By Stephen Smoot
Late last month, the Pendleton County Board of Education held its second regular meeting of the month. J. D. Wilkins, board president, in his opening invocation, prayed that “we ask that you would bless us all with wisdom and discretion.”
One of the first items on the agenda was a request from the Pendleton County Library for funding assistance. The request “expressed thanks and appreciation” for past support and requested $10,000 in aid, which has been the customary amount in recent years.
The request was put on hold until Walt Johnson, the new library director, could attend and make a presentation.
Later in the meeting, the board heard a funding request from West Virginia University Extension Service in Pendleton County. It came in the form of a letter from Brooke Alt, extension agent. WVU Extension normally gets funding support from both the county commission and the school system in each local jurisdiction.
Until this year, the funding formula has used a split between the two entities. The Pendleton County Commission has kicked in $11,600 and the county schools gave $6,000 for a total of $17,600. With a projected budget crunch by Governor Patrick Morrisey, that local contribution is expected to rise to a total of $25,000.
If Pendleton County schools provided $8,500, that would meet the same percentage as the former split, 34 percent. The board passed the request.
WVU Extension services funds a broad spectrum of agriculture education programs and other youth services that enhance personal and work skills, knowledge, and critical thinking.
Discussion turned next to the Energy Express summer reading program organized by Alt, Edna Mullenax, Melinda brooks, and Dr. King Seger. It will take place from June 16 to July 25 at Franklin Elementary School with a deadline of application set for May 16.
Traditional Energy Express activities will be supplemented by activities held by Experience Learning.
The board approved the use of two buses to carry children to and from the program.
- P. Mowery gave an update on the status of the Secure Rural Schools funding from the federal government that provides monies to county school systems that have national forest lands. He stated that, while the measure has bipartisan support, it is “still not authorized yet.”
He went on to state that both United States Senators from West Virginia, Shelley Moore Capito and Jim Justice, have worked to support the bill. Mowery added that the measure would “have to get a vehicle to get it passed.”
In other words, the Secure Rural Schools funding would need to be added to a bill with more perceived urgency for it to pass.
Warnings from Mowery about troubles in other school systems were heard. Some counties had used COVID funds to pay for new positions rather than “one time” expenses. With the COVID funds running out, other counties have had to either lay off positions or look at closing and consolidating smaller schools.
This is “a situation we don’t want to find ourselves in,” said Mowery, who went on to state that “we need to be proactive” in monitoring challenges before they affect Pendleton County Schools.
One of the defining characteristics of the current school administration is fiscal restraint, which is why Pendleton County Schools is currently financially sound compared to some other systems.
After that discussion, the board heard that Pendleton County was awarded a maximum safety grant amount of $50,000. The state had created a grant fund of $1 million to be applied around West Virginia. Later on, Pendleton County Schools superintendent, Charles Hedrick, expressed appreciation to Travis Heavner, saying, “I’d like to thank him for the work he did on that state school grant.”
After the final legal hurdle the board, on recommendation from Hedrick, passed the school calendar for next year. It has been intentionally synchronized with both Grant County and the South Branch Career and Technical Center for administrative, student, and parent convenience.
Mowery spoke up and said, “I appreciate the fact that they (Grant County) allow staff members from Pendleton to add input.” He explained that Grant County could simply dictate what it wants, but they always “allow Pendleton a say.”
Hedrick closed the meeting with a discussion of how the weather interrupted school schedule creates difficulties for both students and teachers, but all must adapt “knowing we need to compress some things.”
He added that “we’re treading water” on days missed and that the county is
still using our out of school days” as compensation for time missed due to weather.