001Hey, Chris. Good afternoon everyone. Uh welcome to the Nicholas County Board of Education regular meeting Monday uh February 2nd. And at this time we'll call our meeting to order. Uh we'll stand for a moment of silent reflection. Thank you very much. Let's join the pledge. I pledge 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. >> Okay. At this time, I'll turn it over to Mr. Cochran. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Um item four on the agenda is you had a copy of the approved minutes from the meeting held on January 5th, 2026. Um we do have some recognitions tonight and I'll be the first to say anytime that we can get our students, parents, guardians,
002family members in front of us to celebrate great things that that makes my day. So we're going to start with recognizing the Nicholas County Spelling Bee Champion runner up and al alternate. So Dr. Lee, Samantha, you guys want to come forward. >> I'm Samantha Murphy and I'm the spelling be coordinator for Nicholas County. And this year was a little bit different um from the last what four or five years. >> It's been a while. Um, since COVID, we've had our spelling bees uh virtual. So, this was the very first spelling bee since CO that we've had actually in person. So, that was a little nerve-wracking for me because I had never coordinated an in-person spelling bee, but I think it went pretty well. Um, we have three um outstanding students that we want to recognize
003tonight. Um, and our champion and our runnerup will represent Nicholas County at the regional spelling bee. um in March March 14th at Fairmont State University. So um the first one I want to recognize is our alternate Emily Stewart is actually a student from um Summersville Elementary. And the next one that we want to uh recognize is our uh runner up and that's Emma Young from Summersville Middle School. And lastly, our champion um who is also a summer school middle school student and that is Christian Diaz. So, I don't think they're here, but let's get >> Thank you for all the work you did putting putting that together. It went well and um thankful. Thank you. Next, under recognitions, we do have we want to recognize our Nicholas County Science Fair first place winners. And I
004believe Jennifer is going to take the lead on this one. And Dr. Lee, I'm Jennifer Davis. I'm the Nicholas County Schools um science fair coordinator. So this evening, we're proud to celebrate the outstanding achievements of our students who participated in the 2026 science fair. Their projects are in first place honors at the county level, qualifying them to advance the regional science fair held on Saturday, January 24th at Eastern Environmental Projects from Brazil and Webster counties. We are thrilled to announce that three departure first place at the regional competition annual will events took the North Virginia State Science Fair on March 9th in Charleston. Tonight we honor honor to recognize these students for their exceptional research dedication and presentation skills demonstrated throughout the science. We will start with one grades three method shake their hands before
005they get up here. first off in animal science with the project PS Reese McKenny's and he also placed third at regionals medical science um dental dilemma and bucks she placed first at regionals And we'll be moving on to the state chemistry, the cookie chill with Emily Angus and Morgan Maloney, and they placed second at regionals. Enough. Make sure you picture and want your smile pretty and social sciences. We have the heart of music, Mackenzie, and she plays second at regionals. in earth and environmental science growing gummy bears. Hudson Mar Hudson Martin who placed first at regionals and will be attending the state science fair. Let's see. engineering had honorable mention at regionals. In material science, the one mighty town, Mason Bennett, Abigail Jarvis, and Montana overall pace placed second in regionals. Montana stand there. >>
006In physics and astronomy, the floating egg, Ava Sawyer, Emma Morris, and Aiden Aldridge, who also placed second at regionals. It's like a floating egg. Um, plant science, pumpkin jack, Adriana Slider, and Annie Stove. And now, division two in grades six through eight, annual animal science. Does color affect the taste? Riley Hamri and Avery Concade. Richardson and material science versus water with Jaden Hes, Dakota King, and Benjamin Lynch. And the last one we have is technology AC versus DC with Paxton Mullins and Blake Deox. They placed first at regionals and will attain the science fair of the state. Again, congratulations to all our winners who represented our county with fixes and comp. Thank you very much. >> Thank you guys for coming. >> Yes. Thank you. >> Have a great evening. Hey, I didn't see you
007back there. [laughter] Okay, we'll move on on the agenda. Um item six, we do have our first um required calendar, public hearing for school year 202627. Um I will walk through some of the guidance document as it relates to the school calendar for your all's information and for the public if anyone is here for that. Um just some highlights in the calendar calendar development. Um according to state code, we have worked here in the office and we've worked with all school administrators um to go through this guidance and we also walked through three to four sample calendars to uh to have some options for our staffs. Um, and as you see after we get through this, there's really not much leeway in the development of the school calendar because of the stipulations that's required in
