The Pocahontas County Board of Education met in special session, beginning at 10:00 AM on Monday, October 6, 2014 at the Pocahontas County Board of Education conference room, and met in Local School Improvement Council/Faculty Senate meeting beginning At 1:00 PM at Hillsboro Elementary School, with the following members present:
Emery G. Grimes, President Cheryl M. Beverage ) Jessica Hefner ) Members Suzanne Stewart ) Steven C. Tritapoe )
EXPULSION HEARING
On motion of Mr. Tritapoe, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously agreed to enter in to a closed student expulsion hearing for a violation of WV Code 18A-5-1a, West Virginia State Board Policy 4373, Pocahontas County Discipline Code and Pocahontas County Schools Student Code of Conduct, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year.
EXPULSION
On motion of Mrs. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Tritapoe, the Board unanimously voted against the expulsion of student for violation of WV Code 18A-5-1a, West Virginia State Board Policy 4373, Pocahontas County Discipline Code and Pocahontas Discipline Code and Pocahontas County Schools Student Code of Conduct.
EXPULSION HEARING
On motion of Mrs. Beverage, seconded by Mr. Tritapoe, the Board unanimously agreed to enter in to a closed student expulsion hearing for a violation of WV Code 18A-5-1a, West Virginia State Board Policy 4373, Pocahontas County Discipline Code and Pocahontas County Schools Student Code of Conduct, for the remainder of the 2014-2015 school year.
EXPULSION
On motion of Ms. Stewart, seconded by Mrs. Beverage, the Board unanimously voted against the expulsion of a student for violation of WV Code 18A-5-1a, West Virginia State Board Policy 4373, Pocahontas County Discipline Code and Pocahontas Discipline Code and Pocahontas County Schools Student Code of Conduct.
AGENDA
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Tritapoe, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.
SPECIAL RECOGNITION
Dr. Bechtel recognized Joanna Burt-Kinderman for her commitment to the students and teachers of Pocahontas County. Mrs. Burt Kinderman addressed the Board and explained what it meant to Pocahontas County be involved with the research that will reach a national audience.
INFORMATION/REPORTS/UPDATES LOCAL SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL/FACULTY SENATE…
Mr. Joseph Arbogast, principal of Hillsboro Elementary School, addressed the Board with updates regarding the safety and security of the school facility.
Mr. Arbogast began by formally thanking the Board for the opportunity to be the principal at Hillsboro Elementary School.
He then introduced Mrs. Tankersley’s 4th grade class. These students read a book about the Star Spangled Banner and explained that September marked the 200th anniversary of the national anthem. After fourth grade’s presentations, Mrs. Hardesty’s 5th grade class impressed the Board with their song naming all fifty states.
The Board thank the students for their impressive performances.
Mr. Arbogast informed the Board of the students’ remarkable accomplishments in regards to their WESTEST scores. Mr. Arbogast noted that the West Virginia state average of proficiency in the reading portion of the WESTEST is 49%; Hillsboro Elementary School 4th grade students (currently 5th grade students) achieved 77% at or above mastery in reading. 54% of those same students were at or above mastery in mathematics. As impressive as these numbers are, he said that the 5th grade (currently 6th grade students at Marlinton Middle School) achieved 50% at or above mastery overall. Broken down, these scores are: 53% at or above mastery in mathematics, 60% at or above mastery in reading, and 67% at or above mastery in science and social studies.
Mr. Arbogast said that he could not have chosen a better school to be the principal of.
Mr. Arbogast then stated that it was his belief that the top priorities for a schools are, one, making sure the students are safe, two, making sure the students are fed, and three, making sure the students are educated. He said that without the first two, the third is impossible.
He then went on to explain the changes that have taken place since he began. Primarily, the changes in safety and security of the building. He stated that since the beginning of the school he has spent approximately $4,000 of Step 7 funds on securing the facility. This money was spent on window tint for all windows – the tint creates a mirrored effect from the outside. Two-way radios with flashlights attached were purchased for each teacher in the building. Fire and emergency evacuation exits were reconfigured to be more efficient. And finally, a “blow out plan” was created in the event the students and staff were forced to hastily exit the building. Mr. Arbogast noted that the “blow out plan” was privileged information only given to staff; parents were not informed of the plan, however, were given a final location where they could retrieve their children when the conditions were deemed safe. Mr. Arbogast stated that this plan was in response to the ALICE (Alert, Lockdown, Inform, Counter, Evacuate) training provided by the Board of Education.
Mr. Grimes and the other Board Members commended Mr. Arbogast for the wonderful job he has done so far this school year. APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS…
On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Mr. Tritapoe, seconded by Mrs. Hefner, the Board unanimously approved payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $12,319.91.
SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT
Superintendent Bechtel spoke to the Board and reiterated what Mr. Arbogast had said about the impressive test scores. Dr. Bechtel commended the teacher on their collaborative efforts. He stated that Hillsboro Elementary School has three principals during the 2013-2014 school year; during all of these transitions, the staff have continued to achieve high test scores and unity.
Dr. Bechtel noted that Mr. Jay Miller and Dr. Robert Must have diligently and voluntarily tutored Hillsboro Elementary students and their work should be noted.
MATTERS OF THE BOARD
Mrs. Hefner thanked the students and staff at Hillsboro Elementary School for allowing them to visit the school.
Ms. Stewart thanked the students and staff for allowing them to visit the school and hold the Board of Education meeting. Ms. Stewart also mentioned that the 4th grade students participated in the A.L.S. Ice Bucket Challenge. Ms. Stewart pointed out that the students didn’t simply participate in the challenge, they learned about A.L.S. and its effects; the students also raised $156 for A.L.S.
Mr. Tritapoe informed the Board that he recently attended the Hillsboro Senior Citizen’s open house of the former cafeteria building. He said that he was incredibly impressed. He also thanked the students and staff for allowing the Board of Education to come to Hillsboro Elementary School and hold the Board of Education meeting.
Mrs. Beverage echoed the same sentiment as the other Board Members. She thanked the students and staff for allowing them to hold the Board of Education meeting and also stated how impressed she was with the presentation earlier.
Mr. Grimes thanked everyone for allowing the Board to hold their meeting in the gymnasium of the school and thanked all the students and staff for attending the meeting. Mr. Grimes also said that, in his words, he was ‘blown away’ by the test scores and commended the teachers on a job well done.
NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
The next Board of Education meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 14, 2014 beginning at 7:00 PM at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Conference Room. NEXT LSIC/FACULTY SENATE/BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING
The next LSIC/Faculty Senate/Board of Education Meeting will be held on Monday, October 20, 2014 beginning at 1:00 PM at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School.
ADJOURN
On motion of Mrs. Hefner, seconded by Mr. Tritapoe, the Board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting.
______President Secretary