Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
At the October 15 Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting, schools superintendent Lynne Bostic presented the results of the annual Balanced Scorecard which is administered by the West Virginia Department of Education.
Bostic said attendance was marked as needing support which means the school system did not meet the standards set by the state.
“We did not show improvement for two consecutive years,” she said. “I’d guess every county has an attendance issue at this point. What the state department will do now is assist us with the analysis of the data and creation of an action plan that we will work on together.”
Bostic added that three areas were indicated as needing assistance – board member effectiveness, special education, and preschool. She said the board member effectiveness was an easy fix, explaining that the board’s self-evaluations were not submitted in time for the assessment. She said the board office is working to rectify that as soon as possible.
As for special education and preschool, Bostic said there will be plans created and implemented to improve those two areas for the future.
In updates:
• Green Bank Elementary-Middle School Communities in Schools Coordinator Marsha Beverage introduced the board to the school’s therapy dog Kasha, and gave a report on the work Kasha does at the school.
Beverage explained that Kasha’s handlers went through extensive training to ensure they have a good working relationship with the yellow lab, who spends her days in the classrooms and with students individually, as needed.
Beverage also said that it costs approximately $1,500 a year to take care of Kasha, and the school relies on fundraising and donations to cover the costs of care for the canine.
• Director Kristy Tritapoe gave an update on the special education department, stating the special education teachers are working diligently to stay up to date on IEP assessments and other state requirements.
Tritapoe also shared information about a special program a long-term substitute did in a history class at Pocahontas County High School for disability history week. Tritapoe read an email from the sub, Stacy Dunn, in which described what the students did for the project.
• Director Julie Shiflet gave a report on the new state policy on attendance. The policy became active September 16, 2024, and will replace the county policy.
Shiflet explained the policy shifts from a more punitive approach which saw school systems taking families to court for truancy and instead is focused more on addressing chronic absences with intervention.
The policy will continue to allow for 10 excused absences per school year, unless more time off is supported by a physician’s note. One of the biggest differences in the new policy is educational leave. It will no longer be considered an unexcused absence.
In miscellaneous management, the board approved:
• Faculty senate allocation for the 2024-2025 school year: Green Bank Elementary-Middle School – $8,460.49; Hillsboro Elementary School – $3,710.06; Marlinton Elementary School – $7,745.06; Marlinton Middle School – $4,778.10; and Pocahontas County High School – $10,758.29.
• Green Bank Middle School and Marlinton Middle School to go to Potomac State College in Keyser, for a college tour October 21. There will be approximately 70 students, and seven adults attending. Expenses paid by CTE funds.
• Sell a Day on a Calendar fundraiser for Marlinton Middle School.
• Grab and Go Meal fundraiser for Green Bank Elementary-Middle School.
• Parent and community volunteers.
In professional management, the board approved:
• Employment of Janessa Henderson as mentor for Andrew Landers at Green Bank Elementary School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at a rate of $25 per hour for 50 hours for a total of $1,250.
• Creation of position half-time physical education/ health position at Hillsboro Elementary School.
• Abolishment of position special education/classroom/ bus aid position at Hillsboro Elementary School.
• Employment of Stephanie Ames as extracurricular cafeteria manager, for the fresh fruit and vegetable program at Marlinton Elementary School, at daily rate of pay, effective October 14, through end of the 2024-2025 school year, or upon exhaustion of grant funds, shift [for that particular program] being up to 1 1/2 hours per week. Wages are contingent upon actually working the fresh fruit and vegetable program.
• Employment of Sabrina Jordan as extracurricular cook III, for the fresh fruit and vegetable program at Marlinton Elementary School at daily rate of pay, effective October 14, through the end of the 2024-2025 school year, or upon exhaustion of grant funds, shift [for that particular program] being up to 1 1/2 hours per week. Wages are contingent upon actually working the fresh fruit and vegetable program.
• Employment of Jamie Robertson as custodian IV at Marlinton Middle School, effective October 13, for 186 days for the 2024-2025 school year. Term of employment shall be 261 days each year thereafter.
• Employment of Melissa Robinson and Shannon Anderson as volunteer coaches at Marlinton Middle School for the 2024-2025 school year.
• Employment of Justin Kerr as mentor for Owen Vogelson as Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2024-2025 school year, at a rate of $25 per hour for 50 hours, for a total of $1,250.
• Resignation of Summer Martin as substitute teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, effective September 20.