Pocahontas County High School Faces Transcript Crisis
At the December 3rd Pocahontas County BOE meeting, the PCHS High School Leadership Team and Administration discussed that there are errors in student transcripts which may cause issues with both graduations and with senior transcripts being sent to colleges. Justine Dilley pointed out that right now colleges are looking at transcripts to determine scholarship status. This problem has existed for quite a while at PCHS but was only brought to light when the WV Department of Education (DOE) conducted a routine audit this fall. The transcript errors could involve as many as 2/3 of the seniors’ transcripts at the school. In many of these transcripts, students took the proper class, but the wrong course name for the class was entered into the student’s transcript. in some other cases, the transcript shows that the student took the same class twice and received credit both times for the same class.
Mrs. Poppe said that the community is very upset over this because, as it stands, some seniors may lack required courses on their transcripts for graduation and have no way of knowing this. She said the State Department went through every senior’s transcript when they discovered the errors but have not offered any solutions to fix the transcripts. They have told the schools not to try and fix the transcripts until the state DOE returns on January 7th to look further at them. That delay could have major impacts on some students, particularly if they are applying for scholarships.
It was explained that not only are the schools prohibited from trying to fix the errors, but even if they were allowed, there is currently no one at the school certified to make changes to them. and so far, Superintendent Bostic says, she has not found anyone at another school who is certified and willing to come here nor has she been offered any help from the DOE.
Justin Dilly said, “a lot of these transcript problems can be easily fixed, but it has to be done by someone trained and certified to do that.”
Emery Grimes, Board President, suggested that they contact a retired administrator who would probably know how to do that, and might still be certified or able to be quickly certified to fix them. Bostic said she will check with the DOE to see if the person they are thinking about would be allowed to fix the transcripts, and if so, she will ask if that person is willing to do so.
Grimes also said that the DOE has said that many high schools in the state are having similar problems with their transcripts. Board Member Frosty McNab asked “Who did this? And who will be held responsible. The answer he received was that the West Virginia DOE will investigate and take appropriate action.
Woodrow Hudson, a student at Marlinton Elementary School, who won Best of Show at the WV Reading Conference for his story called, “the Wild Robot.” did a terrific job of reading it again for the board at this meeting.
Kristi Harmon, the Technology Director made a presentation on Wi-Fi improvements at the schools and improvements to the website.
Also, at the meeting the board approved:
- Routine financial reports and transactions.
- For Teresa Mullen Lambert to take 4 PCHS students to the Greenbrier Hotel to participate in the annual Hospitality University on January 28,2025.
- For Scott Garber to take 9 forestry students from PCHS to the Mountain Gateway Community College in Clifton Forge Virginia on December 4, 2024.
- For a group of 100 to 110 MMS students to go to a CTE experience at WVU on December 20th.
- For the PCHS Girls Basketball Team to travel to Summersville High School in Pipestem, WV for a basketball tournament on December 20th.
- For 6 PCHS students to be granted an attendance exception for the 2024-2025 school year to have a partial day schedule and then report to work.
- Of a Memorandum of Understanding with the M3TProject regarding Jennifer Nail-Cook’s participation as an M3T Fellow from August 2024 to July 2025.
- Of Parent and Community Volunteers.
- Of the recommended personnel actions.
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