Pocahontas BOE considering district attendance policy

Marlinton, W.Va. –

During Monday night’s Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting, schools superintendant C.C. Lester says the board needs a policy for inter-district school attendance.

“I would like to ask the board a question concerning students in areas – is it a board policy – students being able to go to school from this district to another district for schools?” he said. “Where a person did not particularly care for the school they were in and they moved them out because the principal said they could move. That needs to be stopped. If they want to go to another school, they need to bring it to the board – why do you want to go to this school. Five in a classroom and 25 up here – that’s my concern.”

Associate superintendant Alice Irvine said no policy is in effect, but a previous policy established boundaries at Trinity Baptist Church, in the south, and Hill Country Road in Frost and River Road in Cloverlick to the north.

Board member Kenneth Vance said the previous policy gave authority to principals.

“We left it up to the principals,” he said. “if they had room, that they could take students without adding staff, that we let them do it.”

Board president Emery Grimes says he’s concerned with loss of students at Hillsboro School.

“My real concern is – we’ve worked really hard to get that school, get that cafeteria and worked through the SBA to get that and we need children down there to attend that school,” he said. “That school is excellent for that community and we need to keep it there, but we need that community’s support to be able to do that.”

Board member Janet McNeel says the board needs to improve community involvement.

“I think that we are falling down on keeping the community involved down there,” she said.

The board directed Lester to draft an inter-district attendance policy for board review.

Irvine said storm debris clean-up at Green Bank School was nearly complete, thanks to assistance from volunteers Clay and Laura Hise and Varner Construction.

Grimes and Lester praise staff members for the condition of schools.

“I’d like to thank the board office for the job that they did and all the people involved in Hillsboro School,” said Grimes. “Whenever you go down there and look at it, it looks absolutely fantastic. It really does. You all need to be recommended for your hard work on that and the custodians down there.

“Has anybody been to Marlinton Middle School? Tim Wade and Sherry have got that thing sharp up there. They went in and repainted the walls different colors and the students, I think, will be amazed whenever they go in there. The hallways, you can see yourself in them.”

“We’re very fortunate to have the custodial staff we have,” said Lester.

“They’ve done an excellent job up there,” said Grimes. “They really have.”

PCHS principal Tom Sanders and Library Specialist Susan Chappell briefed the board on computer classes available to students. Chappell said students are doing better in virtual classes than they did in the past.

For Green Bank School, the board hired:
– Shane Jones as boys head boys basketball coach;
– Allen Taylor as assistant boys basketball coach
– Kenneth Lehman as head girls basketball coach;
– Thomas Dennison as assistant girls basketball coach; and,
– Sara Brown as Title I reading specialist and academic interventionist.

For Pocahontas County High School, the board hired:
– Kay Wiley as athletic director and football seasonal coordinator;
– Cynthia Pritt as soccer seasonal coordinator;
– Damian Elliott as assistant football coach; and,
– Kenneth Lehman as volleyball coach.

For Marlinton Middle School, the board hired Ellen Fortney as librarian/media specialist.

