State Fire Marshall to Brief the Pocahontas Board of Education’s September 26th Meeting

At their September 12^th Meeting, the Pocahontas County Board of Education announced that State Fire Marshall Tim Mouse will brief the Board Members about unsafe conditions at the school facilities at their next regular meeting on September 26^th. Mouse is expected to say that Marlinton Elementary School and possibly others could be ordered to quickly close if the troubled school fire alarm systems completely fail, since repair parts for those systems are no longer available.

The Board heard from Beverly Stump of Legal Shield about her company’s optional legal plan for school employees and from Keith Ruckman of Integra Financial about an optional investment plan for school employees. No action was taken on these presentations as they were not on the agenda.

Ruth Bland of the Central Office reported to the Board that as of September 6^th, there were 1070 students enrolled in the Pocahontas Schools, which is down by 2 students from last year. The exact enrollment on October 1^st will be used by the State to determine the amount of State Aid provided to the schools.

Bland also reported that she negotiated with Head Start to raise the amount of Federal money paid to the schools from $4000 to $10,000.

Joe Riley, Principal at PCHS briefed the Board about setting the school’s schedule to meet State requirements. He also advised them that a drug policy to test CTE (Career and Technical Education) students attending the simulated workplace classes. Riley also said he needs a second Guidance Counselor at the school to help prevent students from dropping out of school.

Rebecca Spencer, Principal at Hillsboro Elementary discussed repair and/or replacement of flashing school zone signs on the highways near the schools, using the “WV Division of Highways School Flasher Assistance Program.” This program will still require that the Board of Education advance a large amount of money for the signs, but they would eventually receive a refund for that cost, but that may be slow in coming.

The Board authorized payments of routine vender and personnel costs, and approved several grants.

They also approved a contract with Laura Solliday to serve as an Academic Interventionist at Green Bank School.

The Board approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the County Department of Health to allow the use of school facilities for shelters, command or temporary care facilities in the event of a disaster.

The Board approved `several training trips for teachers which will not incur any cost to the Board, and approved an overnight trip by six students and one teacher to the National FFA Convention in Indiana on October 19-21, 2016.

They approved a new Substitute Service Personnel Policy and placed an “Acceptable Use of Electronic Resources, Technologies and the Internet” policy on 30 day comment, as well as a “Personnel Acceptable Use Policy Form.”

The Board also approved a Teacher in Residence partnership agreement with WVU which would allow WVU Teaching students to do their student teaching in the school system if the position they would be filling was unable to be filled by a certified teacher. They have a similar agreement with Fairmont State University.

The Board approved a lengthy personnel agenda without change following an Executive Session.

Personnel Agenda

Pocahontas County Board of Education Meeting, September 12, 2016

GREEN BANK ELEMENTARY SCHOOL:

The Resignation of Ella M Taylor due to retirement as a Supervisory Classroom Aide/Bus Aide/Paraprofessional/Early Childhood Classroom Assistant Teacher –effective October 31^st

Employment of the following for various part time positions under PROJECT SPLASH at Green Bank

• Ella M. Taylor –Project Site Coordinator
• Lesa McCarty – Project Site Coordinator
• Chad See – Recreational Enrichment Instructor
• Amanda Nottingham – Homework Help Teacher
• Karen Murphy – Project ELA Tutor/Enrichment Instructor
• Gregory Morgan – Performing Arts Instructor
• Cheryl R. Jonese – Counselor
• Alison C. Flegel – Visual Arts Instructor
• Thomas W. Boothe – Positive Youth Behaviors/Healthy Lifestyles Instructor
• Anne M. Smith – Special Education Teacher

HILLSBORO ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Devin E. Simmons to be employed as an After School Tutor (part time) effective September 14^th.

MARLINTON ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

Rosanne T. Zeni –After School Coordinator/Career Counselor/Tutor (part time effective 9/14/16)

Jenifer McCarty and E. Jamey Weber (will share this part time position) –After School Tutor (part time effective 9/14/16)

MARLINTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

The following as After School Tutors (part time, effective 9/14/16)

• L Cammie Kiner
• Jennifer McCarty
• Teresa Rhea
• Denise W. Sharp
• Cynthia L. Shreve

POCAHONTAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL

Joshus Corder –Assistant Band Director (retroactive to beginning of this school year)

Jeanette D. Wagner – After School Tutor (effective 9/14/16)

POCAHONTAS COUNTY SCHOOLS

Employment of the following as Substitute Teacher (effective 9/14/16 – as needed)

• Shereen R. Bailey
• Andrew G. Pritt

William Michael Hardesty –Substitute Custodian (Retroactive to 9/9/16 –as needed)