Pocahontas County Schools –Off to a Good Start!

At The August 17th Board of Education Meeting, Interim School Superintendant Terrence Beam reported that the school year is off to a good start despite cafeteria issues at the High School.

“I visited all the schools today” said Beam. “There’s a lot of activity going on at the school(s) today and it seemed like a pretty smooth start for everybody. But I especially recognize the staff at Pocahontas High School. They had to deal with an issue of their cafeteria being not quite ready. Mrs. Dennison worked with them to get the process moving along so that we could provide bag lunches this week. I visited the school today and talked with the cooks up there. They thought everything would be finished by Thursday. They are prepared to start hot meals on Monday of next week, so thanks to them a lot.”

The Board members approved some of the remaining bills from the last fiscal year, including vender claims totaling $2,658.64 and Local Government Purchasing Card expenses totaling $3,512.70. They also approved the bank statement reconciliation for the month of June which showed they spent more money –about $342.00 than were received in revenues in June. Sherry Radcliff, the School’s Treasurer, explained that this was due to a decline in revenue from taxes resulting from citizens not yet paying their due taxes, and this should resolve itself as people make their payments.

The Board also approved the contract with Woodford Oil Company of Elkins to provide Diesel, Gasoline and Heating Oil to each of the County schools this year. It was noted that requests for bids on this contract was mailed to a total of 5 fuel companies but Woodford Oil was the only bid received.

The Board also approved a memorandum of understanding with Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College for the college to provide a course – English Composition 101- for up to 25 students during the Fall Semester.

The Board of Education approved a contract with the Pocahontas County Parks and Recreation Board for the Wellness Center to share gymnasium facilities with Marlinton Elementary School.

The Following Personnel moves were approved at the meeting:

  1. Dervin E. Lambert resigned as a Teacher of Welding at the High School.
  2. The Board rescinded the assignment of Patrick Duane Gibson as a Mentor for Dervin Lambert which had been assigned at the August 10th Board of Education Meeting.
  3. Shannon G. Arbogast was employed as a Boys’ Soccer Coach at the High School at a $1,500.00 supplemental pay.
  4. William Lake Vaughan was employed as a Substitute School Bus Operator on an “As needed” basis.
  5. Rebecca A. Davis was employed as an Itinerant Supervisory Special Education Classroom Aide & Bus Aide.
  6. Kenneth J Samples was employed as a School Bus Operator.

Mr. Beam announced at the meeting that there would not be a Volleyball team this year as no coaches could be found, however efforts would be made to revive the Volleyball Team next year. Some Board members questioned whether the reduced Coaching Supplemental pay was the cause and Mr. Beam said that the reasons given did not indicate that was the cause, however it is possible pay was the cause. No other teams seem to be losing coaches.

Board Member Steve Tritapoe asked the Superintendent if it would be possible to post the spring sports coaching positions during the fall semester instead of waiting for early spring. Mr. Beam replied that this could be done.

There was discussion about repairs to the High School gymnasium floor. It was a consensus that the floor needed only re-finishing and not sanding. It was noted that this needed to be done before the Basketball Teams begin practice.

The Board members discussed the need and importance in having Board members attend WV School Board Association Meetings in order to fulfill their 7 hours of Continuing Education requirements as Board of Education Members.

Also discussed was the need for uniforms for the Cheerleading teams and that Middle School Cheerleaders must be in at least the 6th grade.

The next Board of Education meeting will be at 7:00 pm on August 24th at the Board Conference Room.

 

 

Story By

Tim Walker

Tim is the WVMR News Reporter. Tim is a native of Maryland who started coming to Pocahontas County in the 1970’s as a caver. He bought land on Droop Mountain off Jacox Road in 1976 and built a small house there in the early 80’s. While still working in Maryland, Tim spent much time at his place which is located on the Friars Hole Cave Preserve. Retiring in 2011 as a Lieutenant with the Anne Arundel County Police Department in Maryland, Tim finally took the plunge and moved from Maryland to his real home on Droop Mountain. He began working as the Pocahontas County Reporter for Allegheny Mountain Radio in January of 2015.

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