Pocahontas Board of Education’s Commitment to Marlinton Elementary School Evolving
Pocahontas Board of Education’s Commitment to Marlinton Elementary School Evolving
During the failed 2016 Levy campaign the Pocahontas Board of Education supported the WV School Building Authority’s funding plan which would have closed Marlinton Elementary School. Earlier this year, School Superintendent Beam came to realize how important it was to the Marlinton Community to keep a school in town, but sought community financial support to rebuild the school in town but out of the flood plain however the community did not commit to that. Now, at the August 6th Board meeting, both the Superintendent and the Board members, led by new Board President Joe Walker, have renewed their commitment to the school and appear to be ready to replace the fire alarm systems at both Marlinton Elementary and Marlinton Middle Schools.
The Board’ s 2016 push to close Marlinton Elementary School during the Levy debate was fueled by both an imminent threat of sudden closure by the Fire Marshall of the Marlinton Elementary School because of a failure of the obsolete fire alarm system at the school as well as the SBA’s refusal to provide any repair or replacement money for the Elementary School since it is located in the flood plain.
Now, however, the Board is looking at possibly using up to $50,000 of the unexpected Forest SRS funds received to replace the fire alarms at both Marlinton Elementary and Marlinton Middle Schools. They are also exploring possible Federal grants to do this, but Board President Joe Walker wants the alarms replaced quickly because of student safety. The Board authorized that bid proposals to replace the fire alarms be quickly advertised so the Board can know the exact costs. They want to possibly authorize the alarm replacements as soon as at the next Board Meeting. The other school with a filing fire alarm system, Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, will be having its alarm system replaced as well as other major renovations through the SBA’s approved $495,517 Major Improvement Project Grant which the Board formerly accepted during this meeting. The possibility of rebuilding Marlinton Elementary School, possibly at or near the existing site seems to also remain on the table for the future, as Board Member John Burns asked that if possible, any new fire alarm system be portable enough to be moved to a rebuilt Marlinton Elementary School in the future. This idea was supported by the other Board Members.
During the Delegations portion of the meeting, Dottie Chestnut expressed her frustrations since she had been notified that she was being terminated from her positions as a Substitute Cook, Custodian and Aide because of a policy that required such termination since she had not responded to at least 50% of her callouts. She pointed out that this was inaccurate as she was only supposed to respond to call outs at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and PCHS, but was called out to the other schools as well. She also said that when she reported to work after being called in by a Principal rather then through the formal call out system, she was not given credit for those days. She said she has time sheets to show she responded to well over 50% of legitimate call outs. Superintendent Beam said he has looked into this and Chestnut is correct. He said the policy will be on the next meeting agenda for revision to correct these errors and the Principals will be told to ensure that anytime they call in a substitute service employee, that they be given credit for reporting to work. Beam also said the personnel agenda has been modified to cancel the terminations of Dottie and another substitute employee in a similar situation.
In addition to approving the SBA’s Major Improvement Project Grant for Green Bank Elementary -Middle School, the Board authorized advertising for architects for the project.
In addition to approving the routine financial expenditures, grants, contracts and reports, the Board approved an agreement to allow the Atlantic Coast Pipeline to use a portion of the PCHS Football parking lot to park their equipment during the day in return for a monetary payment and making improvements to the parking lot. They also approved a revised Attendance Policy and a new policy regarding the acceptance of students transferring from non-chartered schools, including formerly home-schooled students.
They approved a personnel agenda which can be found below.
During the Matters of the Board, it was decided to add a work session one hour prior to the next Board Meeting on August 20th, and to hold the first meeting in September at Snowshoe to meet with parents there who home-school their children.
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PERSONNEL AGENDA
August 6, 2018
Professional and Service Personnel
PERSONNEL
Hillsboro Elementary School:
REQUESTED TRANSFER: LAURA PRITT, from Teacher of Multi-Subjects at Hillsboro Elementary School, to Teacher of Elementary Education at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the2018-2019
school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
EMPLOYMENT: NICOLE A. DILLEY, as Teacher of Multi-Subjects at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, at state basic salary based on degree and experience.
Term of employment is 200 days.
Marlinton Elementary School:
EMPLOYMENT: TERESA W. BARB, as Academic Interventionist for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 21, 2018 through May 25, 2019, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed
– not to exceed $7,000.
Pocahontas County Schools:
REMOVAL/TERMINATION: Of the following individuals as Substitute Aide, Cook, Custodian, School Bus Operator, and/or Secretary for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 7, 2018 – due to
failure to meet the requirements of Policy GCC-C – Substitute Service Personnel Policy
Keith Beverage
Angela Bostic
Loretta Irvine
Amanda McCarty
Britt Parcell
Tabitha Parcell
Sherri Sparks-Francisco
Tonya Warder
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Aide for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Amber Arbogast
Amanda Buzzard
Kathryn Chandler-Hall
Donna Gragg
Kathleen Holzman-Henry
Karri Jack
Morgan McComb
Andrew Myers
Shelby Snead
Sarah A. Cover
Dottie Chestnut
Kevin Thompson
Ashley Wilt
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Cook for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Amber Arbogast
Diane Arbogast
Holly Beverage
Cynthia Landis
Morgan McComb
Andrew Myers
Kevin Thompson
Dottie Chestnut
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Diane Arbogast
Holly Beverage
Roger Irvine
Morgan McComb
Timothy Sacca
Timothy Wade
Dottie Chestnut
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Richard Dunbrack
Roger Irvine
Morgan McComb
Timothy Wade
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Jamie Walker (Emergency Use Only)
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Cory Rexrode
Evan Rose
Silas Sattler
Daryl Shinaberry
David Vandevender
William Lake Vaughan
Ian Bennett (Emergency Use Only)
Patrick Gibson (Emergency Use Only)
Stephen Mick, Jr. (Emergency Use Only)
Justin Taylor (Emergency Use Only)
Jamie Walker (Emergency Use Only)
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute Secretary/Accountant for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
Diane Arbogast
Kimberly Jordan
Lisa Rich
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following Substitute Teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2018-2019 school year, as needed, at state basic pay:
See handout provided at meeting.
NOTE: Allegheny Mountain Radio was not provided this handout
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