001Good evening everyone. We'd like to welcome you to the Nicholas County Board of Education regular meeting Monday, April 7th, 2025. At this time, please stand for a moment of silent reflection. Thank you. Please join the board with the pledge. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. All right. Next, we have the approval of the agenda. Any I don't think anything needs to be adjusted. Okay. Number 5A, we have student representatives from Richwood High School. Uh it's Chloe Odell and Abby Childers. Come on up, ladies. Spring sports are in full swing. Baseball and softball have had several games and our track team has held their season opener meet at Dean Memorial Field
002on Friday, March 28th. Juniors will be taking the SAT test tomorrow. They have been preparing over the last several months. We want to wish them all good luck. Miss Mullins took her race crew to the capital last week for tobaccof free day. They met several students from different crews across the state and learned valuable information. The ISL window is currently open and the majority of RHS students have completed or are almost complete. Way to go. RHS National Honor Society members line March 20th and they really enjoy giving back to the community. The Lumberjack Express will be traveling to Charlotte Motor Speedway, Carowinds, and Dollywood after spring break. We wish them safe travels. We would like to congratulate our school recipients for service personnel of the year, Jana Davis, and teacher of the year, Chad Hawk.
003Both make a great place to be. Thank you. Number six, uh, recognition of the Mathfield Day students, uh, that went to regional 6 through 12. Okay, that's just one Okay, we are here this evening to celebrate the accomplishments of some stellar math athletes. Senior high competition was held on Saturday, March 8th. We had a full team this year. To make the competition team, we had to call in se several alternates. Every one of our students represented our county well. We came home with the team trophy by beating out Pocahontas County by nine points. Hand that to you. Um we had three students place in the top 10 of the top 10 regionals and are eligible to represent at state competition. State competition will be held at West Virginia State University on Saturday, April 12th, 2015
004with the following students come up and line up up front to be recognized. Braden McFersonson, first place county and third place at regionals. Haley Johnson, fourth place county and fifth place at regionals. Owen Groves, eighth place at county and highest scoring sophomore and 10th place at regionals. Congratulations to all the winners for your hard work and dedication. Good job, guys. Sarah's going to take them. Thank you guys. We got We have more. Yes, we have grades four through nine. Good job. The grade four through nine competition was held on March 21st at Adventures on the Gorge. All our students that place in the top tiers of the county competition were able to attend. Nicholas County represented very well in the competition. We have three students that are eligible to attend state competition on April 12th
005at con Oh, sorry. Try again. on April, yeah, April 12th at um West Virginia State and three that are on the alternative list. Nicholas County team Nicholas County was team winner for sixth grade. Along with their certificate, each student is receiving a certificate for a Timber Adventure Park pass at Adventures on the Gorge Compliments of Adventures on the Gorge. Would the following students come up and line up front to be recognized? Um, sixth grade, Emma Young, first place at county and first place at regionals. She's here. Um, sixth grade, Jaden Pontier is second place at county and second place at regionals. Grayson Kits, third place county and first alternate regionals. Seventh grade, we have Adeline Eper, second place county and sec second at alternate regionals. And this young lady had to leave Mathfield Day. She
006did double duty that day. She mfield day and then left and went to band competition that afternoon. So very, very accomplished young lady. Ninth grade, we have Susan Gilman, first place county and first place regionals. and Phoebe Grace is second place county and second alternate regionals. Congratulations to all winners. You represented our county very well. Yes, please. Okay. Next, approve the minutes of the meetings held on March 3rd, March 17th, and March 27th. Do we have any corrections on any of those minutes? We have a motion to accept the minutes as presented. I so move Mr. Moose makes a motion. Seconded by second by Mr. Green. All in favor? I opposed. Motion unanimous. Next, superintendent's information updates. Mr. Bean. Uh, first of all, I passed out to all the board members a copy of a
007policy that Webster County is currently using. As you all know, we've had a lot of students gotten into some trouble with vapes at schools. Some are um THC vapes, which which have led to expulsions of some students. And we found out there's a lot of counties that's fighting the same battle that we are. And uh we heard that Webster County had a pretty good policy. It's been fairly successful and so I just want to give you all a copy of this. There's no action on this at this time. Just something for you to look over as we head towards next school year. If you want to make any kind of changes to the way we handle the vapes in our school, I thought this is something you all could look over and let me know
008what your thoughts of it are. Um the next thing is um as I've been talking about for about the last month, we did uh submit a waiver to the state department of education uh to try to get some of these days waved that we have to make up because of all the snow that we had and plus there was two days that that then Governor Justice had called school off because of or he declare declared a state of emergency. So we couldn't very well have buses on the on the highways at that time. They told us we probably had to make up those days, but the winter's been pretty severe. We missed a lot of school. We missed 17 days of school. So, counties were given the option of being able to apply for a
009waiver on some days. So, we did apply for the two days that the the governor um labeled as a state of emergency days to get those given back to us. Uh we've not heard back from them yet. Those applications had to be in from all the counties by March the 27th. We did submit ours. I did double check to make sure they had gotten our waiver request and they they have, but they have not made a decision on that yet. Um I'm not real confident that they will grant those two days. But in the event that they do, we'd simply move everything back two days and kids would would get out of school two days earlier, teach out of days two days earlier, preschool two days earlier. It would everything would fall. But graduation days
010don't change. they stay exactly where they are regardless of that decision. So that's where we are on those and the minute I get that information back I'll make the board and the employees aware. Um the next thing is um we're going to need it's later in the agenda. We would like to have a work session on April the 21st at 3:00. Uh Kristen needs to go through the budget with the board members just hit some highlights. It's not going to be completely ready by then, but we need to do a little budget review and also an update on our two construction projects and where we are. Board's got to make some decisions fairly soon on certain aspects to the um the uh construction projects we have going on. Um the the next thing we have
011is um we have our service employee of the year and teacher of the year nominees have been selected. Those uh individuals will be invited to our next board meeting on April the 21st at which time we'll announce the service employee of the year and the teacher of the year. The nominees are as follows. Her service employee is Deanna Chapman, Summersville Elementary School. Joan Beam, Somersville Middle School. Justin Bird, Golly River Elementary. Janet Davis, Richwood High School. Stephanie Frame, Nicholas County High School. Joyce Alexander, Panther Creek Elementary School. Tracy Atkins, Richwood Middle School. Cassandra Thomas, uh, Cherry River Elementary. Debbie Latron, Mount Nebo, Angela Brown, Zela, Jerry Tony, Mount Lookout, Taylor Bradford, Glade Creek, Angie Knight, the Career Center, and Alison Moore, Birch River. The teacher of the year nominees are as follows. Christina Widensaw, Summersville
