001I >> Oh my god. We're going to try to start the board meeting, >> but now we're working. >> So, good evening everybody. It is February 23rd, 2020. [snorts] I'm just yelling. Try the other >> cuz it will sound. >> Let's try again. >> All right, we got it. So, it is February the 23rd, 2026. It is 6 p.m. and the Mercy County Board of Education is in regular session in Spanish today. We're pleased to be here and we're glad we got such a big crowd. So, the first thing we're going to do is the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Let me get I'm going to go up here where
002you can see me. Get my notes. So, we brought our board meeting to Spanish work tonight because we want you to know what's going on in car school. been hearing lots of rumors and of course it's funny when you hear a rumor about something you said and you're like I don't recall saying that. So we want to make things clear to everybody what's going on. >> I know you've heard a lot of different things about what can and can't be done, what's going to be done. The truth of the matter is is we don't even know what FEMA is going to let us do at this point. We know what the options are and we're going to talk about those tonight with you so you can hear what the options are. FEMA right now is
003in shutdown. So in terms of them doing paperwork, they're not doing anything right now. They're still managing emergencies, but they're not processing this type of thing. So we got to give them a lot of information and then they got to give us answers and once we have answers, we can communicate those to you. So we came here to talk to you about this. So we have filed a FEMA claim and we've filed flood insurance. So now we're going through the process. It's a slow process. We're talking not weeks, not months, but years. But we're committed to seeing through with this process. So, I want to be clear at this point, and I want to be absolutely clear to everybody in this room. We have not and we will not and we cannot make any decisions
004about Vanishber right now because we don't know. We are left in that position of saying, well, what's FEMA going to decide? Again, you're going to hear the presentation on what FEMA's approach is, what they'll tell us, and then what we can do with based on what they determine. So, whatever their assessment is, there are multiple things that can be done. It's going to take time. So, our treasurer and our director of maintenance are going to give you more details in just a minute, but I want you to understand this. As we go through this process, you're going to know what's happening as it happened. When we're told something, we're going to tell you something. We may find it through your administrator here at the school. You may have another meeting down here, but you're going
005to know step by step what's happening because you're entitled to know taxpayer, your school, and it's important. It's important to us. So, we're going to do the best we can tonight to describe what FEMA is going to do. As far as answers about what they're going to do, we don't know. We'll find out. Let you know. So, you're going to leave here with some information and still questions and that's okay. We have the same questions, but once we know, you'll know. So, let me introduce Leslie Wellman and Tom Atkins, our treasurer and our director of maintenance. They're going to give you a lot more information about what's going on. >> Oh, I'm sorry. We have a presentation and these are young people that probably need to get home. So, we're [snorts] we're pleased and and
006excited. We saw ukuleles getting out, so we're kind of excited to see what's going to happen here. So, uh we look forward to it and we'll turn it over to you. >> I'm Sandra Fox. I'm the music teacher here at Spanishburg. This is my fourth and fifth grade ukulele group that that we're able to get out this evening. Um I've had a ukulele club here for the past few years. Miss Boos learned to play. Our social worker learned to play. Um, so we've had lots and lots of participation. And we're going to play Country Roads for you tonight. I would love and invite everyone to sing along as we play. >> [snorts] >> FBM. You going to >> I'm trying to get that to play and I just don't circles. >> And we might just
007go without back. [laughter] >> Pull it up. Sorry. >> Oh, your turn. West Virginia [music] [music and singing] The mountain [singing] [music] take me home. [singing] [music] Take me home. [singing and music] Stranger [music] [singing] to blue water. [music] [singing and music] [music] Take me home [music] to the place of West Virginia. [singing and music] >> Help us sing along. I hear her voice [singing] driving down the [singing] road. I get a feeling that I should have been home yesterday. [music] [singing] [music] [singing] West Virginia [music] take me home country [music] country [music] to the place of [music] West Virginia. [music] Take me home. >> [music] [music] [applause] >> Good job. Wonderful. So, thank you guys. Um, I am not the best speaker. I say that every single time. I'm an accountant. I like being
008behind the scenes. However, I'm also a parent. Uh my kids went through Mercer County schools. I have questions. Until I started the school system, I there were a lot of times I didn't know who to ask for things. One of the biggest things we want you to know is that Tom Atkins and I are just like you. Our kids, he has a a student in Mercer County. I've had kids in Mercer County. We pay taxes here. We're here to talk. That's basically all we're here to do. I've been here um in Mercer County almost 16 years. My kids went to Straley and Princeton Middle and Princeton High. Um my husband went to school here. We're here just like you all are. One of the biggest things that happens I believe is that we don't have
009the right people to ask questions to. So, we all get confused and rumors circulate. And so, when the board said, "Hey, what's going on with Spanishberg? Let's come to Spanishburg." We were definitely in favor of this as well. So, you can hear what we do behind the scenes and what we've been doing behind the scenes. Again, I'm Leslie Wman. I was the director of purchasing for a long time. Um, I've been the treasurer almost 3 years. I've been here a lot. Um, all the projects here, the gym floor, the HBAC units, the kitchen. I helped put the freezer in in the kitchen. I I know the school, love the school. My son played basketball here a lot. My daughter actually played basketball back when she did such a thing. So, we know how much you
010all love your school. We love our schools, too. Um, Tom is our director of facilities and maintenance, and I'll let him introduce himself. >> First of all, I'd like to give a round of applause to that beautiful musical rendition. Good job, guys. [applause] I definitely didn't sing and you're Well, I'm not very good at that. Like Leslie said, I'm Tom Atkins and just looking around the room, I've seen former students, people I've coached 20 years ago, people that work for me, people I worked with. I'm glad everybody I'm glad everyone came out to see me. Uh like Leslie said, a lot of times there are there are rumors and things that are going on. And while she nor myself are FEMA experts, we just kind of want to keep you all breast everything that's going
