Suzanne Stewart
Staff Writer
The Pocahontas County Board of Education had a relatively short meeting August 29 and discussed the ongoing construction projects at the schools.
Superintendent Lynne Bostic reported that the HVAC systems at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and Marlinton Middle School are nearly complete, and the crew is waiting on parts for the electrical panels to complete both projects.
Bostic said it is estimated the projects will both be completed by November.
She added that the Title I teachers, Community in Schools coordinators, academic coaches and family engagement coordinators are working with the Family Resource Network to create a countywide family advisory committee.
In financial management, the board approved the following:
• Payment of vendor listing, local government purchasing card, employee payroll, extra duty pay for the month of August 2023, grant award and journal adjustment.
In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:
• Groundwater Protection Plan for small business.
• Crisis Management Plan for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Memorandum of Understanding between PERTS – Project for Education Research and Scales – and the Pocahontas County Board of Education for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Memorandum of Understanding between West Virginia Extension Service Family Nutrition Program and the Pocahontas County Board of Education for the 2023-2024 school year.
• Out-of-state travel request for Anita Workman, Wanda Hrabina and Aaron Pugh – teachers of social studies – and a group of up to 40 students to travel by bus on a day trip September 27 to James Madison Montpelier, Montpelier Station, Virginia, to tour the Montpelier facility.
In personnel management, the board approved the following:
• Employment of Shannon Rittenhouse and Michelle Wilfong as academic interventionists at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at $25 per hour, three and a half hours per day, up to five days per week, as needed, a shared position, not to exceed $15,000, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Holidays are not part of this contract.
• Requested transfer of Haley Cummins as special education classroom aide/bus aid at Hillsboro Elementary School, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Resignation of Kathy Mason as option pathway teacher at Pocahontas County High School, effective August 31.
• Abolishment of position option pathway teacher at Pocahontas County High School, effective August 31.
• Requested transfer of Tiffany Wayne as special education classroom aide/bus aide at Pocahontas County High School, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Resignation of Amy Robertson as director of CTE, secondary education, CIS, virtual school for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 18.
• Abolishment of position director of CTE, secondary education, CIS, virtual school for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 18.
• Employment of James B. Chaney as technology coordinator for Pocahontas County Schools, effective August 30. Term of employment is 219 days for the remainder of the 2023-2024 school year and shall be 261 days each year thereafter.
• Requested transfer of Joseph M. Judy as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run to a new run, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Dan Ahern as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run to a new run, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Forrest Mullenax as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run to a new run, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Requested transfer of Daryl Shinaberry as school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools from his current run a new run, at state minimum service personnel salary, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.
• Employment of Ross Boss and Earl D. Friel as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, at state basic professional salary, based on degree and experience, for the 2023-2024 school year, as needed.
• Creation of position technology coordinator – focus on instructional technology, budgeting, testing and professional development – at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity, effective the 2023-2024 school year. Term of employment is 261 days.
• Creation of position district lead for Project for Education Research That Scores (PERTS) at $25 per hour, not to exceed $2,840. Funding provided by PERTS.
• Creation of position for three communities of practice facilitators for Project for Education Research That Scores (PERTS). One facilitator at each of the following locations: Marlinton Middle School, Green Bank Middle School and Pocahontas County High School. Pay at $25 per hour, not to exceed $2,340 per facilitator. Funding provided by PERTS.
• Creation of position data lead for Project for Education Research That Scores (PERTS), at $25 per hour not to exceed $1,590. Funding provided by PERTS.
• Resignation of Kathy Mason as athletic director and head softball coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective August 31.
• Resignation of Shannon Arbogast as girls basketball coach for Marlinton Middle School, effective August 6.
The next board meeting will be Tuesday, September 19, at 6 p.m., at the Linwood Library in Linwood.