012Elementary, Junior Tyrie, Summersville Middle, Jennifer Altiser, Dolly River. Chad Hall, Richwood High School. Katie Pix County High School. Nikki Swagger, uh, Panther Creek Elementary School. De Hire, Richwood Middle School. Maressa Lauther, uh, Cherry River. Lou Y, Mount Nebo. Courtney Wood, Zela. Candace Key, Mount Lookout. Amanda Clark, Glade Creek. Kim McFerson, Beer Center. and Lisa Brady Bert River. And the last thing I have is as it was announced at the last board meeting, I think it was the last board meeting. Um obviously there was been some issues going on at Summersville Middle School with some accusations made to uh some students there or student there and uh we did have an investigator come in from actually he's from Huntington and he completed his uh investigation last week. He told me it would take him 10 days
013to two years to get the report ready for us. But he is willing to come back and give the board a report on his findings. So I'm not sure when that'll be, but I'm hope hopefully by the 21st of April, but possibly not until May 5th. So his name was uh Charles Kryy, not related to the former superintendent that was here. I asked him that very question. and he's from Huntington. But um I I'm hoping that he did a very thorough investigation and gets all the answers that we we asked for. So anyway, but that's all I have this time. Okay, Mr. Kim, do we have any delegation? Oh, I'm sorry. I got something else. Oh, yeah. Shane. Yeah. Well, I got and before I get to Shane, I've asked Sarah Lee and Chris Hansshaw
014to do a a quick quick little update on some things we're looking at for our continuing education for next year. So Sarah, you would come first. I appreciate it. And then Shane. Yeah. And then Shane, when you came in, hopefully you found this nice little color flyer. recollect back to last November, we had um internet safety expert Jeffrey Weinberger come do presentation with our students, do a presentation with our families. Um at our January parent advisory committee meeting, which is comprised of parents from all across the county, um I shared with them the public report of the data that Jesse had collected. So, at our quarterly meeting, which is this month, at the end of the month on the 30th, um she's going to be uh joining us via Teams and answering the questions of
015now what, you know, we've looked at our data, we know what we're doing, what guidance does she have, and um we're asking that people pre-register so we have some idea of how many have seen her and how many have not. And on that pre-registration, there's also a specific place for them to ask questions. So any questions that they have that they'd like her to address, she's going to take those questions when she um develops what she's going to be speaking on. But if you're around, go to any of our elementary schools, feel free to join us. We'll learn some more, continue our learning. Sure. Yeah. effort to help our parents and maybe um us to understand a little bit better. um FBI special agent Genevieve and I'll probably butcher her last name and I apologize
016but I think it's BK u at a at a meeting that we had at the uh conference center and I've reached out to ask her to come and have a talk with uh maybe if we could get her talk to parents or even speak at a board meeting on things to check for things to watch out for because she does a lot of the investigations through the FBI for missing and exploited children. So, because I think that's kind of was the missing part after the last meeting was, you know, we're scared and we know our kids are vulnerable, but how do we prevent it? How what do we do about it now? So, we need those steps and I'm hoping that maybe she can help us with that. So, that's one of the things that
017I would like I'm trying to see if I can get her to come up here. So, I've got a call in to her. Thank you. Uh, now Shane Bog with the Richmond City Police Department. Thanks for giving me a minute of your time. As you all know, I'm Shane Bogs and the reason I wanted to meet with you guys today is we'd like to take over providing pro officers for Richwood High School and Middle School when it opens next year. And I know there's always some hesitation about the reputation of the Ritual PD and unfortunately we earned that over the years, but it's not the same department that it used to be. Uh myself and Chief Pittz are both FBI leadup trilogy award winners for leadership, which means we went all the way to the
018executive level level of leadership and we dramatically changed how the department operates. We now have two officers that last year were certified as FBI crisis negotiators. We also have an officer on staff who is an instructor in CIT which is confer confrontation uh avoidance and deescalation. So not only do we train all of our officers in it, the one benefit he also added a section that addresses dealing with individuals with autism. So that's something that we can provide now as well. Uh we have an officer currently in South Carolina taking homeland security training for tactical events right now. I myself I go to Flexie for tactical training. That's the federal law enforcement training center. Uh next month I'm also already enrolled in the pro school hoping that we will get this opportunity. Right now eachwood
019officer is exceeding the standards of training that West Virginia left put out by more than five times. Almost all of our officers have at a minimum a bachelor's degree. Um, some of us have advanced degrees and others are working towards that right now. Um, so I feel like we are more than prepared to be able to provide the pro officers and the safety of the schools in Richwood. Uh, if you all have any questions, I'd be happy to address them right now. We're just happy that you're interested in doing this for us. We would love to. Yeah. uh we think it's a great opportunity to be a part of the school. We try to interact with the students as much as we can right now. Uh one of the other things that we'll be able
020to help as you all talk about some of the vape issues and drug issues in the schools is we've added K9 Froolo to our department. 1% of canines in the United States are Supreme Court certified. He's actually one of them and he's a multi-purpose dog. Uh the ability of being a small department that most departments don't have is not only will we have the pro officer uh but multiple officers will probably be able to stop in throughout the day and actually walk through including the K9 unit around vehicles and lockers as you guys see fit. So happy to answer anything but I think we're more than prepared at this point. Now would you be able to provide pro officer all day long all day while the students are there? My understand that's what the contract
021calls for and we will provide that. That's the reason I'm considering going to pro officer school myself. That way if an officer does have to miss, we'll actually be able to have an alternate step in that has the same train and continue providing the safety at the school. Okay, that's the questions I have out of the page you are. And this we're just looking at all the options. You know, our our county um sheriff's departments stretched thin and it it's really I know it's they've reached out to us. We're talking so um right of course and right now we have a good relationship with the other agencies like any other department some included limited jurisdiction will be able to work with the other agencies to do investigation with banks as we see fit. Okay. Thanks
022Shane. Thank you guys. Okay. That's all yours now? Yes. I'm I'm finished. So, uh, Miss Kim, do we have any delegations? Thank you. Number nine, action items. Discussion with possible action on approving Kristen Eckle as the board treasur per code 18-9-6. Any discussion on that? I believe we do this each year. It's not because Kristen had any problem. It's just it's just a You have to reor she's not a problem or Well, she call us problem. Okay. Um so we'll move on to action item B, discussion with possible action on approving the social studies curriculum adoption. And for elementary K5, it's teacher creative material uh materials. Uh, middle school 68 National Geographic. Um, high school National Geographic. So, any questions for Dr. Lee on that? Who all served on that committee? Uh, I mean just
