Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Four of the five members of the Pocahontas County Board of Education were present at the August 13 meeting to handle the rather large agenda. While it is not unusual for a board member to miss a meeting, board president Emery Grimes explained at the end of the meeting that board vice-president Becky Campbell resigned from her position due to health issues.
The board shared its concern for Campbell, and said they will miss her as a member. Grimes then led a discussion about finding someone to fill the vacancy until the next election. The board is now seeking an individual from the Northern or Central district to serve on the board as an interim member. That member will serve until the end of the canvass of the November 5 election results.
The board will have a special meeting Thursday, August 29, to interview applicants and will appoint a new board member at that time.
The unexpired seat will be placed on the November ballot in the general election.
In her update, superintendent Lynne Bostic said that a contingency of three from the West Virginia Department of Education visited last week to meet with departments heads and administrators at Pocahontas County High School. Bostic and directors Julie Shiflet and Kristy Tritapoe also attended.
Derek Lambert, manager of secondary support; Lauren Laundry, coordinator of secondary support; and Veronica Barron, coordinator of Career and Technical Education; were at the high school to go over the newly revised Policy 2510 which outlines what courses are required for students to graduate.
This meeting was prom-pted by action taken last year which unveiled that several classes offered at PCHS were no longer required in the policy, which meant students were not getting credit toward their degree.
“They will be supporting us quite a bit this year as we try to turn the ship around,” Bostic said. “We have some work to do, we know it. We had some discussions. Just because we did something back in 2017 and had it approved doesn’t mean that it’s still appropriate in 2024, so we have some work to do, but we’re together and are moving forward.”
Bostic also shared an update from maintenance director Duane Gibson who could not attend the meeting. In the report, Bostic said work continues on demolition of the old board office in Marlinton. There was a delay due to the discovery of more asbestos which had to be handled with care.
There was also extra care taken to ensure no rubble from the building will fall toward Marlinton Elementary School and the playground.
Bostic added that the board office is working with Pocahontas County Homeland Security and Emergency Management and the Local Emergency Management Council for continued and improved safety and security. During the brainstorming session, Bostic said there was discussion about installing emergency phones at PCHS and emergency generators at four of the five schools.
Marlinton Middle School already has an emergency generator because it is a safe location for the community during flooding or other disasters.
Bostic yielded the floor to director of special education and preschool Kristy Tritapoe who gave a report with some good and bad news.
First she gave a “shout out” to the special education teachers at PCHS for completing their follow up surveys with students who had IEPs. They keep track of these students to see how they are doing post graduation.
Tritapoe said that they managed to contact all their former students and have reported that they are either seeking higher education or are employed.
“That is a huge positive,” she said. “It’s hard to track these students down.”
On the bad side, Tritapoe said the special education department is in trouble with the state department of education with transition on the IEP students.
“I did receive the information from the state department and we’re not in compliance,” she said. “We have a couple IEPs that they have been checking that have been out of compliance for three years. It is pretty serious.”
Tritapoe said she is in constant contact with the state department employee who focuses on transition to correct this issue.
“All of the secondary special ed teachers have a corrective action plan,” she said.
Tritapoe added that she will be attending a data summit in Morgantown in September to develop a plan for Pocahontas County to correct this issue, as well.
When the board reached the portion of the agenda for personnel, it pulled an item to be discussed separately. The item was creation of position for a preschool teacher at School Days Child Care for the 2024-2025 school year.
All boards of education are required by state law to collaborate with 50 percent of the private preschools in their counties. In Pocahontas County, School Days is the preschool it has worked with for years.
In the past, the board has provided funding for the preschool students, including meals, and School Days hires the teacher. This year, however, Tritapoe said School Days requested the board hire the teacher.
During the discussion, the board went back and forth on the implications of hiring a teacher instead of providing the funding it usually does.
Board member Morgan McComb said he couldn’t justify hiring a teacher for just five kids who are enrolled at School Days. He suggested that either those students look at one of the other preschools in the county or more students be asked to attend School Days.
Tritapoe said she did speak to the parents of the five students enrolled at School Days and asked if they would be willing to send their children to Hillsboro Elementary School. She said two families said they would consider it.
By law, the board has to let the parents choose which preschool they would prefer their children to attend. If the first choice is full, the parent is then asked to have their child go to the second choice.
After the discussion, the board voted on the item as written, to create a position for a preschool teacher at School Days Child Care. The vote ended in a stalemate with two for and two against.