011on. Like we do every other week when the board, we we give them an update as we get updated as well. My son, he's seventh grader at Fiky Middle School. uh he was in a robotics competition this weekend and uh Spanishburg represented themselves very well there and I saw a lot of former Spanishburg students that are on the fight middle team. So uh it's it's it's always a a great park in [clears throat] any community and I've been here and I met with the staff early in the year and right after the the flood last year. So, it's it's not something that we ever push in the back of our mind, but it's something that we're navigating through. And we just kind of want to be on the same you all to be on the
012same page with us and and help you answer any questions we can about Spanishburg now, Spanishburg in the future and the community as well. So, Leslie and I, we're kind of spearheading this project and working with FEMA and the Department of Emergency Management for West Virginia and Mercer County. So, we'll just try to talk a little bit about like Mr. Bridget said where where we've gone from over a little bit over a year ago to today and then what we anticipate will happen in the future. And I say anticipate because we don't know he like he alluded to there's usually something that pops up every day that that we're trying to address and get them information for. But we're going to just explain a little bit of that process this even. So, basically, um, again,
013we're we're very, very glad that you're here. What we've tried to do is break this into several different areas. The first thing we want to talk about is what happened almost a year ago. Tom was here. His booth was here as soon as they could get here. And Tom's going to talk about the building, the damages, as you know, were here and not in that side of the building. So, he's going to talk about that and what we've done from an architectural and structural an analysis for this building. >> Okay. Um, obviously the beautiful Jim Clover's room. Uh, I I walked in I came down I think it was a Sunday and I pulled I couldn't even see this bridge to turn right to come this way. Um, I I walked in Monday morning early.
014It was about 6:00 a.m. saw the the whole hallway from that end and it was covered in mud. I made my way down to the gym and opened the door just to see if he was out with me. And uh my heart sank right because I knew I mean I remember I student caught here a long time ago almost 20 years ago. I longterm subbed here my first year teaching and that floor that's in there now that the students are playing on the same floor that was here then. So that to see that beautiful gym floor just ruined. Um called Miss Booth immediately. I said well it's gone. Hopefully I hate to tell you but the gym floor is gone and we got a lot of damage. So, we started to clean up then ourselves.
015Um, we didn't know the extent of any damages clearly at the time, but we were just trying to to get through the the silt and the mud and get as much out of here as we could. We realized early on that it was quite the emergency and and people started talking about the flood of 77. I personally wasn't even born in 77, but I can imagine it was pretty bad because this one certainly was as well. Um, we we lost the gym floor. We uh we had to come in with with do a huge asbesus abatement underneath the tile floor which is asbesus for those that don't know asbestous really isn't harmful until it is disturbed and then we knew we were going to have to remove the tile. So anytime you remove tile you're
016disturbing the asbestous. So we had to do an asbestous evate. During that time we had the clearance and we had Empire Salvage come in and they they did a large asbestous evatement. Uh, and anytime you deal with asbests, it's the EPA's involved and it's it's associated with very high costs. But we we always wanted to make sure that your students were safe and the school was safe. So, we went ahead and did a large aspect. We had Surf Pro come in and clean and disinfect everything that was salvageable at the time. And they ran air scrubbers and dehumidifiers the entire time they were here. the the drywall had to be flood cut 24 in all the way around to keep it from molding, mild doing any further than what had already been done. But the
017damage is truly it already been done at that point in time. So we we had obviously we had enough space here. We were able to keep keep going. Uh the wastewater treatment plant was was basically there's a five pod system and the largest pod that had floated out of the ground during the flood. uh we were able to get it re-anchored and worked through with pumping of the uh holding tanks during the time when the students were back in. I think we missed one day of school, I believe, during the flood. So we we did we ran up the pump trucks during the time until we could get the the treatment plant back on on it of course. But we um you know luckily like I said we had a large school and students were
018were able to to really pretty much go uninterrupted as best we could during such a disaster. But during that time and while we were moving we've also damaged to the newer wing of the school. Um during that time, Leslie and I, we reached out to structural engineer and they continue they gave us an analysis of the the underllayment of the the structure itself and they continue to monitor the damages at this time. Uh it is obviously safer. Your children wouldn't be in that area of the building or any other area of the building. It wouldn't be safe. But while we know whatever we do in the future, there are going to be have to be substantial work done to this wing as well. so that we don't continue to see structural damage to that section
019of the building. Again, I was a school administrator. I'm not an architect. I'm not an engineer. So, we we lean on professionals and their advice to tell us and advise us how to proceed. Um, we we always anytime there is a student need or safety need of the staff or students, we always air on the side of caution and lean on professionals to give us advice so that we can all make the best decisions for the kids. So, pretty much I think that's everything that I was supposed to talk about as far as what happened. Um, while we do miss that side of the building, we're obviously continuing driving. Students are driving in this section of the building. While less less than ideal, it's um still better than >> so funding. He mentioned the fact
020that we did file we have flood insurance on this facility and about $750,000 between the building and contents. We have already received those funds and we've spent those funds and that was for surf pro the asbestous debatement additional you know testing u some supplies that were damaged. So those funds have been exhausted. Where we are now is we filed a claim with FEMA once the this was declared um a disaster and that process started about April May last year and it's ongoing and it is non-stop. It's a tremendous amount of work. They want a lot of information copies of receipts different things like that. But we also have to work with local authorities too. Primarily the flood plane manager and he works with the state flood plane manager as well. um when I have been