023from each school or or all social stuff. But sometimes we had people representing two schools at least at the elementary level because the list that the state had pre-approved for elementary was very small. Now middle or middle and high I believe she had some from every school in every content. Correct. But they all had input at the elementary level to the representatives. Like I said, the choices were small for elementary. Great. Thank you. Okay. So, any other discussion on those two action items? If not, do we have a motion to approve action item A and action item B? Make a motion. Mr. Barry makes a motion. Do we have a second? Second. Second by Mr. Moose. My voice. Second by Mr. Moose. All in favor? I opposed. Motion unanimous. Consent items. Finance. Payment of current
024invoices have been in your packet. How how many schools do we keep with propane? Kristen, do you know? I do not know that, Kelly. Do you happen to know that? There is Mike there. I just propane. Um, as far as I know only Mal I believe Mat is and Zela is electric. The only one other one I would question is Birch River. I think it's Nashville. So Kristen here was for Zila and Mount Evo. Yeah. Um looks like two invoices for Mount Nebo and one for Zila. So perhaps one of those that probably is a month for Mount Nebo, a month for Zila, and then maybe she had to do a second month. The last one got paid. Yeah, probably the next one got paid early. how how much it cost to hit. Um, looks
025like the one of the Mountain Nebo bills was $967 and the other one was um 1,227 and the Zilo was $2,523 of that total. That's uh last month, right? Okay. Um, yeah, she Well, she has a note here that says propane. Like I said, that's not mebo. That looks like that would be two months. Um, so Mr. Beam told me that we got our FEMA money reimbursed, right? Yes. So, we had to go ahead and release um, well, we chose to go ahead and release the check instruction before we got reimbursement because they had been waiting a long time for their their payment. So, we went ahead and did that knowing that the payment would come in, but there just there were some hang-ups. Um, I'm not sure whe really whether at the federal or
026the state level, but um that was Thursday we released that check and then Friday we got notification that um our reimbursement of that is coming through. So, we don't have it yet, but it's in the works. But city was close to pulling out right and stopped construction. So, u glad you took care of that. Yeah. Rather than to let that happen. We don't need stops. I mean, it is it's a lot of money. We're getting to the point now where those monthly bills for those construction companies are substant. So, that's generally how we do it. But this time, we made an exception to keep things going. Anything else on payment of current invoices? like you'll see there's another payment in here for city construction and so that's one that we will hold until we get
027the reimbursement unless something else like this happens but I think that they think they worked out their kink. I think there was maybe some new um new faces in the state or federal approval processes that we have to go through. So maybe there were some couple little glitches there, but I think think we're okay now. Hopefully. Okay, contracts. Um we have first contract is with ZMM and it's actually an amendment to the contract that we already have with them and that is for commissioning services at the Glade Creek property. Um if you will look at that, it's in bold on the second page. It's $159,000 that wasn't in our original contract with CMM. And you'll also see an email that I put in here from Dave that says that that that commissioning agent checks and
028confirms the HVAC system that will be installed at the Gl Creek site. Um, and they had already put in their contract the one that would be responsible for doing that on the Richwood side. Um, it's a requirement from the West Virginia State Department of Education that those services be performed on every project. So that's just an additional amount then that we'll be paying ZMM and then they'll turn around and pay that um she sir Buckley Mayfield. Next we have two contracts with the Summersville Arena and Conference Center. one for Nicholas County High School prom and one for Nicholas County High School graduation. The prom one I believe there are two different proposal A and a proposal Based on how many people are attending. But actually, um, if there are no questions on those, the next
029one that I have is M3T, which if you have questions about that one, we might get um Amy to answer those. Um we're going to use educational consulting team to be um the math trainer for that. And um do you have anything to say about that or explain what that is? Basically, M3 is a network collaborative of statewide math teachers and they basically come together and they discuss different pedigogy methods and what are their content and strategies for me. And um Amy wrote a grant for this and we received the grant. So this would be paid for and that will be countywide. Is that right? Correct. We're just chilling to finish. Um, okay. If you don't have any questions on any of those, that's that takes care of your contracts. And the next item I
030have as an action item. Um, I told you guys before that u our fees that we were paying for our banking services were getting kind of high. Um, and I had called and talked to the our our representative there at their um, main office about these fees several times and um, through the years we've checked on those and they've been able to negotiate a little bit and come down with those fees, but now they're just more and more um, we got we um, we don't really do online banking, but we have access to online services now and that really added a lot of fees it looks like to me. We used to pay $400 or $500 a month in bank fees and now sometimes it's more than $1,500 a month. So, it was just time
031we needed to put the banking services out for a bid because we just didn't feel good about having to pay those fees. So, I did that and we got um I had to send that out to every bank in Nicholas County to see if there was interest from them. and we received a response back from First Community Bank who was not interested in bidding United Bank and Truist and Truist is where we are currently. Um I have a lot of information and we had a lot of back back and forth emails but I didn't include that. Um eventually United Bank will service our accounts um with no rate no fees at all and they'll actually have a better interest rate than we're getting right now. So um It's um it's kind of a lot of
032work to change banks, but I think it was definitely worth it. So, I just wanted to let you guys know. Um I'd like to do that and have you uh approve that. And then it's not going to be, you know, super fast like one day we're going to have this new bank. It's going to take a little bit of time to move everything over. Um we have a lot of things that are directly deposited into our account and a lot of things that come out automatically. So, um we'll have to wait through all that and um learn a little bit about how to do our payroll um a little different way. It's going to be essentially the same, but you know, be a little bit different platform. So, would like to go ahead and move
033forward with that. And then we have out of state travel requests point out on the second one um to Michigan that there is no cost to the county that one um the other ones are going to be paid for by their respective programs but that one there's no charge. Do you know if that's an outstate trip or not? Trip. Which one? The Panther Creek. Mr. Hansshaw. Check your phone. We have a text message from Panther Creek. Want to know about their trip. They said it was approved by the principal March 4th. I think it's what the date says. And we're not seeing on the agenda. I'm just didn't know if it got in travel tracker or not. I received it. Um but it'll be on our next agenda. When is the trip? Do you know
034when the trip is? No. It's not before our next meeting, is it? No, I don't think so. Okay. If if it's not until next If it's not until u after the 1 of May, we can have it at the next board meeting on the 21st even. Yeah, that's the packet that it's in. I think we've got six. Okay. Trip. You might answer her back, but I'll double check it. Okay. And lastly, there are a couple of student Okay. Any discussion or questions uh for Kristen on consent items? Finance one, two, three, under two, the contracts ABC, D and your out ofstate travel request one, two, three, student transfer request one and two. Any questions? If not, do we have a motion to present the consent items under finance as presented? Mr. Moose makes a motion.
