001of approximately $6.4 million for the 2627 school year now uh within the available state funding for personnel and our excess levy fund. So we're no longer spending more on personnel than we have available. um this um they're aligned and uh it provides stability for our overall financial position as a school system. The budget for major repairs to existing facilities for the coming year has increased from $500,000 last year to 2.5 million. Our facilities are showing their age, wear and tear, and are in need of repair and regular maintenance. So, we've allocated additional funds there. the fiscal year 2027 budget for Logan County Schools for the general fund, fund 11, and restricted spending funds, both federal and state funds, which are funds 41,61-65. Together, those total 80,687,350. Um, and this supports approximately 601 full-time equivalent positions,
002which is about 80% of the budget. So, some major allocations are listed there. Um, K12 instruction is by far our biggest part of our budget, which includes salaries. He's at 22 over 22.666468, $22,666,468. Um, $500,000 for security measures via the excess levy, 8.8 million for maintenance and operations, 6.2 million for transportation, and $9 million, a little over $9 million for special education programs. So that's also a large portion of our budget and around 3.8 million for food service operation. Now there are additional budget categories uh listed in our packet and for both restricted and general funds which provide services and activities that support teaching and learning, student enrichment and extracurricular activities. Um, this budget ensures consistent effective operation and support of educational activities within Logan County Schools while maintaining effective management of the financial resources
003available justice treasures the SBO County schools. If you have any questions, uh, Miss Justice and I'll be happy to answer it. Um, but your, uh, the, uh, the notebook you have in front of you has our proposed budget. Uh the first part is the revenue. The second part is the actual budget. Um there's information about the budget calendar and the process we have to follow. uh charts with revenue and expense breakdowns, our published budget which is the tab four uh which will be put in the paper and our assessed valuations, the levy orders, our approval letter from the state auditor and then uh tabs 8 through 12 are the final computations of the state funding received from the state from various things for the retirement PIA state aid and our library outage. So if you
004have any questions, we'll be happy. >> The main fact work last year in this year's or next year's >> it's in the budget. >> It's presently in the budget. >> Yeah. >> But so it Okay. So So it's okay. >> It's in there. >> Yeah. As part of that SBA is we had contributed a portion for the project. So we allocated that as well. questions. Thank you, Dr. W. with presentations. And first off is Miss Cynthia. She is the secondary curriculum specialist. Uh and she's here for special recognition. So, the floor is yours. Good evening everyone. I am CF, secondary curriculum specialist for Logan County Schools and I want to tell you two quick stories about Logan High School's beta club. Freshman student wants to compete at speech in the state beta competition. She hasn't
005tried this before, but her beta advisor and teachers encourage her to explore something new. This encouragement ultimately leads to a speech on of all things Disney princesses and the examples they set from Pearls Everywhere. at the state competition she qualifies for national but it's in Oklahoma City she isn't sure she should go the competition so far away on speech nationally against other students who have had a lot more experience and opportunities to explore that skill but her beta advisor repeatedly encourages her to go with the group from her school and ultimately she decides to make the 16-hour trip before that week is over that student who was given the opportunity to explore his talent and was encouraged by her Beta advisors and teachers becomes a national beta champion at a national convention that had over
00620,000 betas attend that year from across the United States. All with a speech on Disney princesses. That speech, that opportunity, that exploration of a hidden talent led not only the three state to two national championships in speech, but also a year as the West Virginia state papers, different convention, a different beta. A state Beta presidential candidate delivers a keynote speech and draws a blank about three sentences in every speech giver's nightmare. The auditorium becomes silent. It's heavy. Her school bettas realize quickly that there's a problem and they start cheering her on just like they would do anybody else supporting their friend and fellow Beta. Being the amazing and charismatic Beta she is, she rallies and gives an amazing speech that ultimately leads to her being elected West Virginia State Beta President that year. But that
007isn't story, not really. Because we already know she's amazed and full of potential and sunshine. The story is across the aisle. at the convention as students from a neighboring county who also have a candidate running in the same presidential race are cheering just as loudly as the student. For those unfamiliar with Beta, it's defined as the nation's largest independent nonprofit educational youth organization dedicated since 1934 to promoting academic achievement, character, leadership, and service opportunities for students in grades 4 through 12. That's the textbook definition. But the real definition lies in the two short stories. Exploring academic challenges and skills, trying new things, leading by example, showing quality character and leadershipship skills with support from all betas, not just the ones in your school. This year, Logan County Schools has earned the prestigious honor of being
008named a beta district of distinction. The only one in West Virginia and only one of 95 in the nation. Now earning this recognition's notice from all accomplishment. A district of distinction is awarded only to district where every eligible school in a school district actively offers national beta and induct qualitine students from all eligible grades. Under the leadership of Superintendent Sonia White along with hardworking sponsors, educators, and especially our students, this district continues to create opportunities for young people to grow into leaders and be the very best versions of themselves. We have with us tonight some Beta representatives from several of our schools that are offering a word or sentence or idea about what Beta means to them in their schools. As I call your name, please share the word or sentence or idea that you
009decided. So, we're going to start with the elementary schools and we have um Charity Blankenship from Chapmanville Intermedia. All right. Charity, would you sign on? being kind, doing great in school, and making your school a better place. >> That's great. From Nan Elementary, we have Maggie Pink. Here we see. What word did you come up with? Leadership. That's a great one. from South Man Elementary. Aiana Frasier is kindness and serve. >> And from Burnville, we have CC Hall. friendship. Am I missing any other elementary? >> Okay. All right. Let's go to middle school. So from Logan Middle School, we have Annab. >> I think a good word that describes Logan Mills Beta is excellence. It it describes each and every Beta member at our school. from the Chapmanville Middle School Chase me being in beta
010means that I can be a leader. I can help others and I can show what it means to make good choices in my life. school is main school and a district. I think that's okay. Um, we've got some high schools. We got three represented. So, we're going to start with Chattanville Regional with Julie Wick. descript our score be unique because in the duration of this year club has felt more like a connected community than a single organization that would be possible with all teachers and staff and we have man high school Isabelle Miller beta club isn't just a simple club it's about helping those in the community around us and supporting each other. Another word that can describe it is teamwork by working together and making the world a better place. Miss any middle school