021the primary point of point point of contact with FEMA and again it is a lot of work it's also very complicated and when it got to the point that I knew that we needed to get the board involved we had a meeting a special board meeting on February the 3rd and that's available on YouTube if you want questions it is very detailed there's um Dr. Jason Means is with the West Virginia Department of Emergency um disaster services. He's really really smart, knows FEMA very well. He met with the board, explained all the details to the board. We're not going to go into all of those details, but what we do want to mention is that we are here in this location in not just a flood plane, we're in a flood way. And that means
022this will flood again. That is reality. We are in a flood way. So now what we have to determine is can we get flood insurance? That's one of the number one things. Right now we're at about $4.5 million in damages for this facility to bring it back up to where we can operate. We're at $4.5 million. We need the FEMA money. And so we are doing everything we possibly can to get that money. FEMA is a very complicated pro program and unfortunately it takes a long time. I kept kept getting calls from Miss Boo. when are you going to start fixing my building? When are you going to fix my building? And at that point, I was like, we really need to bring everyone in because we can't bid the project for that work until
023FEMA has approved this. Um, I kind of skipped around and spoke for Tom, but he talked enough. So, I don't Do you have the graphic that we did? Okay. So, Amy Harrison is our guru and she did a graphic for us and I think we'll move over there. I think this kind of explains ultimately what we did is we had to get estimates on how much it would cost to repair this building and that includes a gym floor that includes offices furniture down that way. We also on this section of the building we have to install peers about 20 plus feet down and connect those to the foundation because the water is so damaging to this side of the building. We have to secure the foundation. So that's a million and a half on this
024side in addition to the work on the other side. Once this project reached over $1 million, another layer of difficulty came in. It became a school building authority project. This is a unique agency in the state of West Virginia that handles the buildings for all our schools. That's how we get um a lot of the funding for our new schools as well. So we have to also go through the school building authority. They are assisting us. But again, um, it added a layer of complication to this as well. We also work with the West Virginia Department of Education and they have to approve everything that we've done. Ultimately, this is where we are. We submitted about $4.5 million in total repair. That's to bring us up to code. We have to raise the wastewater treatment
025plant out of the flood plane. What the what happens with FEMA is they evaluate whether 50% of this building was damaged or not. They are evaluating that based upon a variety of factors. If the building is damaged more than 50% then they will not fund us to repair the building. If it's below 50% they may fund us. They will authorize the funding. Then there are a few other steps that we have to go through. Local flood plane manager, state flood plane manager. One of the biggest things is can we get flood insurance for this building? Again, we started about a month ago trying to get flood insurance. Right now, we have it for the same amount that we had before, 700,000. We have to get up to 4.5 million as a minimum. We're waiting to
026see if anyone will fund that. If we cannot get funding, we can't prepare. Ultimately, that's it. If we cannot get flood insurance here, FEMA will not give us the money if we can't provide flood insurance. So, ultimately, right now, it's in the hands of FEMA. FEMA says they're working on it. Um, they haven't really given us a time frame for when they will tell us what they'll do, whether they'll give us the money to repair or that they feel like it's more than 50% damage. Upon that decision, it's going to be a while. And that is one of the other reasons we really wanted the board to know and you all to know. They told us, it's our understanding that it will take approximately five years to get the funding, get all of the permits,
027get everything, and then we do construction and then we'll have this. But ultimately, this is going to be a very, very long process. And to [clears throat] ex expound upon that last statement, Canol County and Nicholas County had a a disaster almost 10 years ago and they're they haven't even finalized their projects yet. So the last time we met and what Dr. means talked about on February 3rd was that [clears throat] once we submit with FEMA and they have enough information that they feel they can start their evaluation, it'll probably take a year for FEMA to even get back to us so that we can really truly come up with this decision. So there's there's several facts. Facts one is your kids will be here next year. Your school is going to be here. Spanishburg
028Elementary School will be here next year. your kids will come in here in August and they'll be a lot. So, rest assured that you'll be here the rest of the year and you'll be here there. Now, where we go from five years from now, your kids will probably be long gone at Pike Middle or FQ High, but maybe you got youngsters on the way. We don't know if we'll be here. We don't know if we'll be somewhere else. We don't know where we'll be. But these people and the people that you elect or these people and or the people you elect, Mr. Toman, myself, Leslie, everyone in this room, we're going to take care of all the kids in Mercer County, but specifically at this point in time, we we're trying to focus as much
029as we can at the safety of this building. So, I want you I want you to rest assured that we're doing all we can to make sure your kids are safe. This guy right here in this orange hat, he's one of my guys, he he fixed the gym floor as best he could. He has made it as safe as he can. He's the one who put all the salt in the parking lot today so that you can come to this meeting and be safe. But anytime there's a need, he managed he helps manage the wastewater treatment plant. So I'm going to give you a shout out Mark Casey. Let's all thank Mark for his hard work. [applause] He's calling me names right now under his breath, but that's okay. But no, but for real, um,
030anytime this booth has a concern, I'll come down here. anytime that the staff have a concern, I came and talked to them. I don't know every answer. Leslie doesn't know every answer. No one in this room knows every answer, nor do we know where it will be. But we do know in August we'll be here. So, that's something as a parent that I feel would be a very strong concern of mine if I had a student here. So, rest assured, your kid will be here next year. Um, 10 years from now, hopefully we're not dealing with this. Uh but Nicholas County and Penol County truly I think it was was it Herbert Hooer that had the huge damage they basically had to build a whole new school Herbert Hoover in Charleston. It was so bad.