035Seconded by second. Second by Mr. Barry. All in favor? I opposed. Motion unanimous. Thank you. Okay. Next personnel we have. May second we approve it on the 21st. Okay. You want me to go? No. No. We're good. Thank you. Okay. Um, so we have personnel hearings. Are we doing them in executive session? Um, it'll be up to Okay. So, well, it'll each person will get to decide if they want to have it open or closed. Okay. So, the first one is Beverly A. Ryland. You want yours open or closed? Okay. Okay. So, do you have representation? Just you? I mean, I didn't mean just you. I didn't mean um Okay. If you want to come up um the way this works, yeah, you can you can call. Um we have to swear each one of
036them in So you have to decide you want yours open. Um so the administration's representatives give an opportunity to make an opening statement. Good. Did you want to be? No, that's okay. Good evening. The personal recommendations presented tonight were not made light. These are difficult decisions were based on a comprehensive data and careful analysis including preliminary computations for Nicholas County October 1, 2024 headcounts, Nicholas County kindergarten enrollment projections for 2526, projected special education case loads for 2526, hope scholarship and homeschool enrollment numbers for 2324 to ensure a thorough and collaborative process. These decisions were discussed in details with directors and principles. Each director and principal was asked to carefully review their areas of responsibility and provide input and potential personnel reductions. After receiving their recommendations, I compiled and reviewed the suggestion the suggested reductions in
037consultation with them. Despite our efforts to minimize reductions through retirements, we were faced with a $3.5 million shortfall between state aid and salary cost necessity staff reductions. The prot the proposed reductions total approximately 1.5 million in salaries and include 15.5 teaching positions including three grant-f funded positions, eight service positions, one student support position, one administrative position. Nicholas County is currently 26.12 teachers over the state formula and 23.76 service personnel over the state formula and 1.32 student support staff over formula. Enrollment trends impacting staffing needs. Kindergarten enrollment for the 2526 school year has declined from 185 and 2425 or 2324, sorry, to 153, a reduction of 32 students. Since the start of 232 24 school year, sorry, since the start of the 2425 school year, we've lost 127 students to homeschooling and 46 students to Hope
038Scholarship, totaling 173 students as of March 30th. Since October 1, the funding count, an additional 56 students have enrolled in homeschool and 26 in Hope, totaling 82. These students were not counted and not concentrated in a single school, bus route or class, but their departure impacts the entire district. These recommendations are necessary to ensure Nicholas County School remains financially stable while continuing to provide a world-class education for our students. I understand the weight of these decisions and I am available to answer any questions that you may have. Thank you for your time and consideration. Okay. So, Mrs. Ryland has decided to represent herself, which she may at this time. You may go ahead and speak. If you don't mind, I have a handout that I'd like to share with you. Good evening. My name is
039Beverly Ryland and I am the current assistant principal at Summersville Elementary School. I've dedicated 41 years to education in Nicholas County, including two years as the assistant principal and 27 years serving the students, parents, and faculty of Summersville Elementary. Even in retirement, I spent three out of four or three out of five years in long-term positions at Summersville Elementary. I want to begin by acknowledging that I am reading my statement today, not out of a lack of sincerity, but because I'm deeply passionate about this school community. By doing so, I aim to remove emotion from this discussion and focus on the data and facts that demonstrate why retaining the assistant principle is essential to maintaining a strong, supportive, and effective learning environment. I'm here to express my concern regarding the recent decision to eliminate the
040assistant principal position at Summersville Elementary School, one of the largest elementary schools in the county with approximately 318 students. The removal of this position will have a significant impact on the school's ability to provide adequate support to both students and staff. Summersville Elementary serves a diverse student population, including a substantial number of students that require specialized support. If you look at the handout that I've given you, I kind of broke it down a little bit by grade level. In grades preK, kindergarten, and first, we have 140 students with 64 students, 46% either having an IEP or INSAP. Grades two and three, we have 87 students with 44 students, which is about 50% having an IEP or INSAT. In grades four and five, we have about 91 students with 33 of them, 36% having an IEP
041or insat. Overall, that's about 141 students, 44% of our population that require specialized services. In addition to these high support needs, discipline related issues continue to demand administrative attention. Since September of 2024, the school has documented and these numbers have actually changed because we I stopped collecting data at the end of March and we've had a few more added to it. 28 Weas reports for different behavioral or disciplinary problems and about 25 office referrals which mainly come to me. At Summersville Elementary, I've implemented a positive office referral to help shift our focus toward celebrating positive student behavior. Too often, our attention is drawn to negative behaviors while students who consistently do the right thing go unnoticed. Since the beginning of the school year, we have recognized over 50 students for demonstrating positive behaviors. These students
042are invited to my office where they are commended and rewarded as a way to reinforce and celebrate their actions. Plus, they receive a positive office referral to take home and share with their parents or guardians. The current level of administrative support is not sufficient to handle these demands. A single principal cannot effectively manage discipline, oversee all the IEP and stat meetings, provide instructional leadership, and support teachers while ensuring a positive learning environment for all students. Furthermore, as more families consider homeschooling through programs like the HOPE scholarship, the lack of adequate support for teachers and students may contribute to further enrollment declines, ultimately impacting C County funding. Retaining the assistant principal position is a necessary investment in both student success and teacher effectiveness. As I have observed in recent board decisions, several highcost initiatives have been
043wisely postponed until the new school building is completed. And people, let me tell you, I'm in my 60s. I have no desire to go to the new school. I just want to finish out the time to Summersville Elementary. I respectfully urge you to apply that same level of consideration to the assistant principal position at Summersville Elementary. Eliminating this role at this time would have both immediate and long-term consequences for our students and staff. The support, leadership, and consistency provided by this position are essential, especially given the high number of students requiring specialized services and ongoing behavioral challenges. I also believe that there are alternative areas where budget reductions could be made that would not directly affect the student or the children and staff. My measly salary is not going to make or break the county.