011or high school. Finally, we have Shelby Mullen debated from Logan High School who will share a thought about her Good evening. I'm Shelby MS. I'm a junior at Logan High School and I want to take a minute to talk about BETA Club and the impact that it has on Logan High. At Logan High, Beta is more than just a just an organization. Through its four pillars of achievement, character, leadership, and service, students are encouraged to work hard academically while also giving back to their community. One of the biggest parts of beta alleges is our involvement and community service. Through this, students are encouraged to help at local events, become active members in the community, and find any way they can to make a difference in Logan County. Every student in Beta Club has put their
012own time into making a difference. And just last week, their hard work was rewarded. Logan High School was ranked number one in West Virginia among all beta clubs for community service hours completed. On top of that, we were ranked number three in the nation. These awards reflect on the hard work, dedication, and compassion that are put into Beta Club at LHS. I myself am a member of Logan High School Beta Club, and I'm proud to be part of such an organization of standards, hard work, and many accomplishments. Thank you. So we've got words like service, leadership, friendship, helping, unity, excellence, work, all from our students. And we have this represented in our organization. Please join me in congratulating Logan County Schools on being named a 2025 2026 National Beta District of Distinction. So the kids
013have things doctor. >> All right. So if you're baited, come on. All right, got to gather people. Sorry. >> All right, you guys. Ready? One, two, three. We'll take it up. One, two, three. >> Thumbs up. Come on. We have all kinds of person. We're going to take a little uh two or three here recess. We got business with like facilities and all that stuff coming up. So, if any of the students and their families want to go ahead and head out, you can. You're more than welcome to stay. Uh we love having people here, but we don't want to bore you off. special. Maybe we'll come back into order. Uh we'll go back on to our agenda. Uh under five communications. Um we now going down to our facilities update and our director of
014operational support, Mr. Andrew Dodson has some information for us. So Mr. Dson, the floor is yours, sir. people elementary school update. Um, this is what we know so far. Originally, when the fire broke out, um, we had a cleaning company early on. The insurance company felt that that was premature. Um that we needed to determine the non-cossmetic damage to the building and what would be uh required to make it safer occupancy. Our maintenance crew secure the building, fix the roof to prevent any further damage. I do meet with and communicate with weekly our um insurance adjuster for all updates. Several crews have been brought in to map the building, assess the damage to the structure, and determine what will be necessary to safely occupy the building. And I meet with them over there when they
015come. The smoke and associated soot permeated every inch of the building. The air quality remains poor in the building and opening a few windows and wiping down walls will not significantly uh uh make the situation better inside the school. Every item with a motor or a fan when turned back on will emit soot and particles back into the air. We believe every PTAC unit, which would be your HVAC's on the wall, will need to be replaced at a minimum. There was damage to the electrical system, the fire alarm system, network cabling in the building in addition to um structural damage. We are waiting on insurance finalize these reports and provide us with information regarding the scope of the work and its cost. Our biggest issue is about Logan Elementary School would be state code may
016require us to bring the entire building up to code. Uh but we're not sure yet on that and I don't have any definitive answers at this time, but once we have information, we will share it. Uh it's not a quick process. It's not been a quick pro, but it is a weekly updated process. Um, that is all I have on Logan Elementary. If you all have any questions that you like to ask. >> Are you saying in addition to the fire damage, there's some other things that need picked up improved to meet the specs now? Is that what you said while ago? >> Could be. >> Okay. Such as example, >> um, so if we have to redo the building, it could be a sprinkler system. >> Okay. Um, it could be a updated newer
017fire alarm system. >> Who will make that decision, Andrew? Will be the uh will be the insurance company or will it be the fire marshall or on or will it be us as to whether we've got to go back code? >> It would well I don't want to misspe but I believe it would be in code. We would have to it would be Dr. White WBD. It it would been a cover that by the insurance too. It'd be covered by the insurance also. >> We don't that's what we're waiting for. >> Yeah. Um >> numbers is one thing we we've not received on any of that yet. >> Okay. >> But you would think it being a fire that caused all this, the insurance should pretty well kick in. You would think. I know sometimes
018there's obstacles that >> Yes. >> they try to avoid. >> They provide us with that information. But again, they had several people come into the building and look at all all aspects of it, including the furniture and and you know, things that we lost that can't be, you know, we can't change clean up and so they'll be providing us with that we hope soon. Um, and again, Andrew and I are acting pretty regularly to get information. >> Thank you. We appreciate it. Um some other updates to facilities. Um central office we um are currently it should be finished up in July. Uh working on a new water system. All the water lines of the central office are corroded. We have that halfway finished. Um, when our plumber comes back, our extra plumber comes back July
0191, the new water lines will be 100% complete. Uh, I'd say they're around 80% complete right now. Um, due to those cor lines, obviously the carpet that we've had in the offices for years and years and years have always been leaked on, stained. Um, so h half the side, the left side of the building has new flooring. The remaining offices will be updated with new flooring as well and that will take place in June. Uh that will be Superior Pocahontas that will be doing that for us in June. Um in January the awning if you refer to the I won't have you go straight to the page but this is my check off list. It is a to-do list recommended from the WVDE. It should it's the thicker one I gave you all in the
020on the bottom. Um there were some issues that that the maintenance guys were are able to do and they're working on it. One of them was the man elementary the awning was falling in or had fallen in. We put new metal set, new lighting. Um entryway looks good. We plan on in the fall matching the man middle school one with that. Um, our electrical department is now taking apart every unit in the county and thoroughly cleaning it. >> Uh, parking lot lines will be painted on all locations this summer. Um, we installed a new sewer motor at Hudingus Elementary this year. So, that was that was a a a big one for us. And there's lots and tons of smaller projects on that project list that the guys have checked off, worked on, cleaning up
021the basements, you know, aesthetically pleasing the buildings, but not only that, uh, bringing them up to safety standards and standards for our students. Uh, big projects. We received a quote from an HBAC company to replace a unit that runs five classrooms at Chattanville Middle School. The guys stepped up, said they could do the project and save the county money. We rented a crane last week. If you went by Chadill Middle School, you saw them taking a 15 ton unit off the roof, lifting another 15 ton unit, putting it back on the roof. This will roughly save the county about $60,000 that our guys could do. So, um, hats off to them for that job. Uh, this summer, a lot going on. I might have bitten off a lot, but, um, we're a little behind, so
022I'm trying to play catchup. Um, all five elevators minus Logan Middle School, we entered into an agreement with TK Elevator. Logan High School, Man High School are getting full modernization, meaning cabs, motors, buttons, the thresh, the sensor on the door, 100% complete modernization of their elevators. The other ones had newer elevators that just needed maybe a couple things like the um they still had the old bumpers on the doors instead of the uh sensors. So, those schools got repairs instead of full modernization. So that will be the mo the repairs are finished. The full modernizations are taking place this summer. Uh let's see. Logan High School and here Ralph Rar Willis Career and Technical Center will soon have bids go out for full new asphalt. I don't know when the last time they've had asphalt,