031But as Dr. Means pointed out, they've made they made a lot of mistakes. So we're trying to not do that. So, while she's an accountant and I'm a trained school administrator, we're leaning on those people, too, and their mistakes to help guide us so that we don't do that for your kids in your community. So, I think that it's important that you were urged to be here this evening and I urge you to come to every meeting because we do give updates and we do keep our board involved because ultimately they're going to guide us. We're going to give them information. They're going to help guide us for all of your kids. you know, we we are the administrators and we make decisions daily, but they they help we all work together for the best
032of your kids. So, remember that and remember that anytime you have a question truly, that's why we're here. You know, I I know like Leslie said, a lot of times we don't know who to ask. I oversee all the facilities. Doesn't that doesn't mean I know all the answers. I lean on my guys. They've been doing this a lot longer than me. uh 5 years ago as a principal at Princeton High School. So I didn't know exactly that I'd be dealing with the flood management at Spanishburg Elementary. A life kind of steers you in different directions. So while we're not going to answer your questions, we hope that we can just shed we hope we shed a little light on the whole situation as a whole. There isn't a decision going to be made tonight.
033There's not a decision going to be made tomorrow. It's going to be a fluid ongoing conversation that administrators have, board members have, communities have, and your your opinion and your thoughts and your desires for the community and the school and the students is always going to be heard. So, just just remember that we're all people. You're all people. It's easy to uh to sit back and say, "Well, I'd have done this or I'd have done that." But if you have a suggestion, let us know. We do not know all the answers. But hopefully all this going together, my main takeaway is our students are safe. They're they are always going to be taken care of and we appreciate your support. >> And the other thing is we give we have two board meetings a month.
034We always give the board updates. Every um every board meeting we provide an update to our board. And if there is um a decision made from FEMA, again, FEMA's really calling the shots. They have the money. So, we don't have the funds right now, but we're we're confident that we're going to get something from FEMA based upon their decision. We'll make sure we communicate that with our board and with you all. And again, if you want to know more of the details, go back and watch that February 3rd board meeting that explained all of the the these details. We've spoken enough. And um I know you don't want to hear anything else from us. >> It's still working. So folks, you know about as much as the rest of us know now, which is not
035a lot, but there's a process and we're going to go through it. And our goal is to have your kids safe, secure, and in a school they want to be that you want them to be. That's our goal. Simple, easy, straightforward. Uh Tom says they're going to be in here in August. I'm guessing there's going to be quite a few August. We've got a four or five year plan. It's going to be a while, but we'll get there. And I have no doubt we're going to get some money from the government. And then we're going to use it. And as [snorts] we get to those points, we're going to do this again and we're going to hear from you and you're going to tell us this is what we'd like to do. This is our
036approach. This is our preferences. This is what we want. And we'll take all that into consideration and hopefully the government will give us everything we need to make it make it bright and shiny and perfect. That's what we want. Your kids matter as much as any kids in this county or state. And that's what we want to do. So that's what we're going to do. So, with that, um, we've got a regular business meeting and you are welcome to stay. We love to have people listen to what we do. If you want to go, now's the time to go. Okay. Thank you all. Are there are there We don't have an hour to answer questions, but is there anything anybody thought of at the moment they really have a question about? So, we've thrown a
037lot at you. I get it. It might be a day or two before you go, "Okay, I should have thought of this the other night." That always happens to me. I leave my doctor and I go, "Should I have asked you that?" >> Oh, I've got a hand. Okay. Yes, sir. >> When was the last time an appraisal was done on this? >> The last time an appraisal was done on this building? >> Yes. >> Gosh, I don't know that one's ever been done on this building. I don't know that we regularly appraise our buildings. the flood plane manager uses the tax tax valuation. >> Okay. >> So that's what what he uses. >> That isn't what the federal government necessarily uses. So it's all being evaluated. >> So what does the federal government use
038>> for evaluation because 50% big number considering building construction? >> Well, the the value on the tax is about $3.5 million. However, to rebuild this, we just built a school at Timberwood and that was $24 million. So the government they they've told us they evaluate all of those criteria. >> So when they do valuation >> So when they do the valuation to determine whether or not it's 50% damage or more, they're going to go off stuff like Timberwood, >> they could they they told us again I'm not in their discussions, but they told us they would evaluate all those options. They did they have we do have a determination letter from Keith Keno our flood plane manager as to his damage evaluation. He uses the tax assessed value. The federal government sometimes uses that. Sometimes
039they use the replacement value. A lot depends on whether we can get flood insurance. I hate to go back to that but they are not going to give us money to repair this building unless we can get flood insurance. That is mandatory. That's federal law. We are in a floodway and that is mandatory. >> We have the flood insurance now. We do at $700,000. >> So because of the claim, they're wanting you to have a >> If they give us $4.5 million, we have to ensure it at that value. >> Okay, folks. Thank you all for coming out. We appreciate the the support. We got a great school here. Uh, by the way, the next Saturday there's another robotic competition. We would love to see you there. It's a great great thing. Okay, we're off.
