Wendell Corporation’s Energy Savings Program Paying Off for Pocahontas BOE
At the June 1st Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting, Andy Cocina of the Wendell Corporation provided an update on how its Energy Savings Program is working out for the Pocahontas schools. He said the program is projected to meet or exceed anticipated energy savings which will be used towards capital improvements at the schools. A large portion of those savings will be used to install a badly needed new fire protection sprinkler system at Marlinton Elementary School. Ron Hall, Director of Maintenance for the schools added that the old sprinkler system is at the end of its life and is costing about ten-thousand dollars a year in emergency repairs and maintenance which are only temporary fixes, and the pipes in the system are so weakened by corrosion that the system cannot even be fully tested without risking the failure of the pipes.
The savings in utility bills will primarily come from replacing the outdated lighting fixtures in the schools with modern, energy efficient LED lighting. Other savings will result from installing new HVAC systems and computer power management systems.
Cocina also said that the BOE is scheduled to receive a lot of money in COVID relief funds, and while most of that is restricted by the government to be used for specific programs, two and a half million dollars is discretionary for the schools to spend as needed. Much of that discretionary money will be used for new HVAC units – that’s heating and air conditioning- at both Green Bank Elementary/Middle School and at Marlinton Middle School. Both the School Building Authority and the West Virginia Department of Education have given their approval for those HVAC projects.
Later in the meeting, the board members approved both the energy performance contract and the use of the COVID funds for the HVAC projects.
In his report, Superintendent Terrence Beam Congratulated School Nurse Jenny Friel for receiving the Highmark Foundation’s award for School Nursing, Practice and Leadership.
Beam also provided special recognition to the employees of the Pocahontas County Schools on the way they worked right up to the end of the school year, and kept the students on task up to the last day. He also named next school year’s Student Representatives to the Board of Education: Kyle Wayne will be the representative for the first semester and Rachel Burns will be the representative for the second semester.
Beam also congratulated the Class of 2021 graduating seniors.
Lynne Bostic said that because of a lack of staff, the summer school program will be offered only to Elementary School students.
Tracy Valach of Adventure Pocahontas – Nature’s Mountain Classroom, explained to the board the program which will begin next school year to take elementary school students on outdoor activities such as skiing, hiking, Caving, providing skiing and fishing lessons and visiting tourism sites in the county such as the Green Bank Observatory and the Elk River Touring Center. The program will also incorporate teaching curriculum subjects into these activities. She said Snowshoe Mountain Resort will be donating almost nine-hundred thousand dollars ($900,000) in equipment, rentals and lessons to the program. This program will eventually expand to the middle schools. The board approved incorporating the program into the school curriculum for next school year.
Other significant actions by the board at this meeting included:
- Approval to enter into an independent contract with Jeff Wayne as Water Operator at Green Bank Elementary/Middle School for one hour per week at $50.00 per hour.
- Approved moving forward with putting the Green Bank (or Slaven) property up for public bid, but are still awaiting the final appraisal report.
- Agreed to deed a 2.2 acre tract of that Green Bank property over to the Pocahontas County Solid Waste Authority as a site for their green boxes.
- They did not make any changes to the School Re-Entry plan, since the plan expires at the end of the current school year.
- They approved a personnel agenda which can also be found at the end of this story on our website, alleghenymountainradio.org.
Professional and Service PERSONNEL AGENDA: June 01, 2021
REQUESTED TRANSFER: VICKIE L. VRABLE, as Custodian III at Pocahontas County High School to Custodian III at Marlinton Elementary School, state minimum, effective for the 2021-2022 school year, shift being 2:00 PM –10:00 PM (Monday-Friday), term of employment shall be 220 days.
RESIGNATION: PEGGY M. OWENS, as Itinerant Teacher of Art/Gifted for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment: Marlinton Middle School), effective June 30, 2021
EMPLOYMENT: JULIA A. SHIFFLETT, as Assistant Principal/Assistant Career and Technical Education Director at Pocahontas County High School, at state minimum salary plus degree and experience, in accordance with Pocahontas County Administrative Salary Schedule, plus $6,000.00 supplement, effective for the 2021-2022 school year, term of employment being 220 days.
EMPLOYMENT: KATHY L. MASON, as Athletic Director, at Pocahontas County High School, extra-curricular position, supplement being $5,000.00, effective for the 2021-2022 school year.
RESIGNATION: ROBERT J. MANN, as Teacher of Music at Pocahontas County High School, effective July 1, 2021.
RESIGNATION: ROBERT J. MANN, as Pocahontas County High School Band Director, extra-curricular, effective July 1,2021.
RESIGNATION: SAMARA A. MANN, as Teacher of English/Language Arts at Pocahontas County High School, effective August 1, 2021.
EMPLOYMENT: JOSEPH J. JUDY, as General Maintenance/Truck Driver/ Groundsman/ Sanitation Plant Operator/Heating and Air Conditioning/Mechanic II, assignment: Central Office, state basic per licensure requirements, effective July 01, 2021 for the 2021-2022 school year, shift being 8:00 AM –4:00 PM (Monday –Friday), term of employment shall be 261 days.
EMPLOYMENT: SHERRI L HOWE, as Cafeteria Manager –Energy Express Program at Marlinton Elementary School, at state minimum salary, effective June 22, 2021through August 02, 2021(Monday –Friday, excluding July 5, 2021), shift being 7:30 AM –2:30 PM. Wages are contingent upon actually working the Energy Express Program. Paid holidays are not part of this contract.
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Cafeteria Manager for the Summer Feeding Program for Pocahontas County Schools, at state minimum salary, 2 days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday), with an additional day (Thursday), as needed, per County Food Director, effective June 15, 2021 through August 05, 2021 Seven hours per day (7:30 AM –2:30 PM). Wages are contingent upon actually working the Summer Feeding Program. Paid holidays are not part of this contract:
- Lora Sue Miller—Marlinton Middle School
- Janessa K. Bell—Green Bank Elementary-Middle School
EMPLOYMENT: Of the following as Cook III for the Summer Feeding Program for Pocahontas County Schools, at state minimum salary, 2 days a week (Tuesday and Wednesday), with an additional day (Thursday), as needed, per County Food Director, effective June 15, 2021 through August 05, 2021 Seven hours per day (7:30 AM –2:30 PM). Wages are contingent upon actually working the Summer Feeding Program. Paid holidays are not part of this contract:
- Goldie Greene—Marlinton Middle School
EMPLOYMENT: LORA SUE MILLER, as Cafeteria Manager for Ordering Food and Products for Summer Food Service Programs, extracurricular, assignment: Central Office, state minimum salary, up to 3.5 hours per week, for 8 weeks, effective June 07, 2021 until July 30, 2021, shift being Tuesday, 2:30 PM-4:30 PM, Wednesday, 2:30 PM-4:00 PM, (shift subject to change dependent upon vendor schedules). Wages are contingent upon actually working the position for the Summer Food Service Program. Paid holidays are not part of this contract.
RESIGNATION: KAYLEA N. KELLEY, as Academic Interventionist for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment being Marlinton Elementary School, for the 2021-2022 school year, retroactive to May 12, 2021.
RESIGNATION: EARNEST RAY HENDRICK, as 7th and 8th Grade Assistant Football Coach, retroactive to May 8, 2021.
RESIGNATION: DONNA F. GRAGG, as substitute aide for Pocahontas County Schools, effective June 3, 2021.
PERMISSION: For the superintendent to post and fill positions prior to Board approval, effective June 2, 2021 through October 1,2021
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