ALL PERSONNEL ACTIONS APPROVED BY BOARD: Green Bank Elementary Middle School: EMPLOYMENT: SHANE JONES, as head basketball coach (boys) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $1,500. EMPLOYMENT: ALLEN R. TAYLOR, as assistant basketball coach (boys) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $1,000. EMPLOYMENT: KENNETH LEHMAN, as head basketball coach (girls) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $1,500. EMPLOYMENT: THOMAS DENNISON, as assistant basketball coach (girls) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $1,000. EMPLOYMENT: SARA C. BROWN, as title I reading specialist (half-time) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment 200 one-half days. EMPLOYMENT: SARA C. BROWN, as academic interventionist at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at $20 per hour – three hours per day, as needed – not to exceed $8,400. Effective September 4, 2012 through May 3, 2013. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond May 3, 2013. Hillsboro Elementary School: RESIGNATION: SYLVIA WALTON, due to retirement, as supervisory aide IV/paraprofessional at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective August 31, 2012. Marlinton Elementary School: REQUESTED TRANSFER: SABRINA JORDAN, from cook II at Green Bank Elementary/Middle School to cook II at Marlinton Elementary, effective for the 2012-2013. Marlinton Middle School: EMPLOYMENT: ELLEN FORTNEY, as librarian/media specialist – half-time at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment 200 one-half days. Pocahontas County High School: EMPLOYMENT: KAY WILEY, as athletic director for Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $1,400. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.) EMPLOYMENT: KAY WILEY, as athletic seasonal coordinator – football, at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $900. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.) EMPLOYMENT: CYNTHIA PRITT, as athletic seasonal coordinator – soccer, at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $900. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.) EMPLOYMENT: DAMIAN ELLIOTT, as assistant football coach (varsity) at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $2,000. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.) EMPLOYMENT: KENNETH LEHMAN, as volleyball coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $1,500. (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.) Pocahontas County Schools: REQUESTED TRANSFER: JESSICA R. McLAUGHLIN, from itinerant teacher of special education (LD, MI, BD)/Autism for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment Pocahontas County High School) to itinerant teacher of special education (LD, MI, BD)/Autism for Pocahontas County (assignment Marlinton Middle School) effective for the 2012-2013 school year. EMPLOYMENT: of the following, as substitute teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, as needed: Carol B. Alderman Lesa A. Allen Daniel E. Arbogast II Michelle L. Arbogast Margaret L. Baker Delmos F. Barb Teresa W. Barb Matthew M. Barkley Susan A. Borror Sarah Brown McArthur L. Buzzard, Jr. Leslie Cain Jessica E. Cole Rebekah N. Connor Mary P. Dawson Ellen D. Fortney Karen G. Friel Edward R. Hill Diane E. Hoover Michael F. Hudson Allen R. Johnson Debora Johnson Cheryl R. Jonese Judith A. Kane Brook Leyzorek Norris F. Long Mary L. McCutcheon Kathleen V. McGee Freda P. McKean Rebecca A. O’Brien Susan G. Peck Victoria J. Poundstone Brittany Propst Aaron L. Pugh Christine E. Rebinski Lucy M. Rittenhouse Rhoda L. Rose Jack M. Sanders, Jr. Dorthie Shamblin Robert A. Sheets Sharla G. Sherman Kimberely N. Shinaberry Jean Srodes Louise M. Starke Dorothy E. Sutton Rebecca A. Taylor Sharon O. Vance Linda H. VanReenen Julia Williams Wesley D. Young LyAnn B. Zelinsky REMOVAL FROM SUBSTITUTE LIST: Of the following, per requirements of county policy GCC-C: Michael F. Hudson – Aide Susan R. Morrison – Aide, Cook Michael J. Shisler – Bus Operator Julia L. Williams – Aide EMPLOYMENT: of the following, as substitute aide for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, as needed: Lesa A. Allen Michelle L. Arbogast Tonja S. Armstrong Janet L. Cole Melissa Ervine Donna F. Gragg Diane R. Hoover Debora J. Johnson Sandra K. Perdue Heather D. Simmons Emergency Use Only: Valerie H. Lambert EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, as needed: Freddie L. Greer Leffort M. Kidd, Jr. Mark W. Mengele Larry D. Sharp Daryl A. Shinaberry Kenneth H. Varner Emergency Use Only: Daniel E. Arbogast, II Patrick D. Gibson Darin W. McKenney EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, as needed: Ollie C. Barkley Lois Ann Beverage Janet L. Cole Sarah J. Hedrick Susanne F. Moats Sandra K. Perdue Heather D. Simmons Emergency Use Only: Valerie H. Lambert EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, as needed: C. Loy Burgess Sarah J. Hedrick Roger D. Irvine Sandra K. Perdue Heather D. Simmons Gary B. Taylor EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, as needed: Gregory L. Irvine Roger D. Irvine EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, as needed: Ian B. Bennett Gregory L. Irvine Emergency Use Only: Jamie C. Walker EMPLOYMENT: Of the following, as substitute secretary/accountant for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, as needed: Stephanie L. Barkley Janet L. Cole Melissa Ervine Sarah E. Hamilton Vicki L. Rose Dorthie I. Shamblin Brenda F. Williams ABOLISHMENT OF POSITION:Itinerant classroom/technology support teacher for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment – Marlinton Elementary School and Green Bank Elementary-Middle School) effective for the 2012-2013 school year. UNPAID LEAVE OF ABSENCE:DENISE M. ELLIOTT, itinerant teacher of visually impaired/special education (autism) for Pocahontas County Schools, from August 13, 2012 until November 9, 2012, to complete internship for Orientation and Mobility Certification. EMPLOYMENT: SAMANTHA J. McCLURE, as itinerant teacher of special education/autism (half time) (assignment – Hillsboro Elementary School), effective for the 2012-2013 school year, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment – 200 one-half days.