Absent, Cheryl M. Beverage

The Pocahontas County Board of Education met in regular session on Monday, July 7, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Conference Room with the following members present:

Emery G. Grimes ) Janet E. McNeel ) Members Jessica M. Hefner ) Suzanne Stewart )

OATH OF OFFICE

Superintendent Bechtel administered the Oath of Office to reelected Board Member Emery G. Grimes. Mr. Grimes will serve a four year term beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2018.

Superintendent Bechtel administered the Oath of Office to newly elected Board Member Jessica M. Hefner. Ms. Hefner will serve a four year term beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2018.

Superintendent Bechtel administered the Oath of Office to reelected Board Member Janet E. McNeel. Ms. McNeel will serve a four year term beginning July 1, 2014 and ending June 30, 2018.

ELECTION OF PRESIDENT

Mr. Grimes opened up the floor to nominations for Board of Education President.

Ms. McNeel nominated Emery G. Grimes to serve as President of the Pocahontas County Board of Education for a term of two years – expiring June 30, 2016, Ms. Stewart seconded the nomination. Hearing no other nominations, Ms. Stewart moved for the nominations to be closed. By unanimous vote, Mr. Grimes was elected President of the Pocahontas County Board of Education for a term of two years, expiring June 30, 2016.

Mr. Grimes opened up the floor to nominations for Board of Education Vice President.

Ms. Stewart nominated Janet E. McNeel to service as Vice President of the Pocahontas County Board of Education for a term of two years – expiring June 30, 2016, Ms. Hefner seconded the nomination. Hearing no other nominations, Mr. Grimes closed the nominations. By unanimous vote, Ms. McNeel was elected Vice President of the Pocahontas County Board of Education for a term of two years, expiring June 30, 3016.

AGENDA

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously approved the agenda.

SPECIAL RECOGNITION

Superintendent Bechtel stated that he was pleased to introduce the Board to Mr. Robert Miller. Mr. Miller is the new principal at Pocahontas County High School.

Dr. Bechtel explained that Mr. Miller has twenty-eight years of experience in education in West Virginia, Ohio, and South Carolina. Mr. Miller has an extensive background in vocational and technical education.

HEAR CALLERS

Stephanie Burns approached the Board with her concerns regarding the class sizes at Marlinton Elementary School for the 2014-2015 school year. Ms. Burns stated that she would like to request that the Board consider an additional teaching position at Marlinton Middle School.

Ms. McNeel provided the Board with estimated class sizes for the 2014-2015 school year in a comparison format between Marlinton Elementary School and Green Bank Elementary School. Ms. McNeel stated that the inequity in numbers is mind boggling. The class sizes at Green Bank Elementary – Middle were minimal compared to the overcrowding at Marlinton Elementary School.

Ms. McNeel also pointed out that the fifth grade teachers at Marlinton Elementary School, while excellent teachers, were both unfamiliar with fifth grade curriculum. Anne Smith asked if cuts could be made elsewhere to allow for additional teachers at both schools. Ms. Smith also suggested reexamining the bus routes and district lines to allow more students to attend Green Bank Elementary – Middle School and alleviate some burden from Marlinton Elementary.

Mr. Grimes reminded Ms. Smith that the state mandates the amount of times students may remain on a school bus.

Dr. Bechtel stated that he would look into options.

APPROVAL OF GRANT AWARD…

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board unanimously approved the grant award

APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS …

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Hefner, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board approved payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $16,099.33.

APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS …

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $5,681.59.

APPROVAL TO AUTHORIZE PAYMENT OF VENDOR LISTING OF CLAIMS (LOCAL GOVERNMENT PURCHASING CARD)…

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. Hefner, the Board unanimously approved to authorize payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $4,525.44.

CONTRACT BETWEEN PCBOE AND JOANNA BURT-KINDERMAN…

On motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously agreed to table, until the next Board of Education meeting, the contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Joanna Burt Kinderman for services described in contract, at $350 per day for 68 contracted days during the 2014-2015 school year.

