Pocahontas BOE hears concerns about Hillsboro library

The Friends of the Hillsboro library took their concerns about the lease agreement for the facility to the Pocahontas county board of education meeting Monday night.  Earlier this year, the board of education had discussions about the future of the elementary school in Hillsboro, prompting the Friends group to wonder about the library since it’s located on the school’s property.  Sue Ann Heatherly, president of the Pocahontas County Free Libraries, of which the Hillsboro library is a member, said the primary concern of the Friends group is what would happen to the library should the board of education cease to own and operate the school. The current lease states that the PCFL has the right of first refusal should the board of education decide to sell the library building.

Heatherly said the Friends group also requested an extension of the lease, currently set at 10 years, and that the name of the facility be changed to reflect the nature of the building.  She said members of the group find the current name of “Hillsboro bus garage” to be insulting and not an accurate description of the facility’s use.

Previously the group had successfully raised money for and help construct a mini production studio associated with Allegheny Mountain Radio at the Hillsboro library.  The group is now in the process of raising funds to build an extension to the facility that will provide a space specific to children’s programs.   However, they are concerned that potential donors may be confused by the wording of the current lease.

Board of education president Emery Grimes said he didn’t have a problem with the changes to the lease.   He asked Superintendent Dr. Donald Bechtel to consult with attorney Eugene Simmons about making the requested changes to the lease.

In other business, student representative Lyndsee Gay reported that the high school forestry team of Adam Irvine, Steven Simmons, Matt Rao and herself will compete at the state level in early June in Morgantown.   She also thanked the board for allowing her to serve as the student representative this year.  Allie Plate will be the student representative to the board for the 2014-15 school year.

In other action, the board approved the following:

• Subcontract between The Old Dominion University Research Foundation and Pocahontas County board of education.

• For the Hillsboro Senior Citizens to use the portion of the former Hillsboro Elementary School cafeteria building that is vacant due to construction of a new cafeteria.

• Twenty-six Marlinton Middle School eighth grade students and nine chaperones to travel, by chartered bus, to Williamsburg, Virginia. The group will depart Marlinton Middle School June 3 and return June 5.

• Pocahontas County High School Future Business Leaders of America [FBLA] to travel to Nashville, Tennessee. Three students and chaperones Cammy Kesterson, Wanda Hrabina and Jenny Friel will depart on June 28 and return July 2.
In personnel management, the board of education approved the following:

• Resignation of Stephanie Erin Lore as cook II at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to May 9.

• Resignation of Heather C. Nicholson as teacher of English/language arts at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

• Requested transfer Rebecca Spencer from teacher of multi-subjects, first grade, at Marlinton Elementary School to teacher of multi-subjects, fifth grade, at Marlinton Elementary School, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

• Employment of Ellen Fortney at teacher of multi-subjects, fifth grade, at Marlinton Elementary School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

• Requested transfer of Heather D. Simmons from itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide at Marlinton Elementary School to classroom aide/bus aide at Marlinton Elementary School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.

• Abolishment of position teacher of multi-subjects, first grade, at Marlinton Elementary School, effective at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.

• Employment of Nebraska Scotchie as teacher of mathematics, grades 6-8, at Marlinton Middle School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

• Employment of Mark Landis as teacher of alternative education at Pocahontas County High School, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

• Employment of Samara Bennett as teacher of English/language arts at Pocahontas County High School, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

• Employment of Ian B. Bennett and Justin A. Taylor as substitute school bus operators for Pocahontas County Schools, emergency use only, effective May 29, for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year.

• Resignation of Tanya M. LaBounty as itinerant supervisory special education classroom aide/bus aide at Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the day on June 6.

• Employment of Stephen D. McCarty and David Vandevender as substitute bus operators for Pocahontas County Schools, effective May 29, for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.

• Employment of Lisa Rich and Kimberly Jordan as substitute secretaries for Pocahontas County Schools, effective May 29, for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.

• Employment of Martha Friel as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to May 12, for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.

• Requested transfer of Ronald G. Hall from principal at Marlinton Elementary School to director of attendance/homeless liaison, maintenance and school safety, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus $4,000 supplement, effective July 1. Term of employment is 261 days.

• Creation of position teacher of preschool special needs/preschool at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School at state minimum salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. Position to be abolished at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

• Creation of position classroom aide/bus aide – preschool special needs/preschool at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. Shift: 7:40 a.m. to 3:40 p.m. Position to be abolished at the end of the 2014-2015 school year.

Thanks to Jaynell Graham and the Pocahontas times for the information in this report.