Pocahontas County Board of Education Elects New Board President and Vice President
Pocahontas County School Superintendent Terrence Beam presided as President Pro Tem over an unusual 8 a.m. Board of Education meeting on Monday, July 2nd. This meeting was held for the specific purpose of electing a Board President and Vice President for the next two years. This was also the first official meeting for the three new Board Members who were elected this spring. They are John Burns, Justin Dilley and Sue Hollandsworth, and they will join returning members Becky Campbell and Joe Walker. Listen as Mr. Beam opens this election meeting.
“I’ll be serving as President Pro Tem for this meeting until the election of the officers” announced Beam. “Before we start the nominations, I just want to welcome the new Board Members. I got a brand new Board and I am looking forward to working with you. I think we can continue to accomplish really good things for our school system. The first item on the agenda is the election of the President for a term ending June 30th, 2020. Do we have any nominations?”
Board member Becky Campbell spoke up to nominate Joe Walker to be the new Board President. There were no other nominations. Mr. Beam continues to the election, and afterwards calls for nominations for Board Vice President.
“Any other nominations?” Mr. Beam asked. “(…Silent pause…) hearing none, all in favor of Joe Walker as President of the Board say Aye (Board responds with all ‘Ayes’) Opposed? (…Silent pause…) Election of Vice President for a term ending June 30th, 2020; do I have any nominations?”
Board member Justin Dilley nominated Becky Campbell for Board Vice President. That election was also unanimous. Thus Joe Walker is the new Board President and Becky Campbell is the new Board Vice President.
During the Matters of the Board portion, Becky Campbell talked about the PCHS Boys’ Basketball trip to Ohio.
“Well, I got to experience something pretty interesting with our Boys’ Basketball Team last weekend” said Campbell. “We went to Ohio University and the caliber of the teams that they played against was unbelievable. They were playing against 4A teams from Ohio. We played 20 games in three days and only had two subs. And those kids played their hearts out, and we only got stomped twice. It was really interesting to see the caliber of the teams that were there, and I mean he is setting those kids up for success. I don’t think they are going to play against teams like they played against until they are in the State Playoffs. “
Joe walker talked about the newest Major Improvement Project, saying that the SBA only funded about half of the amount of money requested for repairs to the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School. After the meeting we learned that the Board had requested close to one million dollars, but, although they have not yet received the official award letter from the SBA, they have been told that the award was for $496,000. They had requested a new roof over the elementary wing, a new sprinkler system for the entire school, a replacement furnace, a replacement fire alarm system for the annex building, a generator, foundation repairs and the replacement of a sewer line in the elementary wing. The good news is the approved project is expected to provide for all of these requests except for the new roof and the generator.
Story By