044I encourage the board to explore other cost-saving measures that preserve the essential support structure needed for student success. I respectfully urge the board to reconsider this decision and restore the assistant principal position at Summersville Elementary. This role is essential to maintaining a safe, structured, and high quality learning environment for all students. Thank you very much, gentlemen, for your time and your dedication to the students and staff of our district. I look forward to your response. Okay, so um exhibits. Well, just a second. So, Brandon sent me something. He said I should have swore you all in. Um Well, you can do it. I'm gonna go ahead and do it retroactive just so we're covered. Okay. So, and I can do that. Um, so if and if you will answer with just yes or no. Um,
045if both of you want to do at the same time, we can do that. But if you would raise your right hand, do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. Thank you. Okay. Sorry about that. Now, would Okay. A one. And I apologize because we've never had to have since I've been on the board, we've never had to have personnel hearings is um exhibit two. have any additional witnesses? Okay. Hey. Um, Mr. Allen, would you like to call witnesses? You want to call anybody? Can I stay here? you know, um, if you'll raise your right hand, you swear, do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and
046nothing but the truth? Yes. Thank you. Okay. So, I'm just recently transferred to Somersville Elementary this past school year where I got roted out of my previous leg. So, I was dreading coming to a big school because I had previously worked in one in Webster County. Um, so I'm gonna try to just read what I wrote and do that. So I eliminating this role I feel like is a mistake and will have consequences. Um, I I've experienced firsthand what it's like to work in a school this size that does not have an assistant principal. And let me tell you, when that key leadership role is missing, everything changes. The workload of the office staff, the teachers, and even the principal increases. Everyone is already stretched too thin and a morale takes a hit. The school
047environment suffers is no longer collaborative, calm, or focused. It becomes reactive, chaotic, and strained. And is vital to our school. She's more than just an extra set of hands. She's a leader. She's a listener, a problem solver, and a support system. I went to her office today because I for support over a student. She handles discipline with fairness, builds strong relationships with her students and families, and helps ensure the day-to-day operation runs smoothly. Most evenings she's there until 4:30 or 5:00. She supports her teachers so they can focus on what they do best, teaching. She handles countless behind the scene responsibility that keep everything together. Like I said, I'm new to this school. I just met Bev in August. Um, she's been an amazing support system. Um, so I just I I just wanted to
048express that I think it would be I think it would be a mistake to not just to her for the kids and your staff as a support system. I mean, how many how many of us go every day to v if we need something? I just because you know or is only one person. So thank you. You have any questions? You want to cross examine? I do. Okay. Any uh board members would like to ask questions? Ask one question. Three. It says, "Despite our efforts to minimize reductions through retirements, we're facing $3.5 million shortfall between the state aid and the salary cost assessing staff reductions for both reductions that you have on our agenda today for 1.5 million of it. Where will the other $2 million come from?" You don't have to fund surplus from
049from the general budget. I have one more question. The uh elementary schools in in our county, do any of them have assistant principles? No. Except for Summersville. Of course, it's the largest. Yes. River had one a few years ago and that has been eliminated. Thank you. What's the population of Gig River? I think it's 285. Double check that for me. 297. 287. 297. 297. I'm sorry. Um, do either one of y'all have a any closing statements or you believe I have someone else who like Oh, I'm sorry. You said one. So, sorry. You go ahead. I'm going to be like Leslie. I'm going to sit back here. You're fine, but I need to square you in. So, you'll raise your right hand. Do you swear or affirm the testimony you're about to give will be
050the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? Yes. Thank you. I've been at Summersville Elementary for 11 years. Um, I've worked with Bev the whole time for the teacher and the last two years as her role as assistant principal. Um, it is a vital vital position. Um, I don't know what we would do without her. Um, there's three of us there and it takes all three of us to keep things going. Um, we've begged for this position for a long time and finally getting it through. Um, I have seen former principles who have been there themselves to do this. Um, I have watched principles be hit in the back with wet paper towels. Um, I have seen them being kicked, hit, abused, cuz there's nothing you can do about that. But sometimes that's
051all they get done during the day. And then all the paperwork that has to be done and all of these sats, all these IEPs that has kept our principles busy and we hardly ever see Laura because she is doing IEPs and sacks. That leaves Bev to deal with the rest. Um, she is great at discipline. Um, the kids respect her, the staff respect her. Um, we have a wonderful school. you have a wonderful staff. Um, and if you take away this position, that's going to put more work not only on the principal, but on me. And I'm the secretary, by the way. Um, you can look at my time stamps on Weebas. Um, I'm working I was working last night at 10:00 doing attendance that I cannot get to during the day. You will see
052in my emails, I'm doing emails a lot of times to some of board office people that I need to correspond with. There is just not enough time in 8 hours even for the three of us to get done what we need to. And that's time that I don't turn in, by the way. But if this position's eliminated and I end up doing this next year, I will be turning it in as extra duty. And if you don't want to pay me for that, that's fine. I'll be there whatever my eight hours are and that's it. And then my work's going to suffer and the whole school's going to suffer because things are not done. So eliminating this position is not in the best interest of students. Um I I know other elementary schools may not
053have an assistant principal. I'm sorry, but that's not our concern. But they may not also have the discipline problems that we have. They may not have all the IEPs or the SATs that we have. But I really beg you to consider this to to not do away with this position. Please, if you can find something somewhere else where you can cut, please do so. And please leave this position. It is desperately. Okay. Do you swear? Do you swear affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Please identify yourself. Okay. We're talking about homeschoolers and and all of these other things that they're that the parents are doing. Low kindergarten people. What happens if you eliminate this job? Come September, these parents
054decide, wait, I can't do that job. My kids need to go back in school. I can't handle them being home. How many kindergarteners do we have that come back that enroll when schools enroll? What are you going to do when everything goes up and we don't have an assistant principal. Do you know I work in a special ed department. Do you know how many times be we have called Bev Ryan to come and and help us with a child and all that child needs is to hear Bev's voice because Bev has built a relationship with these kids that are there. Be don't care to go into the superior profound room and help out. She you know it's it's the relationships that she has built with these kids that they respect her. Laura is gone in
055meetings as you heard. Okay. What happens if I have a problem in my classroom and there's nobody there to help me because Laura had to go come up here or she had to go to trainings. What happens if you eliminate Beth's position? You're taking away our rock. I don't think you all really understand how important this woman is. Look at the staff that has come here today to show how much we need her. We've all been at work at 7:00 a.m. We just got done with family game night, but Beth is important enough to us that we put the rest of our evening on hold for this woman. I'm telling you, I got to go home and cook dinner yet, but this is more important. I beg you all, please keep this position. She is