023but the the island we know is in bad shape. There is not much that we can do to just put seal it and put down. It's going to be mealled up and and the same here. So took the two worst parking lots took into consideration too that are used a lot and we'll put bids out for those this summer. I'm sorry this before school's out. Um not going to say that. M Dr. White will take that one. Um, also here if you want to know about insurance, uh, storm December 19th, 2025, I haven't even taken my job yet. Microsale comes through manned area and destroys three baseball field, two baseball fields and a softball field, excuse me. Um, very devastatingly destroyed them. Uh, so we are still in the process. We have all the new
024the fencing corrected. We have we well we've started with the cleanup for multiple companies. Um even with man little league when the poles broke at man little league I believe you lost three or four poles. One of them had controlled every bit of the electricity. My guys redid all of the electricity for man little D. We had a company set some poles that the softball lost and the baseball lost and get them wired in. My guys did the wiring with the companies and but that just goes to show you I'll never forget December 19th. A I hadn't taken the job yet and b that's how long we're looking at with insurance. We're still working because we still have three three or four light poles in man little league that we have not given up on
025yet. >> Um >> are they able to play ball games at night yet at man little league? I believe I've been working with uh uh Mr. Dickerson since he's from up that area and um one of my electricians uh Timothy Williams and TJ, he's from up that area and they have kids and grandkids who play together. So, uh they take a lot of the lead. I know they fixed the two fields up near Man Elementary. um the county commission did and we donated some um bleachers for them >> and are trying to help them out in that way. >> Gotcha. >> Um but the light poles at the little league field still remain. Um it's just it's cheap. We have light poles around the county. It's just cheaper to buy newer ones. So it's just
026working with the insurance and getting them in. It's it's a very slow process. Uh, so there's still more to come with the with the storm of December 19th. SBA, the school building authority, Logan High School had a two-year project for all new electricity law electrical work. HBAC fire alarm project and that was completed last month, 100%. At that same time, around that same time, man high school started a two-year electric uh electrical upgrade work for all new HVAC and fire alarms. So, we've got the two years to go for man high school, but we did finish up the Logan High School. >> So, walk through and everything's complete at Logan, right? >> The P we have we we have there will be two more BR systems. There is a 100% we've given them substantial completion
027punch list, but there are two barge units that are 12 weeks out that we have to add to a room that that was missed and that's the only thing that we're waiting at high school. But yes, everything is substantial completion. Uh bids, like I said, we I I'm I'm diving in. I've my my brain's just it won't stop. I I want this I want I want to get stuff done. Um we placed uh bids to have broken sprinklers fixed and have company uh we have the company lined up who won the bid and ready to go. We have you know some schools that are not operating at efficient sprinkler uh capacity. So that will be that was one bid that was put out. Um, oh, I got some other bids, but uh we have several
028bids that we put out with ZMM to correct some major concerns. Uh, shoring up the kitchen at Chattanville Primary was one of them. Um, it is temporarily shored right now to get the cooks out of Chattanville Intermediate so that they didn't have to the kids didn't have to walk over in the rain. The the cooks didn't have to walk over and bring the food back in the rain or the snow or whatever. So, we we have the company ready. We're just waiting on contracts for these next bids that I'm going to talk about um from from ZMM um to do the permanent shoring with the new trust that's underneath the kitchen at Chatville Primary. Right now, it's temporary, but it's temporary enough to where it is u clear for them to use their kitchen. We
029have several buildings that are a liability that are going to have to be demolished. Um I've been working with Dr. white to try to come up with a um a list of where to start sort of like what's the greatest needs and I believe our greatest needs right now are chimneys at schools that are you know existing I know Buffalo has a chimney um Chville Primary has a very tall chimney those have to be taken down brick by brick by brick um we have um you know some older buildings which you will find on the front page of the little paper I gave you. On the front page, I'm sorry, like this. On the very front page, it'll say major reactor maintenance updates. You will see demolition project about the third one up from the
030bottom. And it'll show you um chimneys, um mobile pl, you know, places like that. But we we don't have like I said there's no contracting in place and we don't know which one chimneys are dead buildings are not we don't know where we're going with that in that direction yet because no contracting has been written up. Um the most important project when I came on board I knew it right away. If you look you wonder why you know you see the mortar cracks in the buildings. Uh for instance, Logan High School needs the football needed a new roof. Uh we have sagging in corners. You know, you see blocks. Uh we have major drainage issues in our buildings. Um roofing and draining. We don't have the equipment or the men to handle the draining. The
031drains run through the walls and have to be fixed that way with the cameras. Um so we put that out. So, the company that we that won the bid with that um has worked in other counties close to us. The state department was there that day when we opened the bids. They think that that is the best county for the job. Um I'll give you an example. When we I went over to Altech was shoring up the Logan High School football building. It had all the gutters running down the side of the drains. When we they dug up to put the peers in, there's no drainage underneath. It's just running underneath our foundations. Most of our buildings, I'd say, not most, all of our buildings are doing that. this company will correct that within a
032year and then if we like their work, we can continue their contract and then they can maintain it after that. So that is the number one thing we have to fix first. We can't fix anything else until we fix the drainage issues at all of the schools. They've just never been maintained. They're stopped up. They're collapsed in the walls. Issues like that. Does anybody have any questions? I'm I'm kind of going a little fast. I know this is a lot. >> How are they going to work with that? They going to work per building or they work so they're going to look like quotas per building as they proceed. >> It already happened the quote during the bid. So the bid process they were required the companies were required to visit every school. >> So
033they've already visited all facilities. >> They've already visited all facilities. If you look at uh second from the top line, you'll see all facilities, correct roofs, and drainage. >> When you say maintain, what do you mean maintain? They're going to maintain the drainage together. >> The drainage and the roofs. >> Okay. >> A pinhole in the roof, if a drop of water gets in there and it starts to freeze, it bust. therefore you get your your your damage. I have one guy that does roofs. We have 20 20 some buildings that we take care of, not to mention all the athletic facilities and places like that. Um so this company will maint you know properly secured. >> Is that under the same price or is that additional under the same? Okay. >> For how long?
034>> It would be per We have to You'd have to redo the contract per year. >> Okay. >> Yeah. Right now we're we're fixing We're going to correct the problem. If you walk out this door, you'll see a drain pipe just dripping water. We have we have to fix all that. Um safety wise, and I promise I'm almost finished. Uh safetywise, I've been working with Brian Brown, who's Homeland Security, Capital Police. Um he is our county contact. He does the walkthroughs. Uh we put some initiatives in place to make our schools safer for students. Uh that is part of our levy money. That is part of my responsibility. Um I have bids out right now for image glass wrap. If you've ever seen the Timberwolf on Logan Middle School door, Chadville Intermediate has the wraps.
