The Pendleton County Board of Education members and school staff gathered last week for their regular meeting.
Concerns with issues regarding Pendleton County High School girls’ softball were brought before the board by Kara Townsend, Robin Alt, Kalee Woodward, Barbara Mitchell, Amanda Smith, Avery Townsend, Jenna Smith, Lizzie Alt, Katelyn Hedrick, Julia Mongold, Baylee Beachler and JB Smith.
Carrie Nesselrodt presented the school system’s educational leave plan for approval. Board members unanimously approved the plan.
Beginning with this school year, important changes were made to the county’s policy regarding educational leave for a student. A parent or guardian must fill out county forms and the leave must adhere to the following stipulations:
- Obtain prior approval detailing objectives and activities from the school administrator 10 school days prior to the trip.
- Student must be passing all core courses at the time of the request.
- Student must not have more than three unexcused absences and/or five tardies for a nine-week period prior to the dates of the requested leave. If the request falls within the first nine weeks, grades and attendance from the previous year will be used to determine approval.
- The leave must not exceed five days, and there must be verification of implementation of the education plan upon the student’s return.
- A leave that extends more than five days requires Pendleton County Board of Education approval.
Travis Heavner presented a facilities update. “The summer cleaning crew worked hard getting the buildings ready for school,” Heavner commented. The sidewalk connection at Pendleton County High/Middle School is complete with a new crosswalk and drainage around the Kline building. Bleachers were installed at Franklin Elementary School, and carpeting was completed at Brandywine Elementary School. The biggest issue at the time is getting the alternative education building moved to PCM/HS where the site is ready for the building.
Heavner also reported that the opening day for staff was a good day that included training with lots of training occurring throughout the week.
J.P. Mowery presented information regarding the bids to purchase a new county vehicle. The board unanimously approved purchasing a Chevrolet Traverse LS for $34,126.74 from Timbrook Chevrolet in Keyser.
Nesselrodt reported 16 in-county transfers for the upcoming school year. Six of those transfers were within the county with 10 being out-of-county requests.
The board unanimously accepted the resignation of Hayden Fox, assistant high school junior varsity and varsity boys’ basketball coach, and Brooke Glover, substitute teacher and substitute aide.
Personnel employed by the board were Travis Huffman – cook/custodian at PCM/HS, Corrie Wagoner – extra-curricular elementary music instructional coach, Josh Owens – extra-curricular middle school boys’ basketball coach, Taylor Townsend – extra-curricular middle school girls head softball coach, Dolly Rexrode – job exploration coordinator through the West Virginia Guidepost to Graduation Grant and Samantha Puffenbarger – substitute aide.
As the new school year was scheduled to begin, the local school system, like other systems throughout the state, still had openings. Openings included a fifth-grade teacher at FES, two extra-curricular kindergarten instructional coaches, middle school girls’ assistant softball coach, five drivers for activity bus runs and substitute teachers, cooks, custodians, secretaries and bus drivers.
Contracts for the purchase of planning periods for Traci Rightsell and Sandy Simmons were approved. Amy Eason was approved for a professional contract service.
Ronda Redman was approved as a volunteer/chaperone at PCMHS.
The next board meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 5 at the board office on Main Street in Franklin.
