Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
Dr. Rhonda Combs, Director of Personnel, Technology and Support Services, presented three options for the 2026-2027 school calendar at the March 17 Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting.
Each year, a committee gets together to create three options to present to the board and the employees vote for the one they prefer.
The three options are similar, all starting in mid-August and ending in June. The calendar includes professional development days, faculty senate days, and vacation days for Thanksgiving, Christmas and spring break.
Last year, the options were posted and the community was allowed to vote, which led to some issues. There was no cap on how many times individuals could vote and the board learned after the fact that one individual voted as many as 100 times.
To ensure that doesn’t happen again, superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams said the calendar vote will only be open to employees, and they will have to log in with their school issued email to vote.
In updates:
• Williams said she has worked with the staff and principal at Pocahontas County High School on the school schedule for next year. It has been decided the school will utilize a modified block schedule which will give students an opportunity to do credit recovery, so they do not get behind in their studies.
The example Williams used is if a student fails Math I in the first semester, they can retake the class in the second semester.
In personnel management, the board approved the following:
• Resignation of Denise Burns, due to retirement, as second grade teacher at Marlinton Elementary School, effective June 30.
• Resignation of Dr. Rhonda Combs, director of personnel, technology and support services, effective June 30.
• Employment of Loretta A. Rexrode, as substitute cook, effective immediately.
• Reclassification of Arthur Sharp, from pay grade G sanitation plant operator to a pay grade D custodian IV, effective March 6.
• Employment of Shirlene Groseclose as site coordinator at Pocahontas County High School, for the 21st Century Grant program.
In old business, the board approved the following:
• Second reading of the following policy revisions – 2275: Mountaineer Challenge Academy; 2340: Field (co-curricular) and other (extra-curricular) county sponsored trips; 3139.01: Suspension; 4139.01: Suspension; 4160.02: Physical Examination/Qualifications for School Bus Operators; 5111: Eligibility of Resident/nonresident Students for Enrollment; 5113.02: School Choice Options; 5136: Personal Electronic Devices; and 5410: Promotion, Acceleration, Placement and Retention.
• Special meetings for LSCI end-of-year presentations: June 3, at Pocahontas County High School, schools to present include Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and Pocahontas County High School; and June 10, at Marlinton Middle School, schools to present include Hillsboro Elementary School, Marlinton Elementary School and Marlinton Middle School.
In new business, the board approved the following:
• Proposal for Critical Response Group.
• Make retroactive the contract for service between Pocahontas County Schools and Jeff Wayne for water testing and wastewater monitoring.
• First reading of proposed policy 3433: Vacation.
• Rural Utilities Service Project Grant for Distance Learning and Telemidicine/Opinion of Counsel: Grant amount requested, $914,150; local match, $137,123 to be paid from Step 7B. Total project budget: $1,051,273.
• To post extra duty assignment – Wastewater Operator for PCHS.
• Major Improvement Project Grant application to School Board Authority for a roof at Marlinton Middle School.
• Schedule Levy Rates, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2027: Class I – $19.40; Class II – $38.80; Class III – $77.60; and Class IV – $77.60.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, April 7, at 6 p.m., at the board of education conference room in Buckeye.