035Chatville Regional High School. Every school in the county I have a bid out for right now who will have those racks at their at the school's design, their colors, their their to ensure that you can't see in. That helps with the protection of the students who's in the office at the time. If I'm looking to harm or if somebody's looking to harm the school, they they can't see in to see who's who's, you know, in the office at that moment. what door can I pry into? Things like that. Um, especially our windows that aren't even tinted. You know, some schools have tinted windows. They can still have the image rack, but we we we put those into the price. So, that's one thing for safety. Um, we are also to get up with code. Reflective
036numbers have to be added to the bottom of each door. Uh before Logan Elementary, I would have said there's no there's no never going to be school fires. But I'm never going to say that again in my entire life. But there it's it's for when students, God forbid, are in in the fire, the reflective numbers they'll be able to see if they have to crawl out through the smoke. And so those will be installed this summer. Um, lastly, I met with every fire department and the county commission last week and we are going to install NOX boxes for every school. Logan Middle School has a Knox box. They're the only school in the county that has it. Um, if you're not familiar with it, a NOX box is looks like a little safety box. It
037goes into the brick. It houses every key that a fire department would need. They're designed for fire departments, not law enforcement. We're working on a different plan for law enforcement. In every fire engine, that fire engine will have their own uh security box. It will house the Knox box key. So, it doesn't matter what fire truck they take. So, when I met with them, I asked them, you know, one of the the things they had to say, you know, we had eight engines, we have six engines, we have four engines. That way I know how many boxes to get there. And that will when they made entry at Logan Elementary, it was it was a real fire. You have to you know when it's a real fire, you do what you have to do to
038get in. But if they did not know it was a real fire, they would have busted the window out and that would have cost obviously taxpayer dollars, you know, just to make entry. The Knox box allows them to check that first, unless of course, you know, you pull up, you see flames rolling out of the roof, you know, the Knox box is not what you need. But alarm goes off in the middle of the night, fire department shows up, they've got the Knox key. Inside the Knox box will be all the keys they'll need for mechanical rooms to shut things off. Um, so that's that's a big one. And I mean I other than, you know, I want to thank Dr. White. She's like a guardian angel that sits on your shoulder and she's super
039smart with her facilities. She might be in everything else, but she only talks to me about facilities. Um, and I have to force her to talk to me. Um, the county commission, I want to thank them. You know, they've helped with fields and things like that. The Knox boxes. I want to thank, you know, all anytime I've called any of you all you've you've been there both most importantly this school system would not run without the maintenance and those guys that I work for they don't work for me I work for them are some of the smartest guys in this county and they don't give themselves credit for it and I wish I had half the knowledge and a quarter of the skill that they had >> because I think I could be a millionaire
040but they're amazing guys and had they had never failed us to step up. They were there. The fire when the fire broke out, they stayed until I've had to make them leave and they do that for every single thing that happens in this county. They are on call 24 hours a day and I have never been told no. So, we do have the most amazing bunch of maintenance men and I have to end with that. So, there are no questions. Thank you for your time, Mr. >> Thank you, sir. >> All right, going on to um public speakers. Uh we have uh three public speakers. We will go in order of um order of signup. You guys need me to go over the policy for public speaking? Okay. All right. So, we're going to start
041with the first is Miss Britney Fury. Is that how you pronounce your last name? Miss Brittney Fury. She is here to speak on request for support at the West Virginia Department of Education on 63. Um, Miss Fury, you have >> five minutes and your time will begin once you start speaking. >> Accountability means being responsible. action decisions and outcomes and taking ownership when systems fail. Tonight, I am here because our community is demanding accountability. Since February of 2026, there have been three staff members at Logan Middle School investigated for sexual misconduct involving students as well as one additional staff member placed on leave due to negligence connected to one of those cases. And while these incidents are deeply concerning here in Logan County, this issue extends far beyond our community and county lines. Communities all
042across West Virginia are having conversations about students safety, reporting failures, accountability gaps, and whether enough protections are truly in place for students. This is not a political issue and this is not about internet drama or attacking individuals. It is simply about systems. In 2022, a Logan Middle School staff member was investigated for distribution and display too minor of obscene matter and was still allowed to continue working in Logan County until 2023 when that individual voluntarily ser >> I got to stop you. We can't we can't discuss personnel issues. So, anything that is specific to a personnel issue, you can't discuss during public comments. >> All right. How do these situations continue happening? Where are the gaps? What policies are failing? And what changes are necessary to better protect students moving forward? Because student safety cannot
043depend on luck. It cannot depend on whether or not someone speaks up loudly enough. And it cannot depend on communities simply hoping that the system handles things correctly behind closed doors. Members of this board are not just elected officials. your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, neighbors, and community members. You are the voice of Logan County when dealing with the West Virginia Department of Education. And because of that, I am asking this board tonight to stand with this community as we attend the West Virginia Department of Education meeting on June 3rd to advocate for stronger statewide policies, stronger accountability measures, and greater transparency surrounding investigations involving student safety. We need reform that prioritizes students first. And moving forward, I strongly encourage this county and this board to continue evaluating how investigations are handled, how communication with families
044is handled, what safeguards are in place during investigations, and what additional accountability measures can help ensure student safety remains the highest priority. Because restarting public trust requires more than statements. It requires action. The people showing up tonight are not here because they hate this county. They are here because they love this community and want better for its students. And the truth is acknowledging a problem is not what damages public trust. Ignoring it does. Thank you. >> Next up, we have Mr. Billy Reeves. and uh he's got down public address for his reason of speaking. Mr. Reeves, you have five minutes from when the you start speaking. It's an issue that is not to be taken lightly. anything to talk here because I just wanted to talk to you guys just as a parent, as a
045concerned community member, as somebody that day cares. And although each of you guys had your positions, you had your place within the the level of education, you still have your place within the community, you still have your place within Logan County. and you still have your voice. And this is an issue that has been ongoing. This is an issue that we all need to address. It's not something that needs to be swept under the rug. When we talk about our image, when we talk about everything else, what does that matter? Whenever we have this problem, none of that matters. I will get on top of this group and I will scream about it. Make a fool of myself to make sure that this issue is correct. I would ask that each one of you do
046the same. Is it not that big of an issue that we for for everybody to step out of your your comfort zone to step out of your your position to address every conversation I've ever had with any member of our educational system has always came to safety. Everybody, every single one of you has mentioned safety. When we talk about safety, this is a really big concern, really big blow to our children's safety. And one of the board meetings that I attended, I was called I rate. Funny thing is, I had passed that. I'm not out. I'm infuriated and I'm disappointed because this is something that that should have been addressed has to be addressed and it should be put first and foremost not only for student safety for teacher safety. There's there's a gap that
047needs to be filled and if you guys can't correct it cuz I do understand our port has no power. If you guys aren't the people that can't correct it and when all of us need to be showing up and knocking on the doors of the people that can't. That's every single one of those. I the country's already let us down with that ste. I honestly and excuse my friends. I'd be damned if I let it happen in my backyard. Everybody else should be just as infuriated as I am. The thing is has not happened to my children. And if it was, this wouldn't even be a conversation. And it's probably same words a lot of other people would say as well. So let's let's make it a conversation before it becomes something that isn't a
048conversation. It's not my children that's being hurt, but a child being hurt just one is one too many. And it's going to get to the point to where safety is going to be involved. Parents are demanding transparency. We're demanding accountability. As a United States Army veteran and a retired sergeant, leadership leadership, part of leadership is accountability. I had 10 soldiers under me. They were all about 18 years old. You would think that they would be adults and they would understand process and all that, but a lot of times they messed up. And even though they messed up, guess what? I was standing in front of first sergeant. I was standing in front of leadership, my leadership, taking responsibility for their downfalls for for what they did wrong because that's what a leader does. A leader
