The Pocahontas County Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, October 28, 2013, at 7:00 PM at the Board of Education Conference Room with the following members present:
Emery G. Grimes, President
Janet E. McNeel )
Hanna G. Sizemore ) Members
Cheryl M. Beverage )
Kenneth E. Vance )
AGENDA
On motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved the Agenda.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Dr. Bechtel recognized Mr. Robert Mann, band director at Pocahontas County High School, for his extremely successful performance at Central Dauphin, Pennsylvania.
Dr. Bechtel told the Board that Mr. Mann raised $6,500 to take the PCHS marching band to Pennsylvania – and did so in approximately one week. Mr. Mann received $3,000 as donations from local businesses, $1,500 in fund raising (selling Yankee ® candles and tee shirts), and the Board of Education contributed $2,000.
HEAR CALLERS
1. Ms. Mary E. Dilley, Pocahontas County School Service Personnel president, read aloud the letter she had written addressing the Board regarding issues arising from paying one service personnel classification on years of experience outside of the school system and awarding supplements to certain classifications without doing so for others.
Ms. Dilley first began by stating that the chief mechanic and the mechanic are doing a fantastic job. Noting she does not have a problem with these individuals personally, however, she is very upset that they are receiving pay for years of experience worked outside of the school system. Ms. Dilley noted that although doing so is not illegal, it has not been authorized by the Board of Education.
Ms. Dilley stressed that she understands paying individuals on verifiable work experience outside of a school system is not illegal. Noting that she spoke to Amy Willard in the West Virginia Department of Education School of Finance who suggested approving supplements instead of paying on outside experience.
Ms. Dilley went on to say that the West Virginia Department of Education reimburses the counties for salaries, however, will only reimburse for years of experience gained while working for a county school system.
Jason Long, legal counsel for the Pocahontas County Board of Education, stated that he did not disagree with Ms. Dilley. Noting that her facts are correct. It is not illegal to pay someone for years of experience worked outside of a school system, if it is given to everyone in that classification. Further, the WVDE will reimburse only for years of experience an employee accumulates from working within a school system and as a result he does agree that the WVDE would prefer counties provided supplements instead of paying on years of experience outside of a school system. Mr. Long pointed out that nothing the Pocahontas County Board of Education has done, regarding the hiring/contract increase/pay on years of experience, is illegal. Mr. Long suggested that, in the future, the Board should approve vacancy notices
Ms. Dilley encouraged the Board to ask questions and talk to the staff if they have any questions or are unclear about a situation.
Anne Smith, teacher at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and American Federation of Teachers representative, spoke to the Board stating that they, as individuals and as a group, should seek training and information on their own. Ms. Smith said that if they have questions, they should actively seek answers on their own instead of relying on the superintendent or other central office administrators to provide information.
2. Kristy Tritapoe, teacher at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, approached the Board to invite them to each of the schools and to talk to the staff. Ms. Tritapoe said that the staff would like to see more Board Member presence.
3. Karen McCoy, school secretary, approached the Board to remind them that school secretaries and central office secretaries’ jobs are different, however, both work very hard.
4. Lesa McCarty, aide for Pocahontas County Schools, approached the Board to say that before working for the school system she was an aide for Seneca Mental Health. Ms. McCarty said that she feels that her time spent at Seneca Mental Health greatly increased her ability to do the job she currently has. Ms. McCarty stated that she would like to see the Board pay all employees on their years of experience outside of the school system.
INFORMATION/REPORTS/UPDATES…
Miss Lyndsee Gay, student representative, could not be physically present at the Board Meeting, however, did provide the Board with an update.
· The Pocahontas County High School Chapter of FFA has been actively engaging in fund raisers to pay for the club’s trip to Louisville, Kentucky.
Miss Gay noted that she is the vice president of the Pocahontas County High School Chapter of FFA.
· The week of September 23rd – 27th was Spirit Week at Pocahontas County High School. The themes were as follows:
· Monday – Nerd/Senior Citizens day
· Tuesday – Tacky Tourist day
· Wednesday – Twin/Dynamic Duo day
· Thursday – Gender Swap/Camouflage day
· Friday – School Spirit day
· The Pocahontas County Warrior football team played Richwood High School at the homecoming football game and won 43-25.
· Jennifer Fertig was crowned Homecoming Queen and Andrew Morrison was crowned Homecoming King.
· The Pocahontas County High School Tourism club and FFA Chapter toured the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum. The tour was very scary and very informational.
· Monday, October 21 was the end of the first nine weeks.
· The Pocahontas County High School boys’ soccer team will play on October 31 against Pikeview for the Regional Championships.
Ms. Sallie Adkins with the West Virginia Read Aloud program addressed the Board and provided an update.
Ms. Adkins told the Board that the West Virginia Read Aloud program had volunteer readers in all elementary and middle schools. She noted that finding individuals willing to read to middle schoolers was difficult because of the trepidation; however, in her experience the middle school students are warm and receptive to readers.
Ms. Adkins also informed the Board that the West Virginia Read Aloud program worked in partnership with the SPOKES program and the Lions Club. The West Virginia Read Aloud program provided High Five and Highlight magazines to all students in preschool and kindergarten.
Ms. Adkins ended by encouraging everyone to become a volunteer reader. She stated that the experience is very rewarding.
APPROVAL OF GRANT AWARDS, BUDGET JOURNALS, CARRY-OVER AND BUDGET SUPPLEMENTS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved grant awards, budget journals, carry-over and budget supplements.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent, and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $21,913.99.
APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent, and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $21,913.99.
APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent, and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Dr. Sizemore, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $44,817.33.
APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS (LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CARD/ACH PAYMENTS)…
On recommendation of the superintendent, and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims (Local Government Purchasing Card/ACH Payments) in the amount of $22,335.68.
