Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Superintendent Terrence Beam shared good news about the recent West Virginia School Building Authority granting season at the July 9 Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting.
“The School Building Authority awarded us $571,652 for the completion of the Green Bank roofing project and also for an additional furnace,” Beam said. “In the last three years, we’ve received a little more than two million dollars. That’s always good news when you get money.”
Beam attended the SBA meeting when the grants were announced, and said it was a bit stressful. A total of 22 counties applied for funding and only seven received grants. Pocahontas County was the last on the list.
“As they announce it, they put it on the screen, and we were right above the red line,” Beam said. “I was very happy.”
Beam added that the official letter has not arrived yet, but once it does, the board will begin the bidding process for the project and get things in order for the construction.
This is the second MIP [Major Improvement Plan] project funded for Green Bank Elementary-Middle School. Last year’s funding went toward upgrades to the elementary wing, as well as a new fire alarm system. The work on that project was completed earlier this month.
Beam also reported that assistant state superintendent of schools, Dr. Kathy D’Antoni, will attend the next board meeting, Tuesday, July 30, to discuss a new concept for high schools.
“[She] will discuss the possibility of a concept of a technical high school for consideration,” Beam said. “As we go through our CEFP [Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan] process, one of the things that I’m sure is going to appear on that list of priorities for our school system for the next ten years is to consider renovating or even building a new high school.
“A technical high school is a different type of concept,” he continued. “Of course, [D’Antoni] is a CTE person and our CTE program is fabulous, and it’s kind of built around that.”
In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:
• To purchase one 2021 Blue Bird 77-passenger Vision conventional school bus, per specifications listed, at a cost of $92,046.
• Memorandum of Understanding between Community Care of West Virginia, Inc. and Pocahontas County Board of Education, effective for the 2019-2020 school year.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Health Department and Pocahontas County Board of Education, effective August 19 through the end of the 2019-2020 school year.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Melanie Mason, PT, effective August 19, 2019 through June 30, 2020, per the terms of the contract.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Leslie Goodall, effective August 19, 2019 through June 30, 2020, per the terms of the contract.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Denise M. Elliott, effective August 19 through December 31, per the terms of the contract.
• Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and David B. Wamsley, certified/licensed school psychologist, effective for the 2019-2020 school year, per the terms of the contract.
• David Moore, Jr., as volunteer golf coach at Pocahontas County High Schools, effective for the 2019-2020 season.
In personnel management, the board approved the following:
• Employment of Julie Shiflet as principal at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience plus equity, effective July 29, for the 2019-2020 school year. Term of employment is 220 days.
• Employment from preferred recall list of Sarah C. Brown as teacher of early education at Hillsboro Elementary School, at state basic salary based on degree and experience, effective for the 2019-2020 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Resignation of Teresa Rhea, due to retirement, as teacher of mathematics at Marlinton Middle School, retroactive to July 1.
• Resignation of Ricky I. Sharp, II, as teacher of science at Pocahontas County High School, retroactive to the first day of the 2019-2020 school year.
• Resignation of M. Susan Arbogast as academic interventionist at Marlinton Elementary School, retroactive to the end of the 2018-2019 school year.
• Employment of Virginia Shaw as academic interventionist at Marlinton Elementary School, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $7,000, effective September 2, 2019 through May 25, 2020.
• Resignation of Kaitlyn Wratchford as itinerant teacher of special education/autism at Marlinton Elementary School, effective June 30.
• Employment of Cory L. Rexrode as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic pay, effective for the 2019-2020 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, July 30, at 6 p.m., at the board of education conference room.