056a very vital vital person to us and I can say that recently my grandson just got diagnosed with autism. That is the one I went to talk to because I was really upset. Okay. I didn't know my grandson cries in the classroom because he can't understand You know, I go to bed. I talk to her. What can I do? What do I do? I just honest I think you all are making a huge huge mistake in eliminating her. Once again, I ask you to reconsider and to think about what happens if enrollment goes up this year before you eliminate her. That's all I have to say. Can I say one more thing on that enrollment? A lot of times you cannot pinpoint what that enrollment is going to be until we're usually from August to
057October enrolling students because they forget they move into the area. So you have a very large amount of people that come and enroll even after school starts, not just through the summer months. And there may be times when this whole staff is trying to catch a student who is running. We have a code in our school code runner because we do have some runners. Everybody knows their place. Okay. the learning process stops or if you have a student with a discipline issue and you've got to clear out that classroom. I've seen it happen three to four times a day, same student. Everything comes to a halt till you get that under control. Bev is always there. Sometimes it's Laura, Bev, and all the staff that is trained, and I'm standing by to call the parent
058if need be, whatever they instruct me to do. So, please really consider this and and think about it long and hard. And I don't mean this to be offensive. Um, but the ones of you who have been in our school, have you ever seen us just sitting there twiddling our thumbs? I've only seen three of you in our building. And I know you've all been invited before, but only three of you have ever darkened our door. So really and truly, you don't know what goes on in our school unless you're there on a day-to-day basis. And again, I don't mean that to be offensive, but I'm just trying to get you to see how important this position is. Really, how important everybody's position is there. Let me ask you a question. Uh, and I don't
059want you to take offense to this question. Uh, you said you've been there about 10 years. Been there 11 years. 11 years. What was the enrollment? I'm just curious. 7, eight, nine, 10 years ago. How much have we lost? I'm new to this. We were at one time around 4:25 when I first came there. And at that time, did you have an assistant principal? We did not at that time. So you needed one desperately. Well, I'm not. Yeah, I don't think it's a question of need. I mean, I don't think that at all. And and I I don't know Bev well, but I do know Bev and she has a good reputation. And I don't think I don't think that's the question. You got to look at the position and and like you all said
060before, try to find someplace else or try to balance everything that you're doing. Mr. Ferguson. Yes. My position has come and gone over the years. Like I said, I've been at Summersville for 27 some years and we have had assistant principles and then we go a few years without one and then we get them back and then we go without one. It's varied over time. Well, that that answers my question. Thank and I don't think just looking at the enrollment numbers is what needs to be looked at here. I I think it's your needs, your student needs in your school and your staff needs in your school. So I don't think it just needs to be in Is it fair to say and again I have to apologize because I'm not in educa. I'm learning
061a lot about education. I've never learned more more I tease everybody than than I went through school. Learned a lot more in these last two years than I should have paid attention. Uh, is it is it fair to say I think I've heard does Summer Somersville Elementary have more uh what they call title one or uh special special stu is is your uh special needs students or IEPs higher than the rest of the county? I can't s don't know Mrs. Chapman percentage-wise projection next year is about 36 students. So it's not the highest percentage in the case projection but I don't have I wasn't prepared for well yeah you have percentage but if you had 60 kids at Birch River you could have a higher percentage there. So I'm more interested in numbers. Would it
062have the highest number of students? does have the highest number of IEPs. They have the highest number, Mr. Ferguson. I put it on here where we have uh each grade level and the percentage. Yeah, I saw that and it averaged out to 44%. I just didn't know that as compared to the rest of the Nicholas County school population. Well, what's your total staff number? How many staff was it? Was that what we counted? Somewhere we are we are losing a special education teacher next year. We have all these special ed kids. We have a teacher that's transferring to another school and they are not replacing her. That takes us down to two special ed teachers in our school. Neat. staff. I'm going to say I think 57. 57, sir. 57. I want to add if
063I'm allowed. Um I have a classroom of 24. Nine of my kids are in SAT process. If you don't know what that exactly means, that means every nine weeks I have to meet during not supposed to be during my planning because by law that is my planning, but you know what? I don't want to meet after school. So Laura sets with me on those nine different meetings. That's not counting the kids that have I have to do uh annual IEP meetings, annual um IEP speech OT sads or regular parent teacher conferences. Laura and I I've got to know Laura very well this year due to all the meetings that I've had to set with her through the SAP process. I mean out of I don't know but out of I have nine five IEPs in
064a 24 kids in my classroom and she out of 50 and you got to remember she's only one out of 57 that Laura has to meet with. So if I have to have help and Laura's in a meeting, I was I was out on my playground two week three weeks ago and I was watching preschool playground. I could tell her I said, "Do you want me to radio in to help?" I had to radio in because they had come running. What if the word would have been in a meeting? They would have come and helped. This child would not come back. I guess the runner would be what we would. So, what do we do as staff? Who do we look to? Okay. At this time, um, y'all want to have a discussion? You might
065want to have all your four personnel hearings first and then go into session discussion. It's up to you. Don't matter if you're your party. I just hate to keep everybody here, but I mean voting is going to be on the end of this anyway. We've not asked these people to come in and speak for me today. They did this of their own accord. I love this school. I came out of retirement for this school and I have thoroughly enjoyed the time that I have spent being an administrator at my school. I love these people, each and every one of them. We may not always see eye to eye. But I love these people. You know, Bev, my first year, I taught with you. And you know, and what you all said, I'm hearing you. I
066I really do. I hear you. There's not anybody on this list that that I think is um somebody that we don't need. The problem is and the problem with numbers, you know, we can we can only cut during personnel season and our our trae tra on our numbers. It's going down, down, down, down, down. And you are right about they might turn around and bring them back. If they bring them back, we can hire more people, but if we keep losing and we're los we're 3.5 million and in a couple years we're in the hole and we're responsible for that. It's it's a big decision. And you know, I got some friends out there that and I've been in your all shoes. I taught 33 years in elementary. So, I know I know we had
067those runners. We had to have plans. You know, most of the time when uh we only had one principal at Panther Creek, I was there most of my years and most of the time when the principal wasn't there, I was in charge along with my class. So, I know I I get it. But also looking at these budget numbers and Mr. and and the one thing and the the biggest money cost to the school system is your personnel. That's the biggest cost. And it's just like um a lot of people like you know, you have halftime cooks that we're we're letting go. We're paying full benefits on those halftime cooks. Full benefits. So their benefits are costing us as much as our our regular personnel. So, we tried to look at those positions first and
