Megan Moriarty
Allegheny Mountain Radio
At Monday night’s Board of Education meeting, Pocahontas County’s WVEA President Kathy White said that there’s already a serious need for substitute teachers this school year.
“We’re now into the second week,” White said, “and the teachers have already been asked to cover classes twice within the first six days of school.”
White said it hurts the students when teachers have to be pulled out of planning time to make up for the lack of substitutes.
“Teachers have to have time to plan,” she said. “They have to be creative with what they have, and if they’re covering someone else’s class, they can’t be planning for their own.”
The Board made a decision to advertise for substitute teachers in order to address the problem. Information about how to become a substitute teacher will be available in The Pocahontas Times and on the Pocahontas County Board of Education website.
White and fellow high school science teacher Mary Sue Burns mentioned the need for a third science teacher at Pocahontas County High School. They suggested advertising beyond the state and county website to help fill this position.
“At this point in the school year,” Burns said, “it’s going to be difficult to find somebody with science credentials that doesn’t have a job without looking a little bit farther and thinking outside the box.”
Burns suggested advertising the position in other states, as well as the National Science Teachers Association job site. Board president Emery Grimes said the board will do everything within its power to get an additional science teacher at PCHS.
Music teacher Rick McLaughlin said that the students he’s worked with love “Quaver,” the new music curriculum. McLaughlin also brought up his concern that Hillsboro Elementary School currently lacks a music program. “I don’t see them having music, and I really don’t see them having band when the other two schools have band,” he said.
McLaughlin said the decision to move fifth grade to Marlinton Middle School has led to issues with classes and planning because students are at different levels.
In other news:
• WVEA treasurer Molly Minter presented the Board with a $500 check from the WVEA.
• Morgan McComb was appointed President of the Service Personnel Association.
In financial management, the board approved:
• Payment of vendor listings of claims in the amounts of $7,910.03, $30,261.81 and $28,893.37.
In miscellaneous management, the board approved:
• WV Pre-K agreement between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Schools Days Child Care, LLC, to provide preschool services per the terms of the agreement effective August 25 through May 29, 2015 at a rate of nine equal installments of $6,333.33. The board will reimburse provider at the rate of $1.58 per breakfast and $2.93 per lunch for children attending the WV Pre-K Program utilizing USDA guidelines.
• Thomas C. Moats, a resident of Pocahontas County, to enroll his child in Greenbrier County Schools, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.
• Shane C. Jones as volunteer assistant seventh and eighth grade football coach at Pocahontas County High School, retroactive to August 12, for the 2014-2015 season.
• Contract between Pocahontas County board of education and Erica Marks, to provide gifted services and other evaluation services to students enrolled with Pocahontas County Schools, at the rate of $275 per day for gifted services, evaluations and consultation – including IEP and SAT meetings – not to exceed $27,500, 2.5 days per week for 40 weeks, for the period of August 25 through June 30, 2015.
• Contract between Pocahontas County board of education and Mary Moore McLaughlin, to provide art instruction services, in collaboration with the classroom teachers, to the students of Hillsboro Elementary School, beginning the week of August 26 and ending no later than May 15, 2015, for a total of 30 instructional days to be mutually agreed upon by the principal and Ms. McLaughlin. Pocahontas County Schools will compensate at a cost of $200 per day, not to exceed $6,000. Fee will be paid with Title I funds and the teacher will be responsible for their own materials and not benefits are included in this contract.
• To place Policy GCC-C – Substitute Service Personal List on 30-day comment. The policy would require substitutes to work more than 50 percent of the time when contact has been made in order to remain on the substitute calling list.
In personnel management, the board approved:
• Employment of Shannon B. Bircher as secretary II/accountant II/cook II at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at state basic pay, effective August 26, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 195. Term of employment shall be 215 days each year thereafter.
• Creation of position teacher of science/biology at Pocahontas County High School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective August 27, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 189 days. Term of employment shall be 200 days each year thereafter.
• Employment of Michelle D. Jeffers as mentor for the following principals, at $1,000 per principal, effective for the 2014-2015 school year: Michael Adkins, Joseph Arbogast and Gregory P. Ball.
• Employment of Robert Sheets as mentor for Mark Landis, teacher of alternative education at Pocahontas County High School, at a supplement of $1,000, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.
• Resignation of James T. Daniels as substitute maintenance and substitute mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 7.
• Resignation of Nathalie K. Richardson, due to retirement, as teacher of early education at Marlinton Elementary School, effective September 30.
• Employment of Nathalie K. Richardson as substitute teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, effective January 1, 2015 for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.
• Employment of Carol Carrico and Mary P. Dawson as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 27, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay.
• Employment of the following as substitute aides for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: Melinda F. Bussard, Jessica E. Cole, Donna F. Gragg, Anita Grimes Workman, Kathleen L. Holzman-Henry, Diane R. Hoover, Debora J. Johnson, Rebecca L. Peteete, Judy A. Sanders, Heather R. Rhea, Felicia L. Smith and Kimberly D. Thompson.
• Employment of the following as substitute cooks for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: Lois Ann Beverage, Melinda F. Bussard, Martha J. Friel, Anita Grimes Workman, Amanda Hoke, Vickie J. Vrable and Thelma Wylie.
• Employment of the following as substitute custodians for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: C. Loy Burgess, Martha J. Friel, Roger D. Irvine and Vickie J. Vrable. Emergency use only: Angela G. Irvine.
• Employment of the following as substitute maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: Paul Barb and Roger D. Irvine.
• Employment of Jamie C. Walker as substitute mechanic, on an emergency use only basis, for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the 2014-2015 school year, at state basic pay.
• Employment of the following as substitute school bus operators for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: Daniel E. Arbogast, II, Freddie L. Greer, Leffort M. Kidd, Jr., Stephen D. McCarty, Kenneth J. Samples, Daryl A. Shinaberry and David Vandevender. On an emergency basis only: Ian B. Bennett, Patrick D. Gibson, Darin W. McKenney and Justin A. Taylor.
• Employment of the following as substitute secretary/accountant for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18, for the 2014-2015 school year, as needed, at state basic pay: Jessica Cole, Kimberly Jordan, Kimberely Thompson and Lisa Rich. Stephanie Barkley on an emergency use only basis.
• Creation of position itinerant teacher of special education multi categorical/autism at Marlinton Elementary School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective August 26, for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment is 190 days. Term of employment shall be 200 days each year thereafter.
The next Board of Education meeting will be Monday, September 8, at 7 p.m. at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Room.