040We still ready? >> Okay. front and center on the camera. >> It's at the >> I wanted to be >> You can babe. >> All right, we let the people that wanted to go home on the snowy night go home. But it's cold and snowy and still need to be ready for tomorrow. I'm pretty sure we're going to school tomorrow, right? pressure. Um, so with that, we'll get back into our regular meeting. Uh, we've uh we have no sus input tonight. So, we're ready for the superintendent remark. >> Yes, sir. President K. Uh, we have a student discipline hearing tomorrow at 9:00 in the central office conference room. Also, I put agendas there for the DOD ASA West Department of Ed professional development and their meeting on March 4 through 6 next week. I wanted
041you to see that. And also, we submitted the waiver for our snow days that we missed. And Mrs. Harrison, I put a copy of the chart that she put together and also Mercer County School, Mercy County Public Schools waiver. Mrs. Harrison was going to speak on that for a minute and explain what we put together and I think we submitted about 1:00 today. It came out today and the superintendent's update if you look at that. >> Um like Mr. Tman said, we did submit our uh waiver request today to the West Virginia Department of Ed. Um, in the application there were five days that we could request back and that was the week of January 26th. So January 26 through 30th were the only days that we could um request to wave. Out of those
042five days, only four of those were closed. One of them was a reimagine day. So that counted as as an instructional day. So the total number that we could ask to be waved is four. So, what we opted to do is to use those four days to get spring break back. So, um students and staff will have all five days of spring break. Uh the last day, we do have to add two days to the end because of two additional snow days today and then um one prior to that. So, the new last day for students is June 11th. It was June 9th. Is that assuming we don't have any more snow days? >> Correct. Assuming we don't have any more snow days. >> So if you want to go don't want to go any
043further into June, then you have the option to go back in and take like Friday and a Thursday from spring break. >> I would say that would be an option that would be we would have to discuss with the department a bit and then possibly pull the staff. >> I know you don't want to do that. You got some to the middle of June. >> Well, it's not going to snow anymore, so we're good. >> Mr. Bailey, I'll bring any update. I'll bring it to you guys also. >> Thank you. All right. Do we have any policy 2322 with presentation? >> All right. We'll move on to the approval of minutes of February 9, 2026. Is there a motion to approve? >> Is there a second? >> Second. >> There's a motion and a second.
044All in favor signify by saying I. I post likewise. That motion car in favor. [snorts] Using privilege of the chair and active discussions with other board members, we are going to u board member number 261 and 262. policy issues are going to be pushed aside tonight and put on a future uh agenda for further consideration. There's still more questions and we'd like to flesh them out. We bring it back for decision that board members. All right, let's look at the consent agenda. Board a memo number 280 is a fuel master upgrade transportation source well prerogative. The transportation supervisors requested pricing for an upgrade to FM live with existing fuel system transportation. This allows for enhanced security functionality and remote management for a unit cost of $14,28.35. Jimmy Harper Construction will do the installation for $1,857
045for a total cost of 15 88535. These purchases are being made directly from a vendor from a legitimate government purchasing cooperative. Superintendent recommends approval of the upgrade to FM Live to Field Systems for Transportation uh in the amount of 15,85.35. Board a memo number 281 is uh request by Concord University for placement of students in spring of 2026. Uh for classroom observations, the placements are contingent upon completion of the required forms. Acceptable background check and the university's naming site supervisor superintendent recommended approvement. Board land number 282 is placement of student university uh to complete school counseling internship in the spring 2026 semester at Blfield Primary School. Placements are contingent upon appropriate forms acceptable background check and university naming the site supervisor. Board memory number 283 is a request by our director of special education seeking
046authorization to purchase 20 licenses for unique learning systems. Two licenses for news to you and two licenses for healthy skills for everywhere for one year. Total cost is 18,8826 for one year and is purchased using special ed entitlement grant funds. Purchases made in compliance with the cooperative contract. Superintendent recommends approval of the purchase of these licenses in the in the sum of $61,43511. Board memo number 283, I'm sorry, 280. 283 is right. 284 is uh HBS contract number 355, Partstown. Child Nutrition Department is requesting approval for small purchases from Parkstown under cooperative contract 355 expenditures for 2425 or 34,32725. Superintendent recommends approval of the Smartwell purchases from Parkstown under that contract as funded by the child nutrition program. Board number 285 is a request from Princeton High School for pricing from BS in sporting sports
047under an Omnia contract for the purchase of new uniforms for the football team at total cost of $18,449. Superintendent recommends approval of the purchase of these uniforms for BSN in that amount and the football program will purchase the board. amendment of 286. It's sourceful gym floor refinishing and for 2026. This is a fairly ongoing project we do every year. Prices pricing from RM Huffman for summer gym floor refinishing at Athens, Bluefield High, Bluefield Middle, Bluefield Primary, Lancome High, Melrose Elementary, Mountain Valley, Oakfell Elementary, Princeton High, Glennwood, Lash Koka, and Princeton Middle. Total price for refinishing is 45,825. Uh Princeton Middle and Princeton High are scheduled for total sanding and refinishing are not included in this amount. Uh superant recommends approval of the floor refinishing to RF Huffman in the amount of 45,825. Excess levy funds