049that admits there's problem find solutions towards fixing it. If you don't have the solutions, I expect you to be at the door of the people that do just like we are. Thank you, sir. All right. Last on the list, we have Miss Shaina Thompson. She is here to speak on Logan Elementary updates. >> Thompson, you have five minutes and your time will begin once you start speaking. >> Thank you. We waiting quite a bit of time for some communication to come out about that and understand that these things take time and um I just wanted to express some of my concerns for me personally for my family for my friends who work in Logan Elementary School and Logan Middle School. Um I have personally spoke with Dr. White and um Mr. Dean has sent me
050a message personally. Mr. Mr. Teaser and I have talked. Mr. Markham and I have talked and I do appreciate the time that y'all taken for me. Uh, I attended Logan Elementary and Logan Middle School. I have a son who attends Logan Elementary School. I have a daughter who is enrolled to attend preK there next fall. I have another son who will start there in several years. So, I got about 12 years left of me going through Logan Elementary and Logan Middle School. I have family and friends who attend school there and who work in the school system there and I've just heard a lot of concerns and rumors and I'm glad that some communication is coming out and I do hope that there will be an open line of communication regarding the updates. Uh we
051understand this is a situation that nobody has ever really had to deal with here in Logan and we were devastated obviously when the fire occurred in February. Our community freely rallied around Logan Elementary during this transition that was announced to be temporary and we are thankful that the move uh went well and that staff and students were welcoming to bringing them into the middle school. But we are still very very hopeful that this move will indeed be temporary. It's just not an ideal situation at Logan Middle School for elementary and uh middle school students to be an environment that's not really built for preK through 8. Uh first for the elementary students. Um again, it's not just designed for that. There are no separate gyms for gym classes. The elementary students are being forced to
052use a small conference area about this size for their gym class, their music class, their art class. I know my son personally hates not having traditional gym time. Playground equipment is not really uh appropriate for the young ones. There's not enough playground equipment. There's just a lot of students and a lot of different size students. Uh bathrooms are a huge issue. The commotion are not the right size for the little ones. There not enough bathrooms. They're not separate enough. Uh students are being told that they can't go when they need to. They need to wait and go on group breaks and things like that. And I think our teachers are probably losing a lot of instructional time going to and from the bathroom. Uh prek and kindergarten is supposed to have bathrooms within their classroom
053and it's just not set up for that right now. Um, third, we're exposing little babies and little minds to things that they don't need to be exposed to yet because there's no proper separation built that way the way the school is is currently designed. Um, little ones are being exposed to feminine products being in the stalls and bathrooms because there are some bathrooms that all the students are allowed to use. um they're witnessing little ones are witnessing violent fights between middle school students and that's concerning. Um while the school is probably large enough to host us temporarily um I just hope that you all will take that in consideration and um that it's not really set up for the uh the separation to accommodate a prek through eight moving forward. It's also not ideal and
054fair for middle school students. Previously, fifth and sixth grade were were very separated from seventh and eighth grade. Fifth grade had their own hallways, their own bathrooms, and uh locker rooms. And now they they're up there all together. Um fifth graders with eighth graders. They are sharing hallways, sharing bathrooms, and they don't even have they don't all have secure lockers for their belongings. And again, just Logan Elementary is such a community focused school that it's just not an ideal situation to try to keep us with Logan Middle School moving forward. Um, from an activities perspective, uh, Logan area already doesn't have enough usable gyms. We've begged for auxiliary gyms for the Logan area for years. Chaplainville has auxiliary gym. Their intermediate primary schools have separate gymnasiums. A lot of separation between those. Man elementary, man
055middle school have separate gyms, bathrooms, and more. And Logan just doesn't have that. Um, may I continue? >> Uh, you you can finish your thought. >> Uh, we we're just we know that the consolidation is coming sometime in the future. We think that this is a great opportunity for Logan to wait around. Hopefully the insurance will get back and it'll be positive and you all can move forward on fighting to return Logan Elementary to our old school. We ask that you just take off the temporary goggles of what might be happening right now. Fight for what's going to happen long term because I'm not just thinking about my children. I'm thinking about my grandchildren, the many generations that we have to come. And I really hope that this board will hear us and the state
056will hear us that we do want to be back in Logan Elementary and that we will rally together to come to to keep our enrollment within the public schools and get this opportunity to update Logan Elementary and make it a premier school on the island. >> Thank you very much. Moving on with the agenda, we go to uh item number six, approval of minutes. Um this was uh approved by the um state superintendent uh from the uh May 5th board meeting. Um Dr. Pat White participated by phone with that meeting and Mr. Markham was not in attendance. Um going down to action or to uh item number seven, the approval of action items. Uh for those I will turn the meeting and the floor over to Dr. White's going to go to Grand Ohio. Uh
057participate in a game in a camp that's food or football funds. Our nutrition director is going to attend an important food uh piece in the Pittsburgh through grant funds. Um Young Life Christian Ministry has requested the use of a school bus on June 14th and then again on June 19th the transport letting students to a camp in Virginia County. Um we uh had a bid approval for our our oil and our gas and diesel contract for um next year uh with Woodford Oil Company, a bid for SNS Tire to purchase the bus tires and uh United Bank won the bid for our Bank of American County Board of Education. Um our new policies that are on second reading, there are four of those. Uh one is about tutors, one is self harm and eating disorders
058uh training which is called Megan's law. uh mandatory staff training on IPS and self harm and eating disorders for Megan's law. The reason it's listed twice is the 3000 series is for service and the 4,000 series is for professional or vice versa. Uh those are there second reading. These are policies that are being updated just for um kind of uh cleaning them up where state law has changed slightly or there were some technical errors and those are listed. I'm not going to read all of them, but they're on their second reading. Um, and those are available in out on comment. Uh, the next thing is that we uh we had our title one district parent and family engagement policy for 2627 approved. Um, Katherine Ellis uh who is our uh federal or title one coordinator
059and prepaid coordinator. uh we uh are extending her contract for up to 10 days uh so that she can cover summer school u during the month of June because she she's currently on 230-day contract. So she's out of days, but she does a great job with our summer school program. So if we need those, I don't think we'll need entirely 10, but we've put up to 10 so that she could finish that out. Holy Berry uh is uh we're changing his contract from 240 to 261 days to perform additional duties related to personnel and with the third grade success act next summer we'll have to test third graders who may want you know who need tested to uh for the retention piece of that off um WBU extension service request a school bus and a
060driver to take uh students from Logan County to camp virtual TA on Monday and then return back on Thursday to pick them up. Um out of state travel, Omar Elementary will travel by bus to Malibu Jacks um in two days and that was paid for in fundraising and student allocations. And then out of state travel, Logan High School Lady Wildcats basketball team. Uh they have several trips planned for out the state to either attend camps or um play in different games. our finances. Uh the budget supplements fund 11 $163,345 fund 6172,9768 and and then another fund 61 for $300. Um so some invoices, county invoices, $936,244.14. Um, CTE career education $14,863.37 food service $11,79741 IASA 577835 permanent improvements again a lot of the projects that we've been working on um payments to finish up the
061Logan piece where we make the final payments $423,49026 and nothing on the P card. So we had um invoices for a little over one almost 1.4 million for this month. All of those invoices are available for review at the central office and you know direct inquiries to Miss Justice if you want to look have more information for personnel our personnel schedule is attached. Um we have uh for athletics we have a correction and and then resign. Um for employment uh we have a substitute teacher employment and then we have u several of our currently working teachers who have applied for summer school based on our need. I think we've had pretty rigorous um enrollment for summer school this year. We're going to have one in man located in Chapmanville area and our high school summer
