Pocahontas BOE to Apply to SBA for Upgrades to PCHS

At the September 3^rd Pocahontas County BOE meeting, the Board approved for school system to apply to the WV School Building Authority (SBA) for major upgrades and replacements for PCHS. Andy Cocina of the Wendel Corporation, which has been partnering with the schools for several years to incorporate energy savings upgrades for the schools, said that they will be assisting the schools’ application to the SBA this year to make the following major improvements to PCHS.

• Two hallway building extensions to connect the main school to the CTE building and a similar enclosed connection from the main school building to the auditorium. He said this will promote safety by eliminating the need for students to have to walk outside when moving between buildings.
• Toilet upgrades to the lavatories near the gymnasium and the toilets in the locker rooms.
• Replacing sprinkler system with a modern more reliable system.
• An option to replace ceiling acoustic tiles.
• Replace failing geothermal heat pumps.
• Replace auditorium air system with efficient air heat pumps.
• Install heat pumps in the carpentry/forestry shops.
• Replace main electrical switch gear.
• Update all the data cabling.
• Exterior window replacements in main building and CTE building.

He said the total cost of these are $7,853.744, which is the amount the schools are applying to the SBA for.

Cocina also recommended that the schools should add a modern solar system, which would not only would pay for itself in 12 years, but since its extended life is at least 25 years, it would provide free energy for the 13 additional years. He said the Inflation Reduction Act includes added savings for installing the solar system that add up to about 50% of the cost, so the the cost will be paid for over a number of years by utility bill payment savings and by selling the excess power generated by the system back to Mon Power. He said this entire improvement package could add up to 35 years to the projected useful life of the building, eliminating the need to build a new school for many years.

Also at the meeting, School Superintendent Lynn Bostic said that the WV Department of Education is doing the Educational Audit of PCHS that she requested them to do last spring, and it is very informative. She also said the schools will be represented at the upcoming First Fridays and Road Kill events in Marlinton.

Julie Shifflet told the members that the Math Department at PCHS was ranked 12^th out of all high schools in the state. She said 16 students are taking 45 different on-line courses, mostly connected to Glenville State University, that there are 101 Home School Students in the county, and 19 students are taking the virtual schooling.

Kristie Tritapoe talked about the work the Communities-in-school Site Coordinators are doing and are meeting once a month.

The two Student Representatives at the board also spoke. Riley Pollack talked about the sports programs and said the cheer leading squad looks good this year. She indicated she is concerned with the number of illnesses including COVID and Flue there are in the schools this year. Joseph VanMeter said there were scheduling issues at PCHS at the beginning of the school year which was very “de-motivating” to a lot of students.

Also, at the meeting the following were approved:

• Financial Reports.
• 34 revised or rescinded Neola Policies.
• Memorandums of Understanding with Youth Health Services, Inc.; with the Grow Your Own West Virginia Pathway to Teaching Program and with the West Virginia Family Nutrition Program.
• A proposed list of parent and community volunteers.
• The hiring of Sherri Howe and Ollie Barkley as Substitute Custodians.
• And the recommended personnel actions.