APPROVAL FOR POCAHONTAS COUNTY HIGH SCHOOL FFA CHAPTER TO TRAVEL TO LOUISVILLE, KENTUCKY…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved for the Pocahontas County High School FFA Chapter to travel by rental van provided by Mitchell Chevrolet, to Louisville, Kentucky, leaving Pocahontas County High School on October 29, 2013 and returning to Pocahontas County High School on November 2, 2013 for the National FFA Convention.
APPROVAL OF AMERICORPS VOLUNTEER…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved Carl Kelk as AmeriCorps volunteer to facilitate the Farm2School program for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2013-2014 fiscal year.
APPROVAL TO TRANSPORT GREEN BANK ELEMENTARY-MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS TO VIRGINIA SAFARI PARK, NATURAL BRIDGE, VIRGINIA…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved for the Green Bank Elementary-Middle School students to be transported, by school bus, to Virginia Safari Park, Natural Bridge, Virginia on the following dates:
November 5, 2013 – Grades kindergarten through second
November 6, 2013 – Grades third through fifth
November 7, 2013 – Grades sixth through eighth
APPROVAL TO SUBMIT WAIVER…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Mr. Vance, the Board unanimously approved to submit a waiver to the West Virginia Department of Education to allow the Pocahontas County Board of Education to establish the legal age for a student to drop-out of school as 18 years of age.
APPROVAL TO PLACE REVISIONS OF POLICY FK – INTEGRATED PEST CONTROL MANAGEMENT ON 30-DAY COMMENT…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. Beverage, the Board unanimously approved to place revisions of Policy FK – Integrated Pest Control Management on 30-day comment.
PERSONNEL
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Vance, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved the following professional and service personnel:
Green Bank Elementary-Middle School:EMPLOYMENT: / THOMAS E. PLUMLEY, as athletic director at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $750 (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / SHANE JONES, as basketball coach (boys) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $1,500 (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
EMPLOYMENT: / ALLEN TAYLOR, as assistant basketball coach (boys) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2013-2014 season, at a supplement of $1,000 (NOTE: Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.)
Pocahontas County Schools:
ADDITION OF
SUPPLEMENT: / DR. DONALD K. BECHTEL, Interim Superintendent for Pocahontas County Schools, addition of monthly supplement in the amount of $1,200, retroactive to October 16, 2013 until such time as position of Superintendent is filled, but cannot be extended beyond June 30, 2014.
By unanimous vote against, the following was not approved:
ADDITION OFSUPPLEMENT: / JENNIFER M. BARLOW, Executive Secretary/Accountant III for Pocahontas County Schools, annual supplement in the amount of $2,000, effective October 16, 2013.
ADDITION OF
SUPPLEMENT: / MELISSA A. ERVINE, Executive Secretary/Accountant III for Pocahontas County Schools, annual supplement in the amount of $2,000, effective October 16, 2013.
ADDITION OF
SUPPLEMENT: / KRISTIN L. KINNISON, Executive Secretary/Accountant III for Pocahontas County Schools, annual supplement in the amount of $2,000, effective October 16, 2013.
On motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Dr. Sizemore, the Board unanimously approved to pull the following:
CREATION OFPOSITION: / Secretary II/Accountant II (half-time) at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective November 14, 2013 for the remainder of the 2013-2014 school year. Term of employment: 139 one-half days, at state basic pay. NOTE: Position is to be abolished at the end of the 2013-2014 school year.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Interim Superintendent Bechtel told the Board that he asked Mr. Terrence Beam to update the Board on the changes to the school calendar for the 2014-2015 school year.
Mr. Beam began by informing the Board that the most notable change to the calendar was the extension of the window for school to be in session. This has changed from 43 weeks per calendar year to 48 weeks. Also the fact that ISE days will be eliminated from the calendar. Mr. Beam stated that elementary schools (grades preschool through fourth) are required to be in session 315 minutes each day, middle schools (grades fifth through eighth) are required to be in session 330 minutes each day, and high schools (grades ninth through twelfth) are required to be in session 345 minutes each day. Mr. Beam said that schools need to ‘bank’ time, meaning time should be added to the instructional day – perhaps ten minutes per day – to offset delays due to inclement weather or other unforeseen complications.
Dr. Bechtel informed the Board of the following:
· Senator Manchin will be “Skyping” with students at Pocahontas County High School on Wednesday, October 30, 2013 at 11:00 PM.
· Ms. Bland received confirmation that an E-Rate reimbursement of $27,060 has been obligated.
· Report cards went home with students today, October 28.
· 100 Meg line is being connected to the circuit boxes in the school. Federal programs will be paying for some of the telecommunications cost.
MATTERS FROM THE BOARD
Mr. Grimes stated that there will be a workshop with the superintendent on Tuesday, November 5, 2013 at 5:30 PM in the Board of Education Conference Room.
Ms. McNeel told Dr. Bechtel that Delegate Denise Campbell would like to attend the November 4, 2013 meeting.
Dr. Sizemore stated the Rachel Tompkins would like to address the Board on November 12, 2013 to discuss options and possibilities regarding the superintendent search.
Mr. Grimes noted that Dr. Howard O’Cull would also be beneficial in the superintendent search.
NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION/FACULTY SENATE/LOCAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL MEETING
The next Board of Education/Faculty Senate/Local School Improvement Council Meeting will be held on Monday, November 4, 2013 at 7:00 PM at Marlinton Elementary School.
NEXT BOARD MEETING
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, November 12, 2013, at 7:00 PM in the Board of Education conference room.
ADJOURN
On motion of Dr. Sizemore, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board agreed to adjourn.
______
President Secretary