062school will be at Chapville Regional High School due to some of the construction at Man and Logan that's going on. Um we have uh some employees on leave and we have uh one employee five employees that resigned. Um and retirement u a correction to a retirement that was posted last month. Uh for transfers these are people that are where we've had reduction of fours and transfers and they may have saw another job they wanted so they transferred. Uh the good use there there are 11 on this list for professional and three of them are uh we're putting into positions off the riff list. So we've been able to place three more people um professionally from the RIF list. We had some last time as well on service. Again, administrative transfers are there based on the
063riff and transfer fees. And on that list, select items 12 through 17. Those are people who are on the riff list who were be were able to put in positions that were held by uh subs. Um and then we have some of our employment for um lawn maintenance for the summer. These are in addition to the curricular contract. uh to make sure our facilities are maintained during the summer and the bonds are cut and then we have depending on the needs we've hired aids and bus drivers for the summer school program as well summer enrichment um and uh bus drivers substitutes cooks custodians the whole nine yards there um some contracts we extended Timothy the Elton's contract 35 days and then there were some contracts that were nonrenew and and some leave as well for
064various exper um we were sended a one transfer clerical error um and there was a resation and a few retirements and so forth and another transfer. So, a lot's going on. Um, Miss, uh, Perry keeps very busy know right now this time of the year. Um, at this point, if you have any questions about this semester, um, for my superintendence update, um, I want to start with commending Miss uh, Cynthia and all the beta club sponsors for working hard to provide the program in every school in Logan County. This allowed our students to grow in their leadership and service to their community to be one of 95 districts nationally. So, think about that. We're one of 95 nationally to have this distinction and that's so significant and it's such a great program for our kids
065and it appeals to all kids at the school. It's not just a certain group. Every kid can find a place in beta and they do so well. Um, and I just mentioned that three teachers and six service personnel were able to move from the riff list to the vacant positions for next year on today's agenda. Um, I do want to talk a little bit about a couple of things. Um, and I'll just u I'll just start with personnel and uh just last month last last meeting I talked about what we were doing when people aren't doing what they need to do and we're dealing with it quickly and efficiently. Um but we can't share everything we know because of of how it is but people that we need to share with it we do and
066we take care of those things as immediately as possible under my watch. Um but uh in terms of I thought today I would just mention a little bit about what happens with hiring personnel. Um and you know again all personnel must fill out an application and undergo FBI and state background checks prior to employment. um for positions that require a license such as teachers, principles, and ECATs, these individuals must also meet requirements of the West Virginia Department of Education certification office. And this office also requires the submission of transcripts and other documents as well as some background the same background checks. If they find issues with the background checks or other things, that team can the WBD can request additional documents or interview the person prior to granting a license or refuse to grant that
067license. um at the central office. Um like I mentioned earlier, Mr. Berry will be adding on for additional time and he's going to work with uh reviewing uh and working with the department on all the licensing applications that come through to make sure they're accurate, to make sure everything is in place. Um and uh Miss Perry, our HR director, will review the all the applications for employment to make sure those are accurate, we have everything we need, and then together those two will get together and trade notes and make sure that we're um everything is like it should be, that we don't have any kind of concern about a potential candidate for employment, and that we uh review all the applications prior to selecting candidates to be interviewed. Um both of these uh Miss Perry
068and Mr. Barry, try to say that three times fast. Um, they're required to be vetted for the um the CGI system that's controlled by the FBI to access and read background checks before the application goes any further. So, they are going to be wellversed in that process as well. Um, no, and no one is fully employed here until the background checks are complete and reviewed by our office as well as the department. Further, West Virginia State Code 18A-2-8 outlines the suspension and dismissal process of school personnel. In this uh piece of code, it must be reported if any employee is suspended, dismissed, or resigns even during an active investigation. That doesn't get you off the hook. It must be reported to the state superintendent and added to a confidential database with access only to county
069superintendent and and county human resource officers. So this database also provides a third avenue to screen potential employees. It's another place we can check to make sure uh people maybe we don't want in our system don't get in our system. Um and uh I just want to point that out that uh uh I think there was some recent law passes that you know resigning doesn't necessarily end an investigation if it continues. Um but I also want to mention that not all administrative leaves are for misconduct involving students. Employees can be placed on administrative leave for actions such as the violation of security protocols, lack of supervision of students, insubordination, financial issues, work habits to follow the federal state code, etc. So, and and the other thing is all personnel action items taken under state takeover
070are reviewed and approved by the state WBTE before they come to this. Um, and uh, so I just wanted to mention those and I, trust me, I I will do everything I can to make sure we get the best that we possibly can for our students and that we weed out the ones that should won't be in our county and I won't tolerate any kind of misbehavior. Um, want to share some uh, want to move on to Logan Elementary. Um, I appreciate the the comments about that and we are I'm just as frustrated as anyone. Um, dealing with insurance companies is never fun, but dealing with insurance companies on on a project this u great has dislog we're doing as much as we can. There's just some things I want to clear up. There's been
071a lot of noise social media in different places about some things regarding um Logan Middle and the building itself. Um but uh what I want to say is that uh I want to reiterate that this building had peers installed a few years ago to address some of the settling issues. It was a very large project and the building is structurally sound. I do have a letter from a structural engineer. Um and she's one of the best on the east coast that's stating that for a fact. And you know what we need to know about the building is it was designed for between 1,00 and,200 students and we have around 600 in there now. So the structure is not at capacity and it is safe to occupy. So I want you to you know the building
072itself is safe. I mean there's been some rumors about that. I wanted to put those to rest. Um also um we know that uh you know when we moved into the middle school um you know our our priority was to make sure the children were safe and the children were back in school that they needed a place to be. Um, and moving forward, uh, you know, it is highly unlikely that we will be back in the elementary school in the fall. I I don't see how that's going to happen, knowing what we have to do with the bid process, knowing what the insurance is going to tell us. But we also know that we put people in rooms, but we also know that there's other spaces available in Logan Elementary or Logan Middleus for prek
073classrooms. there are rooms in that in that school that have bathrooms built in and that we can move those to. So, um I've tasked Mr. Dodson and Camille Evans and myself, we're going to meet with the the Logan Elementary staff and Logan Middle staff and look at those rooms and where we can maybe make some adjustments so that it's it's better because in all likelihood unless there's some miracle and I mean it would have to be a miracle and even when I talked to the department at right after the fire, it would have been a miracle if we could have started work that day after the fire to get the kids back into the building by August. Um but you know at this point um we are going to work on that because in all
074likelihood we will be still in that building in the fall. And and but that's you know with that said um that doesn't mean we've made a decision. No decision has been made until we know what the insurance company's going to do. And I'm not I don't make decisions without facts and I will always side on what's best for the children. Um, so I just wanted to share that yes, we, you know, we probably would will start school for Logan Elementary and middle school in the fall. There's just, I mean, if we were to get a quote from the insurance company tomorrow, we would have to get with our architects to make sure that we have a plan, a work plan. Then it has to be bid out. Then, you know, the bids have to be
075approved and and then you have to get the contractors there to do the work. And uh so it's it's not going to happen over tonight, but it will take some time, but we will we will consider everything um and and make again the best decision for the county and for the students. Um, I want to end on just some good news because I I think we spend a lot of time talking about things that aren't so great, but uh I want to share something that uh happened today um about students caring about their school and how they can make a difference. And uh about a month, a month and a half ago, I don't know if Zach is still here from Logan High, but uh he invited me over to his uh principal's advisory council.