008the rules that's required to be able to submit a school calendar. Um, so first and foremost, it is a statutory reference in West Virginia code 1812. Um, that defines the it cannot start before the first day of July and end on the 30th day of June. defines the school the school fiscal year. Um the due date for submission the due date for submission of next year's calendar is Friday May 1st 2026. It takes the state department usually about a twoe turn turnaround to receive that and and provide either approval or um alterations that have to be completed after that point. As I mentioned, it is a requirement to hold two public hearings um for interested parties to discuss the school calendar. Um this is our first of those two and that is also require is
009a requirement to publish a legal two uh class 2 legal advertisement in accordance with code 5932 which we did. Um it ran for two has to run for two consecutive weeks in the local paper to give individuals an opportunity to uh to provide input. Um something that is pretty interesting and and graduation dates is a requirement for submission as part of the school calendar. Graduation dates cannot cannot take place without a minimum of 175 instructional days. So, what that means is graduation cannot occur um no more than 5 days prior to the end of the last instructional day of the school year. Again, it's requirement to have 180 days of instruction. It's a requirement to have uh 20 non-instructional days built into that calendar. It specifies um the specific days that are set aside in
010observance of legal holidays in this school calendar. That would entail July 4th, 2026, Independence Day, Labor Day on September 7th, Veterans Day on November 11th, Thanksgiving Day on November 26th, Christmas Day on December 25th, New Year's Day on January 1st, Martin Luther King birthday on January 18th, Memorial Day on December or May 31st and West Virginia Day on June 20th are the are the observed holidays in this coming school year uh school year calendar. Um, you do we do have the ability to build in up to five professional learning days for our staff, which we we we we did that this school year and we'll continue to do that. It gives a chance for us to provide professional development to our staff and it also meets the requirement of of um being identified as an
011instructional day. So, it counts towards the 180 days of instruction, those five professional learning days. Um it's a requirement to have six OS days which are out of school days. Um and those days are built into the 200 day employee calendar and those can also be utilized to make up um days missed of full instruction due to inclement weather. Faculty senate meetings are a requirement. um those have to be built in and be compliant before you can submit. The online process now um is very user friendly and if all of the rules are not met, it will not let you finalize a calendar or even think about submitting until all of those rules have been checked off and met. The faculty senates are pretty prescribed. Um, in addition to the opening and closing of school,
012faculty senate meetings can be held during the months of October, December, February, April for a total of six two-hour meetings. They can be combined with other meetings such as professional learning days. So, professional learning could take place for the first part of the day and set aside faculty senate for that last two hours of the day or the beginning two hours of the day, whichever is preferred. Um, one thing that we have discussed, we discussed at length with our administrators when we met last week, week before last. Um, it is pretty ideal for especially for secondary schools to try to complete the first semester prior to Christmas break just for the fact that it aligns better with our institutions of higher ed that we're working with for our dual credit courses. Um, and and to
013and to ensure that that happens, the first semester cannot end until after the 82nd day of instruction. So that means you have to have 83 at least 83 days of instruction prior to Christmas break if you want that first semester to end prior to Christmas. So that really narrows down your starting time. Um you can't start too late in August. If you do, then you're not going to get that 80 those 82 days of instruction in. So, what we worked with our administrators is to try to come up with three or four options, basically moving sliding that start date for our staff and the initial um the initial first day of instruction for our students, but still being able to accomplish the goal of getting that first semester in prior to Christmas break. Um, and
014some example, I can share some of the examples that we have right now. Um, again, are not set in stone, but these are just draft forms. We looked at the possibility of staff starting anywhere from the um the August 7th date. We looked at one with staff starting the August 10th date. We looked at one starting staff starting the August 11th date and variations of including three three curriculum development days at the beginning for our staff. One version had four prep prep for a prep for um opening and three curriculum development days. So that was a total of four on that option. So you're you're limit you're limited on what really your options are. Um and I think that sometimes is is not known to our public. And um you know we can't start the
015end of August and still accomplish what we need to accomplish by having first semester completed before Christmas break and getting out, you know, way before end of June. Um so those are our options. We're we'll continue to tweak these. We'll bring them back at the next public hearing as well. And hopefully at the next public hearing after we uh receive any other input that we have, we can we can come up with a version that uh that we can submit for the state for approval. Questions as it relates to the development of the school calendar? >> I was just going to comment. I used to serve on that committee and uh not as easy as people think. No, not when >> you can't make everybody >> the regul the regulations basically drive the the development