APPROVAL OF CYNTHIA D. BROCE KELLEY AS VOLUNTEER ASSISTANT BASKETBALL COACH…

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel seconded by Stewart the Board unanimously approved Cynthia D. Broce-Kelley as Volunteer Assistant Basketball Coach (girls) at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2014-2015 season.

APPROVAL FOR NADINE KELLISON TO ENROLL HER CHILDREN IN GREENBRIER COUNTY SCHOOLS…

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. Hefner, the Board unanimously approved for Nadine Kellison, a resident of Pocahontas County, to enroll her children in Greenbrier County Schools, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

On motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Stewart, the Board unanimously approved a call for Executive Session to discuss a personnel matter. The Board went into Executive Session at 7:44 PM, and at the conclusion of the Executive Session, on motion of Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. McNeel, the Board agreed to return to the agenda at 8:25 PM.

PERSONNEL

On recommendation of the superintendent and motion of Ms. McNeel, seconded by Ms. Stewart, the Board unanimously approved the following professional and service personnel.

Green Bank Elementary-Middle School:

ABOLISHMENT Teacher of Social Studies/Physical Education (grades 6-8) at Green Bank OF POSITION: Elementary – Middle School, retroactive to June 30, 2014. Teacher of Social Studies (grades 6-8)/Physical Education (grades K-12)/Health CREATION (grades K-12) at Green Bank Elementary – Middle School, effective for the 2014- OF POSITION: 2015 school year, at state basic salary based on degree and experience. Term of employment: 200 days.

CREATION Teacher of Art (half time) at Green Bank Elementary – Middle School, effective for OF POSITION: the 2014-2015 school year, at state basic salary based on degree and experience. Term of employment: 200 one-half days.

REQUESTED VALERIE H. LAMBERT, from Itinerant Special Education Classroom Aide/Bus TRANSFER: Aide for Pocahontas County Schools (assignment: Pocahontas County High School) to Cook II (half time) at Green Bank Elementary – Middle School, effective for the 2014-2015 school year, at state basic pay, term of employment: 200 one-half days.

Hillsboro Elementary School:

EMPLOYMENT: JOSEPH T. ARBOGAST, as Principal at Hillsboro Elementary School, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience (includes State Minimum Salary Increment Schedules), effective for the 2014-2015 school year. Term of employment: 220 days.

Marlinton Middle School:

REQUESTED LORA S. MILLER, from Cook at Marlinton Middle School to Cafeteria Manager at TRANSFER: Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2014-2015 school year, at state basic pay, term of employment: 200 days.

Pocahontas County High School:

CONSENT TO DIANNA L. NELSON, from Itinerant Teacher of Art at Green Bank Elementary – CHANGE: Middle School/Pocahontas County High School to Teacher of Art at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2014-2015 school year.

SUPERINTENDENT’S REPORT

Dr. Bechtel informed the Board that he and Mr. Beam would be attending the “High Schools That Work” seminar in Nashville, Tennessee during the week of July 14-18.

MATTERS OF THE BOARD

Ms. Stewart reminded Dr. Bechtel that the Board had asked to approve all purchases over $5,000.

Ms. Stewart asked where, in the hiring process, was the Teacher of Agriculture Education position?

Dr. Bechtel stated that applications had been received and the process is now in the hands of the faculty senate.

Ms. McNeel stated that she was extremely pleased with Mr. Beam’s response to the needs of the music program in the county.

Ms. Hefner stated that she recently attended the new Board Member Orientation presented by the West Virginia School Board Association. She noted that it was extremely informative.

NEXT BOARD OF EDUCATION MEETING

The next Board of Education special meeting will be held on Monday, July 14, 2014 at 7:00 PM at the Pocahontas County Board of Education Conference Room.

ADJOURN On motion of Ms. Stewart, seconded by Ms. Hefner the Board unanimously agreed to adjourn the meeting.

______President Secretary