076And that was a fun afternoon. It was now we're u I taught high school for 20 years. I had a blast working with those kids and they tal they were so frank about a lot of things but they said a few things that I thought you know what we can do something about that and one of them was they talked about the library. This library you know is kind of dated and it doesn't have some of the equipment or seating that kids their age like to have and and and some newer books that they wanted in there. So, I listened to them and uh you know their their frank discussions. They thought they felt their library needs a refresh. And so, I went back and uh since I've been looking at the budget, I looked
077at this this current year's budget and there was some money still left over and some different things for furniture and for um repairs and for books that was still available that we hadn't spent yet that we could use for this project. So, um I talked to Andrew and I said, "Andrew, I have an idea." And uh so I said, "But I'm going to need" So we called our architecture firm, ZMM, and I said, "I need I need I need y'all's help, but it's I I can't pay for it." So today, ZMM sent their entire interior design team to Logan High School. They sat down with the kids and they dreamed big. Now, what's cool is we have enough money. We can do this at Man as well. Not that we're ignoring Chapmanville. They had some
078furniture recently, so in their library. I'm not ignoring them and I'm helping them out with another project. But uh so the kids got to sit down with these designers and talk about what they wanted in in their in their uh space. And um so they're meeting with the students, but it's going to be the kids design. Andrew's team, his team, they're on board with doing what needs to be done, painting or you know, getting out some old things. Um and uh they're using ZMN's design interior design technology to kind of throw up ideas. and uh I'm going to get it wrong, Andrew, but uh um they're going to meet with them until the project's complete and then basically the maintenance team is going to bring to life what the students design. So, they're so excited
079about that and uh I'm I'm thankful that we have a partner and they're going to try to get some of their their corporate people, you know, that the companies that work with ZMM on furniture and fixtures to maybe help us out as well. So, Right. Awesome. >> Um but I just love it that the kids said, "We want to do this." I'm like, "Okay, well, let's do it." and we were able to find the funds and we were able to give give them that opportunity. >> Awesome. >> Um and last week um I got a call from Mr. Jeremy Frasier who's our welding teacher here and he asked me I said what are you doing? And I said, "Well, I'm right. I don't know what I was doing." And he said, "Well, Chief Logan's just
080down the road. Can you come down the road?" And I said, "Sure." Had his welding team there. And basically, they built a better mousetrap or built a better idea to build a swimming pool there at Chief Logan. So, there's a culvert that runs under the road going out to the campground. And in years past that, the crew at Chief Logan would climb up the creek, climb in the mud, go up into the culvert and put some wood blocks and stick the hose in there and it would, you know, the creek water would fill the pool. Um, well, Jeremy's welding team, 20 or female, I'll add that just I think they I think they were designers. They built um a a they built basically a portable dam for for that. So, it mounted to the culver.
081It has stairs that like a ladder that the workers don't want to climb through the creek anymore where they just climb down the ladder from the top of the culbert and then uh there's a a door that goes down, blocks the water, they hook the hose to it, fills the pool, and then they crank it up when they're not filling the pool and it and the treat runs. >> It's pretty cool. >> But it's pretty cool. And they uh they were installing it the other day and >> they had a few design issues they had to fix there on the spot, but it was just neat to see those kids. So proud of their work. It'll be there forever. And uh I know uh one of the guys that was talking to them from Chief
082Logan was one of the students last year and that's a job there. So it's it's just neat to see our kids do that and always want to spend some time brag on what our kids and our teachers in this county do because they truly do an amazing job. Um and they uh you know again with Logan Elementary those teachers uh those Logan Elementary and Middle have rose to the occasion to to to make it the best they can for the kids. adults may be frustrated, but the kids for the most part um are are being taken care of and aren't as stressed out as we are. So, but that's all I have for you. >> A question. The middle school. >> Yes. >> You said a while ago they wait till the insurance and stuff
083is approved. Couldn't they have the architect all that stuff done >> and be ready for the insurance to okay it because it's got to be done anyway whether insurance paid for it or not correct or not. >> Well, it depends on the cost. it depend, you know, if they come back and say it's going to be >> million dollars to fix that building, we don't have that. It wasn't insured for that much. So >> So you'd be you'd be basically paying an architect for to do a project that might not >> Well, okay. To follow up on that, if something happens to insurance, say they uh come up with three4s of what they think it would cost, they don't pay the rest. the state doesn't have money to put in a kitty to where I
084mean we definitely we can't keep the school shut down regardless. Is that >> correct or incorrect? >> Well, I don't know. I'm not going to Yeah, I don't I really I want to look at that because you know we have to look at our enrollment and we have to look at some other things. >> Um you know so I don't think we can say definitively yes or no. Okay. I think we have to look at a lot of different things and and I don't want to paint I don't want to paint anyone into a corner until we know more. >> So it wasn't insured by >> it's insured but I'm just saying it's you know >> how they put a cap on it what they're going to insure I guess is my question. Do we
085have lawyers looking into it? There is you have like just like your house you have I had my house insured for this much there's a set amount of money that that school was insured for whether or not it was enough >> okay >> is another thing and we did >> it it it concerned me about the size of it I you know I built an elementary school 12 years ago and I know how much it cost to build it and the insurance didn't seem to be anywhere near that cost of 12 years ago. So, uh, when I noticed that, I asked our insurance company and our treasurer. I said, "Let's let's look at our insurance coverage countywide and make some changes." And we did because we felt like we were underinsured in some cases. So,
086we tried to shoot for ensuring our buildings were 75 to 80% replacement cost. >> Okay. And that's all I know. I mean, until they tell us what needs to be done and how much it's going to cost and, you know, is it is it going to you know, I think we just need to just keep an open mind about everything until we can make a decision >> and that's something should be updated every two or three. >> It's annually and >> annually it's up. >> It's it will it will be >> but it hasn't been >> I think I think they've made incremental changes like they up at two or 3%. But what I did is I went to the department and I said I went to the architects the facilities guys. I said you