016of the calendar. >> Any other questions? >> Okay. Um item seven, I have a couple updates under my information. One, I'd like to start with another recognition. Um again, anytime that we can recognize our staff or our students for their hard work and their achievements, I like to do that. Um, tonight I want to draw our attention to the recognition of our of our school counselors in Nicholas County. Um, February 2nd to February 6th has been set aside as as National School Counselor Week. So, we want to celebrate that and celebrate the hard work that they do. Um, Mr. Williams is going to help help with this. Um, but before we get into that, I do have a proclamation here I would like to read just just again to when I think of school counselor,
017I think of the words. I think of adjectives like um trustworthy, guidance, student centered, positive relationships, um focus on students career development, um empathetic, encouraging, all of those make up the the work that our school counselors do. Um, so with a proclamation, I'll just read the proclamation. I'll read it real quick. It just says, "Whereas school counselors are employed in public and private schools to help students reach their full potential. And whereas school counselors are actively committed to helping students explore their abilities, strengths, interests, and talents as these traits relate to career awareness and development. And whereas school counselors help families focus on ways to further the academic, career, social, emotional development of their children. And whereas school counselors work with teachers and other educators to help students explore their potential and set realistic goals
018for themselves. And whereas school counselors seek to identify and utilize community resources that can enhance and complement comprehensive school counseling programs and help students become productive members of society. And whereas comprehensive school counseling programs are considered an integral part of the educational process that enables all students to achieve success in school. Therefore, I, Scott Cochran, superintendent of Nicholas County Schools, do hereby com proclaim February 2nd to 6, 2026 as National School Counselors Week. Let's give them all a round of applause. >> Think Mr. Williams, our director of student services, has uh something to add to that. >> Yes. Thank you, >> President Board members, Mr. Superintendent, I do thank you for your time in recognizing school counselors. As Mr. Cochran said, this is National School Counseling Week. And motto for this is school counselors amplify
019student success. And so when you start looking at a school counselor, they play an important role in shaping the lives of students. They guide students not only in academics but also in personal, social and emotional development. Counselors. School counselors listen to students concerns, helps them handle stress, build confidence, and make positive choices. School counselors also support students in setting goals, planning careers, and discovering strengths and interests. They work closely with teachers and parents to ensure students feel safe, supported, and understood. When students face challenges such as anxiety, bullying, fear, learning difficulties, the school counselor provides guidance and encouragement. In short, a school counselor is a trusted guide, a caring listener, and a source of motivation who helps students grow into responsible, confident, and successful individuals. I must say that I think we can all remember
020our school counselors in school and a vital part of how and what they did within the school environment. So again, thank you uh to the school counselors. I do uh believe Nicholas County has some of the strongest and most encouraging school counselors, not only in the state, but in the nation. And so for that, we have eight school counselors throughout the county. There's a few that were unable to be here tonight, but I do want to recognize them. And it's uh certificates of appreciation. for service and contributions to the school counseling program. I'll first recognize those that aren't with us this evening. So, uh, Shasta Williams is a school counselor at Richwood Middle School and Sherry River Elementary School does a fantastic job there. Amber Lemon is a school counselor at Panther Creek Elementary School,
021Dolly River Elementary School, and Zela Elementary School. And she does a lot for not only those schools, but she has been very helpful with the county and in helping Mr. Cochran and I with the new Senate Bill 199. Sunday Castow is a school counselor at Richwood High School and she again is an integral part of the school counseling program and the administrative program at Richwood High School. The last one that's not here this evening is Donna Dver. She has been a school counselor for a number of years at Summersville Elementary School and this year she took on Mount Neo Elementary School and Birch River Elementary School. And so we thank her for her endeavors. Those that are with us this evening, uh again I want to recognize first Mrs. Esther Dorsy who is the freshman
022sophomore counselor at Nicholas County High School. Thank you so much for all that you all do. >> Thank you. like that. I work very closely with all these school counselors almost on a daily basis during these times. Next is Mrs. Lisa Knight. She is the junior senior counselor at Nicholas County High School. And again, we work mostly daily. Thank you. Next is the school counselors from Summersville Middle School and awarded uh certificate of appreciation to Stephanie Westfall for your service and contributions to the school counseling programs at Summersville Middle School, Mount Lookout Elementary, school and Glade Creek Elementary School. Thank you, Stephanie. Actually, Stephanie and I started working together in the early 90s. Uh, Michael. [laughter] >> Uh, and last, but certainly not least, Mr. Greg Groves is the school counselor at Summersville Middle School.
