Pocahontas County High School to Get New Sewer Plant

After being hammered with probing and challenging questions about fire safety inspections at the schools and about the proposed purchase of a new office for the Board of Education by Jay Miller, as described in part 1 of the July 10^th Board meeting,  the Pocahontas County Board of Education moved on to its regular meeting agenda.

School Superintendent Terrence Beam offered special recognition to Darlene Arbogast of Pocahontas County High School. Beam reported that a parent had brought to his attention that Arbogast had worked very closely with an academically struggling student and successfully assisted the student to pass the academic year and advance to the next grade level.

Beam was excited to report that the School Building Authority (SBA) did approve the Major Improvement Project they had submitted for repairs to Pocahontas County High School. Although the total project submitted was for over nine hundred thousand dollars, earlier Mr. Beam had said they were hoping to get at least about a third of that amount to replace the school’s failing sewer system. At this meeting, however, Beam was pleased to announce that the SBA approved the total amount requested which, in addition to replacing the sewer system, included the funds to replace the water tower, a garage door, doors and windows at the Vocational Building. Beam reminded everyone that an SBA Major Improvement Project is limited to only one school, and they choose to apply for the High School because replacing the sewer system at PCHS was the most critical need for the County Schools.

Ruth Bland, director of both Special Education and Technology delivered an update to the Board about those programs.

Board President Emery Grimes also welcomed Hunter Tankersly as one of the two new Student Representatives to the Board of Education. Hunter reported on student participation at Pioneer Days where fundraising booths were set up for a field trip to Ecuador this coming spring, and by the Soccer team. Hunter also told the Board that while he will be the primary student representative for the fall semester and Hunter Wilfong for the spring semester, they will also cover for each other if one of their schedules conflicts with a Board meeting, to help ensure that there will always by one of them at each meeting.

After approving the payment of bills, approval of several grant awards, and authorizing a number of fiscal year ending budget adjustments, they approved payrolls for June and approved the May bank reconciliation.

The Board approved the WV State School Superintendent’s acceptance of the County’s budget for the next school year.

The Board unanimously agreed to reject Workman’s Compensation Coverage for themselves to save the schools money.

They selected Pendleton Community Bank as the Depository for the Schools’ account for the next three years, citing the proactive community involvement of that bank.

They approved partnership agreements with Bluefield State College of Education and with Wesleyan College regarding student teachers.

They approved the annual update to the Parent and Family Engagement Policy, and placed the Return to Work Policy on 30 day comment.

The Board approved several contracts to provide services to special needs students and approved a contract with Nancy Martin to provide technology support to the schools

The Board approved the Personnel Agenda which can be found on our website with this story.

The Board then went into an executive session to discuss legal real estate matters.

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PERSONNEL AGENDA

July 10, 2017

Professional and Service Personnel

PERSONNEL

Marlinton Elementary School:

RESIGNATION: TIMOTHY JOSHUA CORDER, as Itinerant Teacher of Music at Marlinton Elementary School/Marlinton Middle School, effective August 1, 2017.

Pocahontas County High School:

EMPLOYMENT: JAMES GROVES, as Custodian III at Pocahontas County High School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2017-2018 school year, term of employment is 220 days. SHIFT: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

EMPLOYMENT: STEPHEN D. MICK, JR., as Custodian III at Pocahontas County High School, at state basic pay, effective for the 2017-2018 school year, term of employment is 220 days. SHIFT: 2:00 PM – 10:00 PM.

CREATION OF POSITION: Credit Recovery Teacher/Graduation Coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2017-2018 school year, 6 hours per day, 5 days per week, not to exceed 30 hours per week at $25 per hour. Position to be paid for by Innovation Zone Grant.

Pocahontas County Schools:

EMPLOYMENT: KRYSTAL SHAREK, as Itinerant Teacher of Special Education (Multi-Categorical)/Autism for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment: Marlinton Elementary School), at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2017-2018 school year, term of employment is 200 days.

EMPLOYMENT: JOANNA BURT-KINDERMAN, as Math Coach, K-12, (half-time) for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 017-2018 school year, term of employment is 200 one-half days.

EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Substitute School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, as needed for the 2017-2018 school year:

• Angela Bostic
• Gary T. Rose

EMPLOYMENT: MORGAN G. McCOMB, as Substitute Custodian for Pocahontas County School, at state basic pay, as needed for the 2017-2018 school year.

EMPLOYMENT: DALTON IRVINE, as Groundsman for Pocahontas County School, retroactive to June 16, 2017 through August 9, 2017, not to exceed 38 days, at state basic pay.

Rescind the following employment:

• EMPLOYMENT: DENISE M. ELLIOTT, as Orientation and Mobility Specialist – Extended School Year (Assignment: Marlinton Middle School) for Pocahontas County Schools, at $120 per hour, 7.5 hours per week, effective June 5, 2017 through August 4,2017.