Board member Sue Hollandsworth made a motion to hire a teacher if there were enough students to justify the position. The motion died due to the lack of a second.
McComb then made a motion to not supply a teacher. This too died for lack of a second.
With the discussion reaching an end and no board member willing to budge on their votes, the item ended with the stalemate vote.
In miscellaneous management, the board approved:
• Memorandum of Agreement between Pocahontas County Schools and the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy (MCA) to implement a system to create transcripts through WVEIS and grant high school diplomas for students who successfully complete MCA.
• Partnership between Pocahontas County Parks and Recreation and the Pocahontas County Board of Education regarding the use and funding of the Wellness Center, effective July 1 through June 30, 2025.
• Agreement with the West Virginia Secondary Schools Activities Commission and Green Bank Middle School and Marlinton Middle School to enter into a cooperative agreement to establish one Pocahontas County Middle School football team.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Carrie Bowers – Impact Learning Services – to provide services for deaf and hard of hearing students for the 2024-2025 school year per the terms of the contract.
• Day field trip to Marshall University in Huntington, of a group of CTE students to visit the campus and have program tour on August 27, with faculty members accompanying students.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Diamond J. Heating and Cooling, LLC to provide HVAC repair services to school buildings, as needed, at $65 per hour, up to $5,000, retroactive to July 1, through June 30, 2025.
• Groundwater Protection Plan for Small Business.
• Update to the Crisis Management Plan for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Enter into an independent contract with Jeff Wayne as water operator at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School at $50 per hour, one hour per week, or as needed, retroactive to July 1, through June 30, 2025.
• Purchase two new 2026 International Next Generation diesel powered 78-passenger conventional school bus for Pocahontas County Schools at $269,000. One bus will be special needs equipped with wheelchair life.
• School Support Organizations for Fundraisers and School Based Fundraisers for 2024-2025.
• Pocahontas County High School AP courses for the 2024-2025 school year: AP Calculus, AP Computer Science Applications, AP Physics and AP Spanish.
• Pocahontas County High School Dual Credit courses for the 2024-2025 school year: college algebra, college statistics, college English 101, college English 102, introduction to surveying, college communications, coll- ege psychology, college sociology, anatomy, computer applications I, digital imaging, desktop publishing, introduction to education in the classroom, introduction to child development, introduction to educational psychology and introduction to social, emotional and behavioral wellness.
In personnel management, the board approved:
• Employment of Teresa Kloeker as special education/classroom/bus aide at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Employment of Paulena Schoolcraft as special education/classroom/bus aide at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Jessica McLaughlin Jones as teacher of special education – multi-categorical/autism at Marlinton Middle School to teacher of special education – multi-categorical/autism at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Employment of Emily Trail as teacher of fifth grade at Marlinton Elementary School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Tina Tracey as teacher of special education – multi-categorical/autism at Hillsboro Elementary School to teacher of special education – multi-categorical/autism, at Marlinton Elementary School for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Resignation of Felicia Smith as special education/ classroom/bus aide at Marlinton Middle School, effective August 1.
• Requested transfer of Haley Cummins as ECCAT special education/classroom/ bus aide at Marlinton Elementary to special education/classroom/bus aide at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Jeanette Wagner from Communities in Schools coordinator at Marlinton Elementary School to special education teacher – multi-categorial/autism, at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Amended start date of Nicole Rose-Taylor to July 30, as principal at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 240 days.
• Employment of Lisa Bennet as special education/classroom/bus aide at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Employment of Bridget Koerber as head cheerleading coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at a supplement of $1,500.
• Abolishment of position half-time physical education/health position at Pocahontas County High School.
• Employment of Abbey Cox as teacher of alternative education/interventionist at Marlinton Middle School and Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Employment of the following as supervisory aides, effective for the 2024-2025 school year: Amber R. Arbogast, Susan M. Armstrong, Tonja S. Armstrong, Kimberly Beverage, Katie Broce, Dottie Chestnut, Sarah Cover, Haley Cummins, Rebecca A. Davis, Tabatha Ellis, Carrie L. Hickman, Renee Hill, Karrie B. Jack, Cynthia Landis, Tabeatha McCoy, Jessica Oxier, Carolyn Pennington, Tammy Rider and Tiffany Wayne.
• Employment of the following as substitute aides for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Sommer Hickman, Elizabeth Hefner, Whitney Beverage, Billie Haymond, Priscilla Shoemaker, Natasha Trainer, Hannah Jordan, Teresa Rhea, Ashli Diller, Dawn Brewster, Harriet Faulknier, Maxine Solliday, Sharon Owens and Olivia Kessling.