023>> Thank you. >> Really appreciate one picture. >> Thank you. Wow, we're on a good Thank you. >> Mr. Williams, thank you for your help. Greatly appreciated. Um, next on the agenda, we have the consent agenda, which includes the payment of the current invoices, and those have the approved WVD dates by them, and also the approved treasures report, which I believe you have a copy of. Um there were three outofstate re or I'm sorry four out of state travel requests which all have been approved. Those approval dates are reflected on those requests as well. Questions as it relates to the consent agenda items one, two, and three. >> I I kind of I was going to ask Kristen this. Um noticed there was an account that was closed that was moved into the general fund.
024>> A little bit of money left in our trous account. remember we put that out for bid. >> Okay. >> In the spring, I guess. And so we waited till all the paychecks cleared. >> I wondered. Okay. I wondered what that was. Thank you. >> I had a couple of questions with my um let me see it here. Please uh does the theme of balance that we show include the uh athletic fields at the blade? That contract hasn't been put out yet. >> Just the work that has already been done. Yes. But >> actually the fields, sharping the fields, whatever the need >> Mr. by image. >> Yeah. Mr. Campbell estimated about this time last year that there would be probably 10 million in FEMA funds left extra, but we're showing a lot more than
025that. >> Yeah, we don't have there are several things on there that haven't been put out for bid yet, including the fields and including I think low voltage links. There are several things that we know are going to be included in the construction, god forbid, yet. So, they're not included in the expense or the amount encumbered yet. So, that amount that it looks like we have left for FEMA is actually I mean, we know things are coming out of that that haven't been reported yet. So, it's we're not going to have >> also noticed that a year ago that was estimated at 7.4 million for those fields. Now, of course, it's going to be considerably more. So, when are those bids going to go out? Uh he estimated that that time that the bids would
026go out within 6 months. >> Yeah, that those discussions have not even taken place yet. The meeting between ZMM and the county has not uh taken place. They're working to get that set up in the near future. >> And the state will take care of that. >> Yeah. >> We won't have anything in it. Well, and I I'm assuming that if if we don't have enough money, you know, they'll that they'll cut they'll cut wherever they need to. >> Yeah, we'll look at options. Okay. >> We'll look at options. >> Couple of things on the checks. I just I I need things explained cuz uh I'm no CPA obviously. I'll be fine. page numbers just don't correspond with the page numbers on what we were given. Uh, okay. Check number uh 5079. And could you
027speak up for the hearing impaired? [laughter] Just wonder what the Menard Incorporated. >> I would I have a guess what that is, but go ahead. >> Oh, okay. Um, is that a pretty big amount of money? >> Yes. >> Yeah. 23,000. >> That was that was for that was for Mr. Bis's um swings, West Virginia swings. Yes. And when um when he has big things that he knows he's going to purchase, he gets he puts those out. He gets quotes from all the companies and goes with the lowest price. >> Save saves the money. >> Yeah, he's very good about that. >> Okay. 5093 U $12,500 for rooms at the Hilton and Nashville. >> That was a that was the combination of the out of state that had already been approved. Um I think Dr.