068they don't want to lose their halftime cooks. No one wants to lose anybody. I understand. I get it. I' I've been there. I've been I've been on your side, too. Yes, ma'am. I know that um a lot of children have been taken out with the Hope Scholarship recently due to a lot of the turmoil that's going on in the county right now. Like Tammy was saying, at some point these parents when things calm down and things get straightened out again, which they will eventually, that's when the parents are most likely going to be putting their kids back in school. Well, and what they don't realize is your your money is based on October what 1st. And so they come after October 1st. We don't we get no money for them, you know, and we have
069to have money to pay our people. I mean, you all don't volunteer. So, what if I went to a three-day week? Would that work? Three day week. Well, I have another question. If I need help in my classroom and you all take her job, can I call you all? Listen, I've been there. No, I'm being serious. I I am, too. I've been there because I am scared to death of doing anything wrong with these kids. That's why I called back. I'm telling you, I've been there. I have been there in your shoes. Do That's why I'm not there. Okay. You guys answered my question. Oh, but when I was in the when I was in the building, we had to help each other. That's all we had. We already do. Do you know? Oh, I
070know. I know. I I get it. But I'm just telling you, and I'm not trying to be argumentative. I'm just saying and and Deanna, you know, she was talking about staying after my lands of mercy. There's secretaries all over this county. There's cooks that that take stuff home. There's teachers. I get it. I used to I used to go back to school because my problem was I'd be talking to everybody while they're there. So, I'd be better off to go back, you know, at 9:00 at night to work. Get sued if something happens to their job in their classroom. I can be sued if I make the wrong decision. I That's why I depend on Bev so much because she has built these relationships with these kids. She can go in and calm a child
071down in just a matter of seconds whereas this child has already tuned me out because I've been working with him. She's a fresh face. I know. I And there's other people just like her. there. There's other people across the counties just like her that fresh faced for some of these kids. I get it. I know. But I thank you, Jeff. There's no good. I would like just just for the record and and I I hear you. I mean, don't think I don't hear you, but this is our audited statement for uh June 30th of 2024. And on page 13, it says factors bearing on the board's future. At the time of these financial statements were prepared and audited, the board was aware of circumstances that could significantly affect its financial health in the future. The
072board maintains several unfunded professional and service positions which are not funded by the state of West Virginia. The board must assess on an annual basis the educational needs of the county and make adjustments to compensate for such demands. These educational decisions are further rendered based on the state law and West Virginia Department of Education policies. The board does not have the financial capability to mean such maintain such low numbers of unfunded positions along with with other cuts will be forced to reduce staff in the future. The problem is and I'm a problem solver by nature and there's just so many problems here that that I just don't feel that I can solve. I'm hoping to make a difference, but whether I can solve them. The state of West Virginia funds us based upon a cookie
073cutter approach. 25 students in a classroom, one professional teacher. That's what they say. And you all know that's not what we have. We got one teacher for eight students, one teacher for for and then used to be if it goes over 25, they let they pay you a little bit extra or give you an aid and stuff. So, especially in this climate of the legislature where you have the hope scholarship and you have enrollment coming down, it's going to be interesting in the future where this does fall because the legislature is going to have to make some adjustments. But we as a board have a responsibility of taking what is given to us and making these financial uh decisions. And I just hope you can appreciate that. But I do hear you. Okay. Okay. It's
074just when you have a school this large and and you have worked with someone, you know, you just hate eliminate and we we get your uh you know, you're you're supporting her. I I get it. I' I've been there on your side. I'm telling you, I have. But and we'll have a discussion and no one can ever read me anyway. So where there's a will there's a way. Mr. I don't mean to offend anybody. But if the county has a budget issue, why did we need an assistant superintendent? We went for a long time without the system. We have a superintendent. Why do we need superintendent? And I don't need any. We had to have a personnel director. She has two roles. Personnel. And I'm going to tell you something. The last three months she's
075been assistant superintendent, personnel director, uh, maintenance director, and transportation director. So, you know, she's had a lot on her and I'm not taking up for her, but I'm telling you this that's not a new position. That's not a new position. It's not a new position. We had a personnel. She's she's slashed personnel. So, she's she's doing two jobs. So, you can't do without her just like we can't do without her. We could we could do without her being assistant uh superintendent, but you have to have personnel director. We Well, well, nothing. She's important to you all because of the role she plays. This woman is important to us because she plays a role not only with staff, but kids. The reason why we're all here, kids. I get it. But so, one made her her
076position is paid for. We get reimbursed. hers were not getting reimbursed. We're over on personnel. So, I know it's I I get it. I used to be on your side. I got it. And there's there this is tough because there stands Mr. James back there. He's on this hearing list. I think the world of him, Jason, uh Jason Miller back there. Um Don Brown, all these people. And I know them all. And it's tough because you live here. And boy oh boy, I thought this was going to be a better job than this. And it's not not this time of year. And one thing that I look at also is wanted to combine or merge Birch River and Zela with Summersville at the end of this year. If we had done that, my job would
077not be in jeopardy. But because the board decided to not do that, now all of a sudden my job is in jeopardy. Well, my job's not in jeopardy. gone. Well, you know, there were several reasons for that, but anyway, um well, the only thing that I would end with remitting and I won't say anything else is I can appreciate you all taking up for how many employees do we have in the school system? 500. We have 500 some. I would like to think that we have 500 and some deaths. In other words, everybody's position is is important. We have to take everybody's position where you wouldn't have that position. And in I in in in Bev's case, there there's some worst scenarios. In Bev's case, she would have a an opportunity, it looked like, to
078be transferred to another job. I know that's not what she wants to do. You got some people on this list that's going to be without a job. They're getting rifted. So, all I'm saying all I'm saying is is I've always had a pretty unique unique ability. We had 500 and some employees at Northside at one time. I'm down to two or three. Um, but uh, everybody's position is important. Everybody does them different. God made us all different. I mean, we all have different DNA, different styles, different everything. So, it's not personal. Trust me, it's not personal. It's just you got to look at the positions and we'll take the recommendations and go from there. But there's 500 and some. You all probably would argue not Bev's and I'd say Bev is very good at her
079job and she's been there a long time. Maybe we need 500 and some. Maybe if we had 300 some BS, we wouldn't need 500 and some. So I But uh my point my point is is I'm not going to get into personalities. I'm going to get into positions. That's what I feel my mandate is. Gentlemen, I appreciate you're listening to all of us today. We appreciate your time. Thank you. And I do hope that you will seriously considering my position. We will have a discussion. Yes, we will. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Next we have Jason Miller. Um would you like this open or closed sir? Unusual request. I'd like for it to be private because um we'll be talking about special education students. Okay. And confidentiality reasons. Okay. But I would like for my staff
