Special Education in Pocahontas Schools is 89% Non-Compliant- Being fixed

During the School Improvement Updates at the September 2^nd Pocahontas County Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams briefed the board members on the schools’ Special Education issues. She said that while statewide in West Virginia, schools are 56% compliant with state special education standards, and 44% are non-compliant, the results are much worse in the Pocahontas County Schools Special Education Program, with 89% non-compliance and only 11% compliance.

She explained that compliance is defined as the students’ and the service provider’s (i.e. special Ed Teacher’s,) schedules and logs match the specifically defined services in the student’s IEP (or Individual Education Program.)

Williams said that the original deadline given to fix these problems by the State Department of Education was October 3^rd, she has obtained an extension until December 3^rd to correct the non-compliance problems. She said they are diligently working to make these corrections using a team approach, and she believes “we will be the best in the state” by the new deadline.

Williams provided updates on the corrective actions being taken at PCHS concerning the state’s State of Emergency issues, saying many of those issues have been either fixed or being worked on. She also said the school building improvements that have been at the high school include creating a new special Education Room, completely renovating the bathrooms, and the new gym floor is being installed. She added that they will be instituting the new attendance policy at PCHS on the day following this meeting.

The board approved the agenda for this meeting and routine financial reports and actions; by consent agreement, then went into an executive session, after which they approved all of the recommended personnel actions. To see these, log onto our website, alleghenymountainradio.org, where you can find them, as well as all of the positions that remain unfilled by viewing the official Meeting Agenda attached at the end of this story.

During Superintendent’s Updates, Williams said she will be holding quarterly meetings with the Faculty Senate Presidents to establish better communication between administration and the schools concerning establishing a better culture and climate for learning at the schools.

In old business:

• The members reviewed and approved the new policies on student use of personal electronic devices in the schools, and staff usage of electronic devices.
• They approved a revision to the pre-K through 3^rd grade Parent Drop-off and Pick-up policy at bus stops, adding a minimum age requirement of 8 to 12 years old.
• They approved submitting the new JROTC application.
• They approved adding painting of the PCHS Gymnasium to their application for funding through the School Building Authority (SBA.)
• And approved amending Stephanie Burns’ Mutual Agreement to add a $4,000 supplement which had accidently omitted.

In New Business, Marlinton Mayor Sam Felton  requested for the board to sign the deed to their  lot on 9^th Street near Marlinton Elementary School to the Town of Marlinton. Felton said this is required for the town to apply for an ARC Power Grant to create a destination-caliber trailhead downtown to serve the Greenbrier River Trail, the Monday Lick Trail System, and the Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center. The board approved this with two understandings: to allow students and school staff to still park there; and to return to property to the board if the ARC Grant is not approved in the next three years.

The members approved the following:

• Posting Special Education compliance and consultant services through SESC to be paid by Special Ed Funds.
• Posting a Countywide Counselor and Supervisor of Comprehensive Counseling Services position.
• Sending a letter of intent to the Energy Systems Group about using their energy saving program in the schools.
• Converting a $1.00 coaching position for Marlinton Middle School Football to a $1,100 paid Assistant Coaching Position.
• To schedule a work session to establish board and superintendent goals for the current school year.

To see the Official Agenda for this meeting, including the Personnel agenda approved during the meeting, click here: 2025 9-2 Amended Agenda