028Lee, no Tom. It was Tom. That was a CTE group that went to um a conference in Nashville. >> You got to tell me these things, Tom. Um, Southern Educational Services 47,000 December 2025. That doesn't mean one month, does it? >> What check number are you looking? Oh. Uh, check number 48244. No, I'm sorry. The check number is 1 0 0 1 0002. It's under bank United Bank. that page. Uh well, >> that would be for >> all list of page one. >> That would be for a computer tech >> probably computer tech reimbursement. >> Yeah. >> Or positions. >> I didn't know those numbers. >> Yeah. Yeah. That's um tech reimbursement. So that would be um it might it's probably for a period longer than that. Um I don't think that they bill us
029necessarily every month for that, but we have um three computer techs that um we contract with the SCSC for and so we repay them. We just reimburse the cost of of those text salary and fix charges. >> Yeah, we only see that a couple times a year, right? It's is it >> three times did you say four? >> No, I'm not sure specifically how many times, but I don't think that they invoice us every month for that, but I can look at what that time period is if you want me to. Okay. No, no, no, that's fine. Thank you. Yes, that's all. >> Thank you, Kristen. >> Thank you. >> Any other questions as it relates to the consent? Hearing none, we'll move on. Um item 11 is personnel. As you can see under the
030these are again have all been pre-approved with the WDD approval date and the effective date. one leave of absence request for professional. I'm sorry, two um you did have one submission of a retirement request. Um effective 63026. >> I'm sorry. Excuse me. I did have one more question. May I? >> Uh you have one marked sheriff security ball game. Is is that in ourou memoranding of understanding uh with the sheriff's department to cover that or is that additional we have to pay or >> there's an additional cost if the officers won't pay for that out of their athletic life. >> So they're not covered to come to any ball games. >> No. No. our our federal with them for pro officers doesn't cover them coming >> used to be paid for those too. >> Um
031the schools pay for that out of their either their athletic money their facility I'm sorry their levy athletic or levy admissions money or they pay for that out of their school money that they have um generated from the athletics >> and they have to request an officer if they want one and then pay the officer out of school funds. Is that correct? >> Yes. >> Could be levy funds or >> and and they used to use private security instead of officers, but that was years back. >> Well, the reason I ask that is because I've had some people that are concerned about the uh the way people behave at some of these ball games and not the children, but the parents. I mean, it's it's unbelievable some of the things that go on. You may
032hear about it. I don't know. But I'm sure somebody will want to do that eventually to maintain control. Some of these ball games up there, the the adults is terrible. Pussing, hollering at these kids and everything. They throw one out up there. They're not. >> I agree. Now there's something that's done but any other questions. Uh moving on the employment of professional personnel we have two um and those affected are 121 beginning both of those. Those are two substitute teachers. We have one service request for leave of absence for an employee. We have one retirement request for service employee. Effective date of 6:30. We have one resignation request of a service um employee, Mr. Paul Williams, bus operator with effective date of 1231. We have one transfer. Mr. Miller will be transferring from custodian 3
033at Summersville Elementary to bus operator 144. Again, effective date 121. Employment of service personnel which includes uh bus operator, substitute bus operator, substitute cooks, substitute secretary, substitute clerks, substitute aids um and custodian 3 have all been approved with the uh effective dates 121 and the last one on 22. We had one uh resignation request extracurricular contract. Mrs. Deon, assistant cross country coach at Summersville Middle School. Effective date of 1 nine. Three employments for extracurricular contracts. Um head softball coach Mrs. Schaefer Nicholas County High School. Head volleyball coach Nicholas County High School Mrs. Miles. And head track coach at Summersville Middle School Mrs. Le. Effective dates 116 116 and 127 respectively. We have one volunteer for extracurricular, Mr. Weber, volunteer girls basketball coach at Richwood High School. Effective date 121. Um, and to bring to your
034all's attention for the board members, the um the the next meeting in March, which was regularly scheduled March 9th, has been moved to March 16th. This is to allow um Kristen and her staff an additional time to work on the assessed values and also work on the levy rates which we will bring to you. And then um at that meeting um we will conduct regular business as well as those and then that meeting will stand adjourned in recess until April the in code the third Tuesday in April which is April 21st. So we will make that adjustment as well on the notices to the public. Any further questions for me? >> So, the only meetings we're going to have is those two meetings. The one that we >> the the March 16th meeting >> and
035then >> April 20 will be recessed till April 21st. If we do have to call a special meeting, we will if we have personnel hearings or as we get into personnel. >> Speaking of personnel, um have y'all remind I'm sure you have. Did you remind them about the early incentive for retirement? Okay. >> Yep. Multiple times. >> Okay. >> What's What is this? April. I'm sorry. I missed something. >> The uh the March 16th meeting by code will stand in recess until the third Tuesday in April. >> Oh yeah. >> And which at that point we will approve the levy rates. And I can touch base with you guys at the next meeting to see what time works for you guys on that April 21st because that'll probably be the only item for on the
036agenda that day is to approve the levy rates. And that's all I have, Mr. President. >> All right. Thank you, sir. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? >> Green makes a motion to adjurnn. Seconded by >> Oh, second by Mr. Seabolt. All in favor? I motion unanimous at 4:42. Got that