• Employment of the following as substitute cooks for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Laurie Corbin, Sandra McCarty, Holly Beverage, Billie Haymond, Pippi Miller, Michael Scandalis and Whitney Beverage.
• Employment of the following as substitute custodians for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Roger D. Irvine, Timothy Wade, Billie Haymond and Michael Scandalis.
• Employment of the following as substitute school bus operators for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Kevin Thompson, Donald McNeel, Kenneth “Buster” Varner, Michael Murphy, Jimmie Ryder and emergency use only – Jamie Walker, Justin Taylor and James Chaney.
• Employment of the following as substitute secretaries/accountants for Poca- hontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Staci Jo Keffer, Joann V. Estep, Susan Ray, Teresa Rhea, Billie Haymond, Sharon Owens, Deborah Miller, Harriet Faulknier, Barbara Anderson and Whitney Beverage.
• Employment of the following as substitute maintenance for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 204-2025 school year, as needed: Roger D. Irvine, Timothy Wade and Shawn Ervine.
• Employment of the following as substitute mechanic for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic service personnel salary, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed, emergency use only: Jamie Walker.
• Employment of the following as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic professional salary, based on degree and experience, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Susan M. Arbogast, Shannon G. Arbogast, Tara L. Bauserman, Kenneth E. Beezley, P. Erwin Berry IV, Kay E. Blackshire, Ross D. Boggs, Thomas W. Boothe, Dawn G. Brewster, Logan A. Davis, Lisa M. Dennison, Thomas K. Dennison, Staci Jo Keffer Dunn, Earl D. Friel, Maria L. Hall, Gregory W. Hamons, Elizabeth R. Hefner, David T. Holcomb, Deborah A. Irvine, Kathy M. Irvine, Cheryl R. Jonese, Jan R. Jonese, Judith A. Kane, Bridget Koerber, Summer R. Martin, Emily K. McLaughlin, Jay V. Miller, David L. Moore, Jr., Karen R. Murphy, Alyssa L. Nottingham, Jonathan B. Perkins, Patricia L. Plaugher, Ronald A. Plaugher, Susan L. Ray, Teresa E. Rhea, Lucy M. Rittenhouse, Shannon L. Rittenhouse, Nicole L. Sattler, Dorthie I. Shamblin, Drema L. Sharp, Virginia L. Shaw, Elaine J. Sheets, Robert A. Sheets, Sharla G. Sherman, Stephen T. Simmons, Christina Smith, Maxine A. Solliday Susan K. Streisel, Jessica N. Taylor, June A. Taylor, Tracey L. Valach, Karen A. Vandevender, Alesia M. Wayne, Michelle D. Wilfong, Katherine A. Workman, Christina O. Young and Roseanne T. Zeni. Emergency use only: Shannon Barkley-Bircher and Sarah E. Hamilton.
• Employment of the following as substitute professionals for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic professional salary, based on degree and experience, for the 2024-2025 school year, as needed: Ruth Bland.
• Employment of the following coaches for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2024-2025 season, at the supplement indicated. All positions are contingent upon proper certification and/or licensure and sufficient number of players to make a team.
– Chasity Taylor, athletic director, $5,000
– Doug Burns, head football coach, $3,000
– Matt Buzzard, assistant football coach, $750
– Fred Koerber, assistant football coach, $750
– Nevin Lucabaugh, Seth Doss, Dennis Wilfong and Aaron Pugh, volunteer football coaches
– Kyle Graae, seventh and eighth grade football, $1,125
– Shannon Arbogast, head girls soccer coach, $2,250
– Justin Dilley, head boys soccer coach, $2,250
– Tim McClung, head girls basketball coach, $2,475
– John Snyder, assistant girls basketball coach, $750
– Natasha Trainer, head softball coach, $1,125
– Brandon Hamons, head baseball coach, $1,125
– Davis Moore, volunteer head golf coach
– E. Douglas Friel, volunteer assistant golf coach
– Melissa Jordan, GBEMS co-athletic director, $375
– Chloe Schaffner, GBEMS co-athletic director, $375
– Nebraska Scotchie, MMS athletic director, $750
– Corey McNabb, MMS girls head basketball coach, $1,125
– Jessica McNabb, volunteer MMS girls assistant basketball coach
– Chris Sutton, GBEMS boys head basketball coach, $1,125
