Pocahontas County Is In Danger Of Losing Half A Million Dollars In Federal Funding Used For County Schools

Marlinton, Wv – Shirlene Groseclose says Pocahontas County is in danger of losing about $500,000.00 in federal forest money if the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act is not reauthorized. The legislation was passed in 1999 to replace lost revenues to counties and schools because of dramatically reduced timber harvests on federal land. The loss of these funds would be devastating to the county’s school budget, possibly resulting in the loss of multiple teaching positions. Groceclose gave the Pocahontas County Board of Education an update on reauthorization efforts during the board meeting Monday night.

Groseclose works with the Partnership for Rural America. The group is advocating that Congress reauthorize the Act. She says they’ve had some success but a lot of work is still needed. Reauthorization was not even in the federal budget forecast but now due to their efforts, it is, but at a reduced level.

Groseclose says that US Representatives Nick Rahall and Shelley Moore Capito support full reauthorization and they are working to get Senator Manchin on board as well but with limited success. She suggests that everyone should e-mail Senator Manchin’s Office at www.manchin.senate.gov and ask him to support this critical legislation.

Groseclose says that her group is continuing to work with the Natural Resource Committee to find Offsets, a term used in Congress that means taking money from one program to fund another. They are attempting to get language into the budget that would reauthorize the Act for 10 years, but there are no guarantees.

In other business, Reta Griffith of Frontier Communications tells the Board that a recent round of billing problems that in one instance resulted in some phone services being disconnected have been identified and corrected. She says the trouble was with some fictitious phone numbers established by Frontier that somehow got mixed into the real numbers and accounts. She says the counties phone bills are now current and no more of these problems should occur.

Griffith also told the Board that the internet speed has been greatly increased at all schools. She says that the problems that the county schools have been dealing with have been identified. Things such as misdirected calls, false ring backs, and inoperative voice mails. After the school year is completed, Frontier will fix all these problems and any others the schools identify, without causing any more disruption to service than is necessary.

Green Bank Elementary-Middle School Principal Ruth Bland discussed the Professional Personnel Staff Development Training to be held August 17th & 18th. She said the goal is to get all 18 required hours of Continuing Education training completed during the school year. This two day seminar is just the first step and includes the much discussed Respect and Protect Training.

Mary Dilley says the Service Personnel Continuing Education sessions will be held the same days. The Board approved both the Professional and Service training sessions.

Jim Van Reenan, representing the Scottish Rites Club, presented all the county school Principals with a book and DVD about the American Flag.

The Board also welcomed Chloe Bland as the new Student Representative.

In other actions, the Board approved the Following:

The Budget for the 2011-2012 school year

Renewing a contract with Katherine Snyder for consultation services and assisting in the reading programs at the elementary schools

And an agreement with RESA IV to sponsor a Science and Math Camp at Green Bank School from June 21st through June 30th.

Personnel Agenda

Green Bank Elementary-Middle:

Employment of Lucy Rittenhouse as academic interventionist

Michael Hudson and Cindy Wade Price as Custodian II (summer help) from July 5th to August 2nd 2011 as needed

Changed the Title from Athletic Coordination to Athletic Director at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School for the 2011-2012 school year

Hillsboro Elementary:

Employment of Sabrina Jordan as Custodian II (summer help) from July 5th to July 18th 2011 as needed

Marlinton Elementary:

Employment of Sabrina Jordan and Roy Shearer as Custodian II (summer help) from June 21st to June 30th 2011 as needed

Marlinton Middle:

Employment of:
Tina Sharp as Custodian II (summer help) from July 5th to August 2nd 2011 as needed

Phillip Anderson as Head Basketball Coach Boys

Brooke Dickenson as Head Basketball Coach Girls

Lawrence Workman as Assistant Basketball Coach Boys

Created the Position of Athletic Director for the 2011-2012 school year
Note: Coach positions pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

Pocahontas County High:

Employment of Michael Hudson and Kimberly McComb as Custodian II (summer help) from June 16th and 17th and June 21st thru 30th 2011 as needed.