<p> RITCHIE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES OF SPECIAL MEETING: WORK SESSION DWC VOCATIONAL CENTER HARRISVILLE, WV October 3, 2016 – 6:00 p.m.</p><p>The special meeting/board work-session of the Ritchie County Board of Education was called to order on October 3, 2016, at 6:00 p.m. by President Edward Cokeley. Other members present were Carolyn Bowie, Brian S. Walton, Torie Jackson, and Betsy Wells.</p><p>Also in attendance were Superintendent, Ora E. Coffman, III; Lori Wells, Director of Finance; David Weekley, Director of Support Services and Attendance; Deborah Bever, Director of Special Education, Federal Programs and School Improvement and April Haught, Director of Instructional Services and Personnel. </p><p>PLEDGE TO THE FLAG The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.</p><p>REVIEW COMMUNITY MEETING RESULTS Mr. Coffman suggested that each community meet and review the data that was collected from each community meeting. He explained that there was a copy of the data for each member. He said every comment was listed on the sheets, broken down in sections, as it was on the comment cards they had received. He stated that for each comment that was repeated, a star was placed after the comment. </p><p>COMMUNITY DISCUSSION GROUPS At 6:15 p.m. the community groups from each school broke into separate areas provided for them to discuss and review the comments collected. They reconvened at 7:14 p.m.</p><p>INDIVIDUAL COMMUNITY COMMITTEE REPORTS Each community committee reported to the Board the most common comments/suggestions from their meeting and the things that stood out the most.</p><p>Harrisville Elementary School Mrs. Snodgrass shared the following comments/concerns:  Safety is a top priority  Increase the variety of classes offered  Moving students is a concern  Do what is in the best interest of the students, not adults</p><p>Ritchie County High School Mrs. Waggoner shared the following comments/concerns:  Need more electives, science classes, and college classes  Creativity with staff / class offerings  Academics are top priority  Safety  Not happy with virtual classes  Consolidation is needed</p><p>Ritchie County Middle School Mr. Dotson shared the following comments/concerns:  Weighted classes  Increase class offerings  Curriculum/Funding is a concern Ellenboro Elementary School Mr. Lewis shared the following comments/concerns:  Keep small schools  Not in favor of moving 5th grade  Against block scheduling  Home-school numbers are too high  Need parenting classes  Increase the levy  A bond will not pass</p><p>Smithville Elementary School Mrs. Kerns shared the following comments/concerns:  Need more life skills classes  Safety  Need to prepare students for college/careers  Look at periods vs block or split block  Keep 5th grade in elementaries  Long busing if we’d choose to close  Test scores will be impacted with large schools  5th graders will be exposed to too much at the middle school  SES 5th graders will be affected by consolidation. Other students would have formed a bond before entering middle school</p><p>Creed Collins Elementary School Mrs. White, Mrs. Amos and Mr. Hudkins shared the following comments/concerns:  After school activity bus is great  Need more shop / business / life skills / Vo-Ag classes  Keep small classes  Get rid of block scheduling  Academics are number one concern  Do not move 5th grade or consolidate if you want to pass the levy  Listen to the employees  Leave CCES open  A Bond will not pass  Cut board operating costs  Create more college classes and career ready classes – team with WVU-P to supply teachers  Board members need to build trust with communities  We are losing students because of this constant fight  Children in Ritchie County are very needy. We need small schools to help look after them  Do we have the equipment to run vocational classes if they are added back to schedule  Elementary teachers do not cut corners. They supervise students for bus duty from 7:00 – 8:00 a.m. and have after school bus duty as well</p><p>WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? The meeting was open for questions and discussion.</p><p>Topics discussed:  Block Scheduling concerns were shared.  Past Principals / High School Principal / Teacher / Parent / and random student survey shared favorable comments for block scheduling  Parent – this type of communication is “key”  Question of selling board office – 1) in past found we could not sell because of funds used for building 2) nice facility for maintenance, also houses alternative education classes / GED classes and adult basic education classes  Board Office staff – 1) Have eliminated two director positions and replace with one with shared duties, 2) Not all positions are secretaries 3) have done comparison of costs with surrounding counties  Reminder – Kids are most important / stay student focused  Try to reach out to home-schools – We learned from reaching out in the past, that you cannot question home-schools  Feeling of elementaries vs middle/high  Suggestion to build our own bus garage – When you rent the state reimburses 90% of rent – less costly than building  Main reason for meetings – for ideas to balance the budget, can we afford four elementaries  Property taxes are up – this has given us some cushion, for how long / what is our time frame  We have choices - If we choose to have PreK – 4 or 5 our cost will be a little higher, could we pass a bond  SBA recommendation - we need to utilize classrooms in middle/ high school  Community member – number of kids are down / need to be proactive / funds depend on how state handles deficit they are in  Ellenboro Elementary Principal – Hate to close EES, but can see the reasoning. Keep in mind - we’ve had a generous offer for land, with utilities already available, for a new elementary in Ellenboro - that has to mean something to the SBA</p><p>ADJOURNMENT The special meeting/work session was declared adjourned at 8:48 p.m. by President Cokeley. </p>