BOE hears from Superintendent, concerned community members

Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
 
It was a quick night at the Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting Monday as the board heard several updates from Superintendent Terrence Beam and from a couple of hear callers.

Beam reported that he originally asked the board to post a position for a credit recovery/graduation coach at Pocahontas County High School, but due to the schedule for the position, he said it would be better suited as two separate jobs. He will post the credit recovery position first and then the graduation coach.

Both positions will be paid for through the Innovation Zone Grant. 

Beam also reported there will not be a golf team at PCHS this year due to a lack of interest.

In hear callers, Hillsboro resident Michelle Jeffers addressed the board with concerns about the sprinkler and fire alarm systems in the schools. She said she had heard a lot of rumors in the public, but due to some research, she discovered there have been actions taken to remedy issues at the schools.

Jeffers asked if it was possible to get a report at the meeting to update the public on the status of the systems.

Beam said he will ask director of maintenance Ron Hall to give a report at the next board meeting.

Also speaking under hear callers, Hillsboro resident Jay Miller again posed questions concerning the plan to move the board office and the flood insurance claim money which was set aside to pay for repairing or moving the board office. 

Miller said in his research, he did not find any law that says the insurance claim money had to be used on the board office. He suggested using the money to repair the schools instead of relocating the office. 

As this was not an agenda item, the board took no action.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

• Policy GBRIC – Return to Work.

• 21st Century Community Learning Center Partnership Memorandum of Understanding between RESA 4 and Pocahontas County Board of Education, effective for the 2017-2018 school year. 

• Stephanie Burns and Jenny Friel as volunteer cheerleading coaches at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2017-2018 school year.

In professional management, the board approved the following:

• Employment of James R. Casteel as head seventh and eighth grade football coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2017-2018 season, at a supplement of $750.

• Employment from preferred recall list Rebecca A. Davis as itinerant special education classroom aide/ bus aide at Marlinton Elementary School at state basic pay, retroactive to August 16, for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year. Term of employment is 196 days. Term of employment shall be 200 days each year thereafter.

• Employment of Karen Murphy as teacher of homebound instruction, effective for the 2017-2018 school year, as needed, at $20 per hour.

• Employment of the following as academic interventionists at the designated schools, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, not to exceed $7,000 per position, effective August 23, 2017 through May 25, 2018: M. Susan Arbogast, Hillsboro Elementary School; and Christina M. Smith, Marlinton Elementary School. 

• Employment of Lucy Rittenhouse as academic interventionist at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School at $20 per hour, not to exceed $7,000, effective August 23, 2017 through May 25, 2018. Position to be funded by Green Bank Elementary-Middle School Title I funds.

• Employment of Karrie B. Jack and Derek Trull as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 23, for the remainder of the 2017-2018 school year, as needed, at state basic pay based on degree and experience.

• Employment/recaptured seniority Amanda G. McCarty as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to the beginning of the 2017-2018 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.

The next board meeting will be Monday, September 11, at 6 p.m., at the board of education conference room.

Suzanne Stewart may be contacted at sastewart@pocahontastimes.com