BOE welcomes new members

Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
 
At the Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting Monday morning, the board welcomed three newly elected members – Sam Gibson, Morgan McComb and Jarrett McLaughlin.

The agenda was short, as was the meeting. Superintendent Terrence Beam started the meeting by asking for nominees for president. Board member John Burns nominated Dr. Sue Hollandsworth, who was unanimously voted into the position.

Next, McComb nominated Burns as vice president, who was also unanimously approved.

After the business  was taken care of, Burns welcomed the new members and said he looked forward to working with them.

“I think we’ve done some wonderful things since I’ve been on the board, and I want to see that continue,” he said. “With this board, I think we can make good things happen. We’ve got a lot of big issues that I can see coming up, so be prepared, it’s going to get interesting.”

Gibson responded that  he is ready to get to work.

“It’s an honor to be here,” he said. “I’m nervous, but I’m ready to go.”

“I’m glad to be here,” McComb added. “I’m glad we have three remaining members to learn from.”

“Just dig your heels in and hang on,” Burns said.

After the board was acquainted, director of technology Ruth Bland updated the board on the USDA  Rural Utilities Service Distance Learning and Teaching Grant. Bland said the grant, if awarded, will be used to purchase devices for each student and teacher, as well as a charging and Internet kiosk to be installed at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School.

The devices will be used if the schools have to continue to provide remote learning in the 2020-2021 school year.

Bland said the application is due to the USDA July 13 and she will know in two months if it is awarded.

The next board meeting will be Tuesday, July 21, at 6 p.m. at the board of education conference room.