048are used in this project. Board number 287 is RFQ 867. 867 which is catering services for our banquetss. The four banquetss include service personnel of the year, top scholars, teacher of the year, and the retirement dinner. RFT was sent to four local vendors. One responded at David's downtown for 15,390 for all dinners. Superintendent recommends that award to David Downtown. This service is funded by nonations from local vendors and businesses. Board amendment number 288 is education master services agreement. Uh an agreement has been drafted between Merch County Schools special education department and ameritus healthcare staffing for the 26 27th school year. This will allow the district to secure supplemental staffing services for special ed decisions as needed, including speech language pathologist, behavior technician, registered behavior technician, board certified behavior analyst. Uh they're all build at different
049rates and they're built one and one half times regular hourly rate in accordance with the law. The rate will [snorts] increase annually by 3% upon renewal. Uh a marriage is responsible for recruiting, screening, credential verification, background checks and the like. Hospital based upon actual services utilized during the school year. Superintendent recommends approval of the education master services approvement marriages healthcare staffing for 2627 school year. Board member number 289 is a listing of student placements from Louisville State University in Mer County Schools for the 26th semester spring 26th semester to complete hours instead placement for contingent upon appropriate forms. background check and site supervisor being named. So recommend approval. Board member number 290 is full stu school student laptop refresh. Our director of technology is seeking authorization to have purchased 803 Lenovo student laptops for grades
0502, six, and nine. Uh this is the replacement on a 4-year cycle. Total cost replacement devices is 297, $11.97 using excess levy funds. Uh we're you we're purchasing these under a government contract. Uh superintendent recommends approval and has noted these fund this is being funded by excess levy. Board amendment number 291 is request by that same director of technology seeking authorization to upgrade networking switches fiber backbone outdoor wireless access points. U we're going to be upgrading all secondary schools to 10G fiber. uh upgrading all skills to wave 7 cloud-based stream wireless and replacing all necessary patch cables. The total cost of this project is 884,45021. We're utilizing a West Virginia State networking contract pricing and rate committed funding is $751,78272. This is an 85% discount rate uh for this approved project. So, we're going to
051pay the remainder if approved in the sum [snorts] of 132,66752 and the superintendent recommended approval of that expenditure for these upgrades. Board memo number 292 purchase playground equipment for Blue Intermediate. Uh purchasing department is requesting uh this purchase uh with game time uh care of Cunningham recreation for $40,33252. Bluefield Middle Intermediates playground equipment is 20 years old and employee replacement. Superintendent recommends the per approval of the purchase and installation of this equipment. The school is contributing $20,000 for the purchase. The remainder will be funded through the excess levy. Board amendment number 293 is payment invoices. Uh the checks been written are being held in the office of treasury pending consideration by school board checks to be written to the vendor of the appointment for school board approval or amendment number 294 is check register for
052the PRA transaction superintendent recommends approval. That is the last of the consent agenda. Any questions on the consent agenda? >> Yes sir. Number 280 the fuel master upgrade. This is for the pumps. >> Yes. >> So it just gives them punch in your number and it goes it's accounting and more secure. >> Right. We do have a system in place currently, >> but it is very outdated. We can't get reporting and it frequently does not work. But this is just replacing and upgrading that system. >> I have a question on that too. Is this something that we're going to have to have a license fee on or after we purchase this will it be a one month rent. >> Yeah. There there's no ongoing license with this one. It's it's purchased. It's ours. It's part
053of the problem. I think we did this before like 20ome years ago. So, we it doesn't get upgrades. So, we'll have to pay for upgrades. But, yeah, the the equipment's ours, the service is ours. >> How will they access it? Will it be a keypad bob or >> both? So, badge. So this one has badge swipe and has fob. So we we can require both. So the good thing about that is for a custodian getting getting fuel and with a different account things that there's there's accountability for that uh different than like transportation fuel. So a school that needed gas for the gas cans gives them the badge swipe and a and a fob swipe as well. >> And the biggest difference is accounting to keep up with. >> Absolutely. It's more granular. And yes,
054we and oftent times, as Leslie mentioned, this this one is so old, it's just queuing up the transactions. It's not even sometimes you can't report on it. So, it it's really I think it still uses a modem and some a phone line stretched across the >> And then last question, is this hardware from the ground up or is this just >> replacing at the pedestal? So, still aware that dispenses the the fuel >> 283 G purchase of web based software platform this is I guess for special what's it do >> um this is for our teachers who teach on the alternate assessment there's not a curriculum for them and so we buy this curriculum for them to use the state does not provide any curriculum or any instructional materials for those teachers and so this
055is their instructional material >> I didn't For what teachers? >> For our teachers who teach alternate assessment. >> Yes. So our SPMI moderate classrooms and some of our AU low functioning classrooms. >> Is it required that they assess? I should know that. >> Yes, it is. They are >> assessed. I can't remember. >> They've always been [laughter] Okay. Um 290, this is a great question. Um 800 of them. Is this kind of now we're Are we in the second generation or the second level of of replacements? Now >> we're Yeah. So So every year to stay on this cycle, we we purchase about this amount every year. >> About 800. >> Yeah. Well, So this is just part of the So we purchased the other oh gosh uh about that before with tools for schools.
