major work be done of the Board of Education building to fix mold problems, leaking roofs, air ducts, flood water damage and the boiler flu which is badly cracked. The Superintendent says that maintenance money for this is not available and the priority is the school buildings, not the Board Office. Hall also reported that he obtained a quote for the materials of $12,410.17 to build a bathroom at the baseball/softball field, but this has not been approved so far.
The Board approved the purchase of one 2017 Blue Bird 77 passenger school bus –to be paid for by State Funds. They also approved the purchase of a “Bad Boy Lawn Mower” from Varner Construction co.
They approved a multitude professional service contracts to provide services to students this year. They can be found on the Board of Education’s website under the agenda for this meeting. They also approved a number of new policies and procedures.
The approved Personnel Agenda can be found with this story on our website, www.alleghenymountainradio.org.
Below is the approved personnel Agenda from the 8-23-16 meeting.
The following additions were added to this at the meeting, and were also approved.
- Virginia Bennett was added as a Substitute Aide for Pocahontas County Schools retroactive to the beginning of the school year as needed pending a background check.
- Curtis Murray was added as Substitute Maintenance as needed pending a background check
- Steven Mick and Evan Rose were employed as Substitute Bus drivers as needed.
Pocahontas County High School:
EMPLOYMENT: JAMES D. CHESTNUT, as Custodian III at Pocahontas County High
School/Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at state basic pay, retroactive to
August I, 2016 for the 2016-2017 school year. Shift: 2:00 PM-10:00 PM. Term
of employment is 220 days. (NOTE: Term of employment shall be 220 days
each year thereafter.)
EMPLOYMENT: CORY A. MCNABB, as Golf Coach at Pocahontas County High School,
effective for the 2016-2017 season, at a supplement of $600.
Pocahontas County Schools:
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Academic Interventionist for Pocahontas County Schools,
effective August 15, 2016 through May 12, 2017, at $20 per hour, 3 hours per
day, as needed, not to exceed $7,000 per positions:
Lucy M. Rittenhouse — Green Bank Elementary-Middle School
Linda H. VanReenen — Hillsboro Elementary School
Teresa Barb — Marlinton Elementary School
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following mentors, effective for the 2016-2017 school year, at a
supplement of $1,000:
Virginia Shaw mentoring Susan Grant
Courtney Curran mentoring Jeanette Wagner
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Aide for Pocahontas County Schools, effective
for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Amber Arbogast
Dottie Chestnut
Cynthia Defibaugh
Salania Evans
Donna Gragg
Natashia Carr
Sarah Cover
Thomas Dennison
Mia Friel
Haley Hensler
Diane Hoover Debora Johnson
Kimberly Jordan Cynthia Landis
Andrew Myers Anna Parker
Tonya Warder Anita Workman
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Aide for Pocahontas County Schools, effective
for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, pending background clearance
through the West Virginia State Police, at state basic pay:
Kathryn Chandler-Hall Jamie D. Hill
Katlin R. Sharp Ashley Wilt
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Cook for Pocahontas County Schools, effective
for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Amber Arbogast
Natashia Carr
Thomas Dennison
Carl Kelk
Andrew Myers
Anita Workman
Lois Ann Beverage
Dottie Chestnut
Martha Friel
Cynthia Landis
Vickie Vrable
EMPLOYMENT: WILLIAM M. HARDESTY, as Substitute Cook for Pocahontas County Schools,
effective for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, pending background
clearance through West Virginia State Police, at state basic pay.
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Custodian for Pocahontas County Schools,
effective for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Dottie Chestnut Thomas Dennison
Martha Friel Carl Kelk
Vickie Vrable Tammy Wright
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools,
effective for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Thomas Dennison Richard Dunbrack
Carl Kelk
EMPLOYMENT: WILLIAM M. HARDESTY, as Substitute Maintenance for Pocahontas County
Schools, effective for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, pending
background clearance through West Virginia State Police, at state basic pay.
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Susbstitute Secretary/Accountant for Pocahontas County
Schools, effective for the 2016-2017 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Kimberly Jordan Lisa Rich
Story By