087know what's you know how big each of our buildings are what does SBA pay per square foot and how much would it cost to refill the building that size and that's where we got the numbers but now based on our new insurance policy. >> Gosh, that's the worst scenario is it back it back. Yeah. >> Thank you. I appreciate it. >> Okay. >> Any other questions? All right, we'll go to board comments. Dr. Pat Joe, why do you have any comments, sir? Pat Joe, you still there? Going to Mr. Roderio, do you have any comments? >> No, I I appreciate the program we had this evening. Very educational. And did she say something about they were third in the what did they come in? >> Yeah, third in the nation. >> That's awesome. Community service
088hours. >> Yeah, that's awesome. Thank you. We enjoyed that. >> Well, Mr. Keyzer, >> just the you retouch on the Votech what they've done out the park that uh Mr. Frasier's always been active and our our classes from low tech school have made a lot of improvements driving in the park that big new sign you see at the mouth and drills benches you name it and they worked on it and uh community overlooks a lot of the good that's done right there. That's a lot of money saved from the county aspect and a lot of good training that we're giving our kids to get out in the workforce. what you talked about earlier that uh I like the fact that you involved the kid that's in the in the revitalizing of the library and biggest
089way to get a bite in is make them a part of it and them kids will be a part of that library now until they leave there and then when their kids go there they'll be >> talking about they help with the revitalization of that library. So, anything we can do to get kids involved in them kind of processes I think is a a big win. Tonight was a good night. A lot of good talent. We were represented well again sounds like nationally and a lot of tough decisions and talk come across this table up here but it's always good when we have the the uh the kids up and see the accomplishments that we're making and that they're making and uh that's when we get to see the payday come out for the record.
090All right. Um, love seeing the the the beta kids here. Uh, I was a beta kid. I think uh Ralph and Mark are too old to be baby kids, especially Ralph. Happy birthday, Ralph. >> Thank you. 53. >> 53. >> Yeah. 53. >> Um, but u but no, seriously, u uh beta was a big part of my high school experience. Um, it's a little different now, uh, than it was, you know, almost 30 years ago. Lord help me. But, well, yeah, almost 30 years ago. Uh, it's a little different now. They're they're they're much more um it's it's a it's a much more involved um organization now than it was when when when I was involved with it. But I I love seeing um our county being heavily involved in beta. I think it causes
091um it causes the kids to to to kind of look at themselves and say, "Okay, what can I do better? How can I be better? What can I do to make my school better? What can I do to make my community better?" Um and and you know, if if we get good citizens out of our students as well as as you know, good academics out of them, that's that's never a bad thing. Um, as far as, you know, nobody said anything about it yet, and I'm surprised. The Hope gas announcement, huge, huge announcement. Um, I don't I don't think people realize how big of a deal that's going to be, uh, for our school system, uh, and for our community. Um, you know, I I've said it since before I was on on the board.
092this facility and and the instructors in it um and the students that come out of it. This is this is our diamond in the rough and anytime that we get to polish that diamond up, I think it's a good it's a good thing and and we definitely got some polish on it last week uh and week before last. So, um really excited about that program. Um uh that's coming um and I think they're starting in the fall, correct? Yeah. So, that's that's big. I mean, to to fast track it the way they did, I mean, that's that's going to be that's going to be good. Um, bittersweet week for me. Um, this Friday, just a reminder to everybody, this is this is grad Shut up. This is graduation. This is graduation week. Um, my son's
093graduating from Chapmanville Regional High School. Uh, I know it's hard to believe. I'm old enough to have a graduate, right? But um but um graduations this week, Man High will be at uh Friday at 1:00, Logan will uh be at 4:00 and uh CRS will be uh at 7:30. Or I'm hoping that it's looking like the weather's going to be good. I'm hoping it stays that way. Um but um I'm I'm yes and no on uh I'm being excited about uh about Friday. Uh, so, um, so that's coming up. Um, I do want to address kind of the elephant in the room with with the the stuff going on at Logan Middle. Um, everybody, um, everybody is concerned when when when things like that happen and things come out. Um, and and Miss Fury and
094and Mr. Ree, if you don't if you don't mind, I would like to speak with you all before you leave uh, one-on-one. can't really discuss stuff publicly because of the sunshine law and all that stuff, but I would like to speak with y'all privately before you guys take off. Um, but but know that absolutely student safety comes first. That's top priority. Um, and and you know, if it if it wasn't, you know, I've got kids in the school system, Mark has kids in the school system, Ralph has grandkids in the school system. um you know, we're we're we're not going to let stuff just slide by um and and put kids in danger. That that's not what we're about. That's not that's not going to happen. Um but uh but I would like to speak
095with you guys before you leave just to give you a little bit of a uh personal insight from from at least where I sit. Okay? You guys don't mind. Um, but uh >> give you one piece of advice before we leave. And uh my wife says I'm one of the dest people that ever walked. And thanks to Logan County, I got the privilege of handing my daughter her diploma last year on the stage. >> And buddy, you better put your big boy pants on come Friday because that is something that's going to be spit you out. >> I got one better for you. I'm speaking at Gary's graduation. So, Rob D's already told me he's got a box of tissues he's gonna put at the lect because I'll probably boohoo him. >> All right. Derek's
096hungry. Anybody got anything else? >> I'm with Derek. >> I love you, buddy. I love you. All right. There there being no further business before this board, I need a motion to adjurnn. >> I need a second. >> Second. >> Before we adjourn, announcements. Next board meeting will be held here at the Ralph R. Willsburg and Technical Center on June 9th. That's Tuesday, June 9th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. I need let's see we got our motions. All those in favor of uh adjournment indicate by saying I. >> I. All those all those opposed indicate by saying no. The eyes have it. We'll call it a 300 vote with one abstension. Uh, we are adjourned at 6:33 Yeah.