056So it's kind of half and half. We're we're at 12 to300 a year I think give or take that keeps us on the refresh cycle. >> I'm sure you know but I got to ask how many devices do we have in the schools that you've put out there in school? >> [clears throat] >> iPads and everything in in excess of 12,000. >> Okay. Um 288 it's um education masters service agreement with Is this just an annual renewal kind of thing? >> This is a this is a new company and so right now we do speech services and they are virtual and so we're going away with any virtual speech services for next school year. We're going to try to And so this is a >> in person versus >> Yes sir. >> So we don't
057have any history to draw from >> just the fact that you all as practitioners know that you get more bang for your buck regardless what the buck is out of this in person. >> Correct. >> Uh Leslie the bank 15 grand for all of them. It says all, but you're going to do three banquetss for those numbers for >> four $15,000. >> Okay, Lesie, I'm a $5,391 education consulting team. >> So, we have an M3 grant that >> what >> we received a a grant for M3. It is a math training series. So that is that portion and then is also paying the grant for the mentoring for the treasur and we've received a grant from the state for that. So that's a combination >> $6,000 for Roger Robertson. >> Yes. He's an IT consultant.
058He's been helping automate all of our >> Okay. I remember Crystal Thompson. She doing the same thing. >> She was a wrote her a check for $7,800. >> She's a an speech therapist contracted. >> This is a good warm water investment. >> That is the lease for the pay for the adult learning center. That's who we payments to um over >> $50,000 best >> speech. speech therapist. >> Speech is our largest single expenditure right now >> other than child nutrition consultants. >> I'm done you know and I apologize but I just some of us came back state board state school board and first thing they did was throw at us fiduciary responsibilities. So you know I don't I hope you don't get upset asking these kind of questions, but anything sticks out even if it's
059$58, you know, I'm going to answer that kind Those four different >> No, no one else did. >> Right. What I'm saying was four or four names in there for none of them sounded like >> maybe or something. I don't know. >> I didn't write that. I will follow up on it. >> No, she's used a prior memo unfortunately and not updated that who she sent it to. >> Uh curious children want to know how long before they were made like >> they have connections but their connections can't do much. >> Will we next year >> probably so that we don't They can still use what they have. >> So, uh, any other questions on the consent agenda? All in favor signify by saying I. >> I post like carry four in favor. Under additional
060business, >> first reading of policy J19 memory number 295 was semester. >> [clears throat] >> the policy of resident student transfer. That's a current policy. I believe there's two changes. If you go down and look on your computer, one is instead of semester, it says after reasonable probational period. That's a change. Yeah, >> I believe that's it. >> Well, for K through five, there's a little bit of change and allow the principles a little more flexibility on accepting out of district. That only affects a couple of schools that have a high request rate, but it'll allow them more flexibility to accept students that otherwise may lose to other options. very close to that this year. So, we're trying to put in some more flexibility to help prevent that. >> But that'll go out for public
061comment and we'll see it back at a future meeting after the public comment. So, board member number 296 is social media and gaining cost recovery for school districts. There are certain mega companies that have reached enormous financial awards while we've been left to manage fallout uh and social, emotional, and developmental damage. uh Northwest work site marketing corporation role is to assist in access in employing this funding effectively process is free to the districts. The superintendent saw this at a WBASA conference and several state school districts have already applied. Uh superintendent recommends approval of M County school participate in this program. Is there a motion to approve? motion. You want to speak to a little bit? >> I don't know anything other than what was presented there that our president submitted that also brought up in
062our quadrants. They presented at our WASA meeting and Susan Collins our executive director shared that they cost the counties also discussing that there's possibility of$5 million that could be awarded to counties. Right. That's about all I have. Dr. Atkins was present at the meeting. The best news was you can't it can't cost you anything ever. You can only gain. So, >> did they mention what kind of percentage they take out of out of the recovery? >> They did, but I can't remember. It's fairly It was all the same. There's multiple groups that are, of course, lawyer groups that are working toward this, but it's all very similar. And it wasn't that high of an amount that they're going to get a portion, but this group was the one that presented and I think most of
063the districts are going to go with them and said, you know, it's a no cost to anyone unless there there is an order. >> Am I correct in assuming this is a lawsuit? >> Yes, sir. Class action. >> Am I correct that we've done this in other cases, drugs and so forth and we've never received >> as far as I know, but there's no cost involved. >> We can always not to do it. >> I wouldn't >> Yeah, we won't spend the money, >> right? >> Okay. So, there's a motion and a second further discussion. And on the motion, all in favor signify by saying I post likewise. Motion carries four in favor. That's the text item on the agenda personnel for amendment 297. Is there any desire to come executive session? Is there a
064motion? >> There a second. >> Motion and a second on the personnel. All in favor by saying >> I got a paper. Is there any change? >> Yes. On the second page, Mr. >> Yes. Then on the motion all by saying I post car in favor and none the last item on the agenda for discussion purposes beyond administrative update are two issues. The first one is the hopes. Currently, the law provides that schools, public schools can charge hope scholarship students for participation in sports. However, there seems to be a disconnect between what it actually would cost a student to participate in sport some sports and what the charges that we've proven in the past. So, it's It was brought to my attention by a parent who's facing that. Uh it was a soft student and
065the fee is almost $1,000. I don't think it cost schools $1,000 a student to do a stop. So we need to we need to figure out a way to make the cost more related to what it actually costs us. The point is not to make a profit. It's just to cover the cost that we incur when a student is involved and this brings forth. Uh suggestions. >> Yeah. >> They're aware if they they were I will say this. I know family they they homeschooled long before [clears throat] they they made a choice a long time ago to we've had a a long rich history in Mer County of strong homeschooling. It's not new to us. They've been in the hundreds for years and years and years. This isn't new. Um what is new is that
