Pocahontas County Board Of Education Approves Math Instruction Assistance For 2011-2012 School Year

Marlinton, WV – JoAnne Persinger will provide Math instruction assistance for Pocahontas County elementary school teachers next year. The Pocahontas County Board of Education approved the contract with Persinger at their meeting Monday night, but the approval was not unanimous. Board Members Emery Grimes and Janet McNeel voted against the contract.

Grimes explained that his vote was not against Ms Persinger, or providing assistance to the Elementary Schools. Rather, he is displeased that no such program exists at the Middle Schools or the High School. Grimes is concerned that the children in the county are falling behind in math and more emphasis needs to be put on the Middle Schools and the High School math classes.

Superintendant CC Lester told the Board that the Principals Academy will be held at Mountain Quest on the 1st and 2nd of August. He says guest speakers will include Jason Long, Lori Wiggins and Shawn Hawkins. The Principles will receive training on IPads, evaluations, highly qualified teachers criteria, student Code of Conduct, West Virginia Writes, Innovation Zones and Schools of Excellence.

Alice Irvine told the Board that a Bus had been damaged at the Hillsboro parking area behind the library. Someone either ran into or backed into the bus striking it in the stairwell area and caused extensive damage to the bus. She tells the Board that there was red paint at the scene, so they suspect the perpetrator was driving a red vehicle. The County’s insurance will pay to repair the damage but there is a $2,500 deductible. She said the police are investigating and if the person who caused the damage can be found, the County won’t be liable for the deductable.

In other action, the board approved the following:

A contract with Career Solutions to provide vocational & school to work transition services for students with disabilities

Employment of Sandra Perdue as custodian II (extra summer help) at Green Bank

Creation of a position as Itinerant teacher of special education (half time) at Hillsboro

And Creation of an Orientation and Mobility Position for Pocahontas County Schools.

The next meeting of the Pocahontas County Board of Education will be 7 pm on June 13th in the Board Conference Room.