Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The Pocahontas County Board recognized Golden Horseshoe winners at its May 28 meeting and discussed the history and civics exams that are required for graduation.
Superintendent Lynne Bostic congratulated Green Bank Elementary-Middle School eighth grader Nadiya Kerr for having Pocahontas County’s highest test score on the Golden Horseshoe test. Kerr and Marlinton Middle School student Nich-olas Beverage were the two county winners of the Golden Horseshoe this year.
Bostic explained that the Golden Horseshoe test has been administered since 1931, and each year students with the top scores in each county receive the prestigious award and are inducted as Knights of the Golden Horseshoe at a ceremony held at the state capitol in Charleston.
From one test to another, Pocahontas County High School civics teacher Anita Workman gave a presentation on the citizenship test which is given each year to seniors in her class.
“When I started work at [PCHS] as the civics teacher, I realized that we weren’t doing what we were supposed to be doing and that was to require all seniors to take the citizenship test to graduate,” she said. “I started that, jumped head first into it. It fits right into the curriculum content standards.”
Workman said she uses the citizenship test as the final exam in her civics class and has had success with students passing it.
She explained that there are now three state required tests in history/civics including the Golden Horseshoe test, which all eighth graders must take. Juniors must take the American history exam and all seniors must take the citizenship test. Those three tests are all required for graduation according to state law.
The board thanked Workman for the information and for her continued dedication to the students.
In financial management, the board approved – payment of vendor listing, payment of local government purchasing card, employee payroll, extra duty pay, grant awards, schedule of revenues and expenditures on a cash basis and budget adjustments.
In miscellaneous management, the board approved:
• Memorandum of Understanding between Pocahontas County Board of Education and the Southern Educational Services Cooperative for the Proximity Learning.
• Memorandum of Understanding between Pocahontas County Board of Education and West Virginia Wesleyan College School of Nursing, School of Counseling and Psychology for the potential grant award referred to as the West Virginia Wesleyan Fellows Program.
• 2024-2025 Math adoption.
• Director of finance/treasurer to pay invoices prior to board approval, effective June 11 through July 18 and to make budget adjustments prior to board approval, effective June 11 through June 30.
• Superintendent to post and fill positions prior to board approval, effective May 29 through October 25.
In professional management, the board approved:
• Resignation of Kaylea Kelley as head girls basketball coach at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 athletic season.
• Resignation of Kay Blackshire as athletic director at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 athletic season.
• Retirement of Katherine LaFleur, Title I teacher, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective June 30.
• Employment of Chris Sutton as head boys basketball coach for Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2024-2025 athletic season, at a supplement of $1,125.
• Requested transfer of JoAutumn Goldizen from teacher of preschool to teacher of kindergarten, effective for the 2024-2025 school year at state basic pay for 200 days.
• Resignation of Shonda Carr as fifth grade teacher at Marlinton Elementary School, effective August 1.
• Employment of Natasha Trainer as softball coach for Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2024-2025 athletic season, at a supplement of $1,125.
• Resignation of Darlene Arbogast as head cheer coach for Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2023-2024 athletic season.
• Employment of Jessica Oxier as school nurse for the 2024 Summer Opportunities for Learning and Engagement (SOLE), at Pocahontas County High School, at daily rate of pay, effective for the four-week program, June 3 through June 29. Wages contingent upon adequate staffing and student enrollment. Paid holidays are not part of this contract.
• Employment of Charles McQuain as school bus operator for the 2024 Summer Opportunities for Learning and Engagement (SOLE), at Pocahontas County High School, at daily rate of pay, effective for the four-week program, June 3 through June 29. Wages are contingent upon adequate staffing and student enrollment. Paid holidays are not part of this contract.
• Employment of Scott Kelley as school bus operator for the 2024 Summer Opportunities for Learning and Engagement (SOLE), at Pocahontas County High School, at daily rate of pay, effective for the four-week program, June 3 through June 29. Wages are contingent upon adequate staffing and student enrollment. Paid holidays are not part of this contract.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, June 11, at 6 p.m. at the board of education office in Buckeye.