066the when you receive the whole scholarship there is an expectation that you'll pay for services that you might otherwise have got for free in public school. >> So um is there a suggestion on approach? We can't make a decision this even calculate a reasonable amount to release the Well, each is going to be different, but at the same time, we're not the first one to come up with this. >> So, why don't we reach out to the state or we speak to somebody and see if there's a formula that's being used or whatever, and I'm not picking on you, but I'm going to use your name. Leslie just didn't pull it out of the air to say, "Well, let's charge,000." >> We followed other counties. They're charging the funding and that the two counties that
067I checked multiple counties and only two had implemented the policy and we followed their policy. I will say that there is discussion that they must be reasonable program has a rule within themselves that says they must be reasonable but there's no direction that >> so what's reasonable is an approximation of what it calls >> I did ask the ad to approach me and he didn't respond so I'm not I don't really know. I approve some not everything to calculate that one >> because we have seven periods. So that's what you all voted on was just to continue if they take class. You all voted to >> it's the same when we passed this policy. It was the same but it would be per And it if you start thinking about sports, volleyball for example, that's
068that's not reasonable under the terms of the the statute says reasonable as well, not just the policy. So you're going down the road of potentially having to get into litigation and arguing instead of just fixing it. So we just need to fix it. That's the fair way to go about it. Just fix it. >> The problem is that I think some said it depends 100% on the sport. Some some things like where we have one of the biggest expenses I think of right off the bat is uniforms. Uniforms can be very expensive. Football's ridiculously time you do your helmet, your shoulder pads, reconditioning of helmets very expensive. Whereas $2,000. He said that sounds reasonable, but across country I probably do $35, >> but then you do have transportation cost. >> Would you like me to
069come up with reasonable estimates and bring those to you all? I I would I think we Miss Mitchell and the secretary people could get into it and get us something as quickly as we can because said springboards are upon us. Um and it would be good to have a it is going to be different for every sport. We our coach is different in every sport. So that's not a big that's not a big shock. It should be manageable. Uh certainly if if we're we do 17 for football then then you're going to get a deal. Uh but again cross country is a perfect example that >> I was cheerleading would be fairly expensive. Softball is kind of in between if you think about the purchase of balls talents field prep should be able to help.
070>> You're right but you also spread the cost of attendance and that's over an entire team >> possibly multiple seasons >> right. or transportation cost figured in that >> calculating would you include the cost of travel the cost of entry fee every $100 a portion of that >> more than just >> we're not kicking off we're just saying it's not what it's not what cost >> if you give them $35 I think you're >> No they're giving us 35 we only ask Okay. So, we'll turn that over to our assistant superintendent and I'm sure we'll come up with a good solution. Um, the second discussion item is block. We all received a pretty direct request about block. We call it blocking out because we were in the block for so long. No longer in the
071block. It's the same idea that is leaving school when you've met your obligations school for graduation purposes and you want to work or you want to go to college. [laughter] You don't want to do dual credit. You want to go to the campus and it just it it requires us to look at the policy and make changes if that's what we want to do. Get the bill in there since my board members uh just here that is something that we look at it and discuss. So I guess we just were asking the superintendent to go to the policy look at it come up with an operation that that is suitable and effective benefit students because we are things are different now in terms of the need for people to work but also you got students
072on campus that don't want to be there because they've got other things in mind that that that doesn't benefit them and it doesn't benefit You talk about breakout. >> Is that a procedure or is that a policy? I would assume >> should be an attendance. >> It should be part of the attendance exemption. I'll look on >> um and we do have a procedure that we follow right now for students who take college classes or who have a financial obligation in the family. They can go through the guidance counselor form that they complete. The counselor signs off on it. Then the principal they verification and either they're registering in classes or a W2 where they're working something to prove that they're doing it and then they send it to me for approval or denial and
073I've approved all that we've gotten this year have been very legit >> that's also part of option pathway >> did you change get the same letter that we did >> did they I'm sorry >> did you and get the same letter that we did >> I did not get the letter but I did see it but I'm the one spoke the mother on the phone. We talked a long time on the phone and that her concern. She expressed it said she couldn't come to a board meeting. She has young children that she wouldn't be able to reach out. Her child doesn't want to take classes but wants to work but they don't have the financial need for it. However, she's got the credit she needs to graduate next year with the exception of two classes.
074So, she's saying, you know, she doesn't fit any of those boxes right now that we check. that if we look at it and we you know make some changes then she would qualify to be able to >> yes >> she did a good job. >> Okay. So we just ask superintendent superintend come back to us. I think we're up to administrative think options for Sun Valley. test on Friday. It seemed contrary to some of the responses I had before. So I asked for some more information. The last time we spoke there were three options, but in Friday it seemed like I don't have any answer. So hopefull off high school last night on a section that we didn't we haven't redone in years. So, I'm meeting with Tech on Wednesday to not only secure the
075roof, but to get a quote on what is left on the roof since I've been in my position. >> Which section is >> the main section? >> Yeah. Well, that that >> but no, the main part of the building, the actual classroom. >> Wow. Okay. So, if there's nothing else then we want to thank M and Spanishburg for hosting us today. We really appreciate it. The love anytime I can sing country roads uh always pleasing and ukuleles and falls maybe even better. Uh we appreciated the community coming in and talking to us about what was going on. Uh so we want to thank everybody, appreciate the staff coming down, getting us all hooked up on the internet. We appreciate that. And with that, there any objection? Journ.