080to stay here if that's possible. It is and maybe Chrissy Chapman and Tom Bates here. Anybody that I work directly with. Okay. So we have a motion to go in executive session. Motion Mr. Green makes a motion seconded by Mr. Moose. All in favor? I at 528. Hey, we're here to conduct a uh hearing for Mr. Greg James. And at this time, I would like to swear in Miss Kelly Whitel and Mr. James. Um, do you swear or affirm that the testimony you're about to give will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth? I do. Thank you. Okay. Go ahead. Along with my previous uh statement of information, I would like to say that this is not a reduction or a um a a um change in what Mr. James has
081graciously already been doing for I believe 57 years. Um um he uh will simply be doing some middle school and high school and that's currently what he's been doing um for the last several years. Although in my research of his file, I did not see where the board had taken official action. Um and that's simply what what we did. we um kind of made a correction for what was not previously done or made or mutually agreed to. What was the decision that you're taking official action to? Um um he we could not find in his file where he had mutually agreed or been transferred to do middle school music too. He has been currently doing middle school music. Yes. um for the last but but officially he was the house. We he actually during our
082transfer meeting alluded to the fact that he thought it had been done um and maybe with the way uh some information got scanned in. It was not in his file, but we could not find where he actually had official um board action. So his home school will still be Richwood High School. Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yes. Okay. Yes. Okay. Mr. James, um I don't understand uh you know that I've been transferred from Richmond High School, Richmond Middle School to Richmond High School, Richmond Middle School is basically what I've been doing for the last uh uh several years. And I can't see why there is no record of that because when I was first hired back in the 1970s, of course, Mr. Mars superintendent blah blah blah. I signed everything and then I went from the switched
083everything over to the junior high system and got transferred there and then uh banner position came over and I was hired, you know, teach at the high school and middle school and I've been doing that ever since and that's for 40 years ago and I just don't understand at this point in time why we're going through all this same job I've been doing. Well, I guess to make it official, um I know when I was in seventh grade, first seventh grade class at Richwood Junior High, you were my music teacher. And I don't know if you remember that, but I do. Uh thank you for saying that, Welon. So anyway, but I retired. I went through it and retired. You're still at it was uh your sister and Oh, yeah. Yeah. nine of us. Yeah,
084there's no change here. It's just make it official that you do what you've been doing. Yes. But I But there is a change here. Okay. That we're not that we're not talking about. There is a change here. Okay. And that change basically we're going to have it on paper. So I teach middle school and high school on paper. So that way we can eliminate the only other position that we've got rich for high school and middle school. And that was uh when Mr. Boon um reside from his job. It was the end of August 23. The job was um put out for bid whatever. We went through several substitutes. Okay. It was put out for bid again around Christmas time. That was it. At the end of last year, it was put out for halftime
085music and halftime Spanish French French foreign language whatever etc etc. So basically uh that will eliminate that alto together and there'll be one person teaching music at the two schools over there and I do believe there are four teaching music at Summersville at the high school and middle school and nothing's happening to I mean you know why couldn't we have had something where and there's one teaching music at an elementary school why couldn't one of those been moved part-time or halftime or whatever to help over there because uh I saw a 6 through 12 UR program go from 100 kids down to uh not being taught at all in a matter of a year because you know you have a week within four days with one once uh two weeks with another one etc etc
086etc. you know, um, one sub came in, was there for a while, and she did get a few kids staying at the Veterans Day thing, and then two teachers graciously consented to, uh, working with the kids every day there uh, during a um, advisory lunch kind of period to do a concert for the middle school along with the band. But, you know, there has to be consistency in anything you do if you want to be successful. and you know with the the lack of consistency of someone there to do it you know so and that position also did sixth grade band which I took that over because I wasn't going to let the band program just go to pot because uh we were down on person so I've added that to my resume too and
087I know there's a lot of things going on here uh financially and I understand the situation um but I mean you know four over here one over there. Wow. Okay, that's a that's a big difference. And uh uh you know, I do need some help. Okay, I really do need some help. I mean, that's an awful lot. I know a lot of people are going to be doing different things next year to cover everything, but well, you can overload someone. You can say this much time with a whole bunch of new stuff and how people, you know, they they want out, okay? Because they just don't want to have to, you know, whatever. And I don't mind doing work. I mean, that's anyone who knows me, that's obvious. I I'll stay late, do whatever I
088need to do to make the program work. But I mean, I would love to have some backing where we can get someone back in there. I mean, I just think four people and one person, that's a big difference. We can look upon that many ways. I'm not going to want to say it. I just I just feel that's very unfair. I mean, nothing's going to change for me. I'm probably going to be having uh a couple more classes, I'm sure. But, um, you know, seven classes at the high school and uh the high school day and right now I'm already teaching one, two, three, four, one, two, uh, eight. Okay. So it's a little bit short, but anyway, it just it's the nature of the proof, but I've spent too long of work on the
089band program here to just see it down the drain, you know. And um I'm blessed to keep people going to education nowadays because it's a whole different ball game than when you went schooling school, okay? ETA, okay, Roy, you know, whatever too. I understand all that, but um Mr. James, if I understand you right, then basically what you're concerned about is when you make it official, then it's stuck. There's no other position the way it is now. There's hope, I guess. Yes, that's that's yes, there hope that that would be feeling to help you. Well, I I I understand that, you know, that you need you needed a uh uh foreign language. I understand that and I from what I gather that's going to be available next year. But and I do understand the fact
090that this legislature, the last few legislatores, whatever, have absolutely I hope we're getting this on camera so they can hear, you know, just so many stupid unfunded mandates out there that are just ridiculous. Okay. And I understand the position you're in here with the homeschool, etc., etc. And I hope to the goodness that the legislature will get a pair of body parts so that they will put a referendum before the people of West Virginia whereas that we can vote on whether we want to pay for all these privatized things that are going on. And that's how I feel about this. And I know we're suffering because of that. Well, I I tell you one concern I have and I know you have worked tirelessly on the band in Richwood and everybody knows that. But sooner
091or later, you're going to give it up. And who in the world we going to get to fill your shoes? Let's not worry about that right now. Well, and I hope not. I hope not. Lady out there in the hall and she's 70 something years old and going to take a full-time job after work over the weekend. Helen looking for cows on the the night. Okay. Wild bull she's chasing all I understand. I want to I want to have what she has going for her. Okay. I open that one up then. Okay. There you go. Good. All right. Miss Kelly would like to thank Mr. James for all his years of service and his continual service to the community. He gave us a family lesson when we met with him of the generations that of
092students that he's had in his class. And I also appreciate his uh wanting to have more. Music is a lifelong pleasure that people can enjoy for for long after they leave school. Let me ask you this. If we take no action on Mr. James and everything stays the way it is, what happens? Um, well, he basically would uh need to agree to teach some of the middle school classes, which he's already doing. Which is Well, that's what I wanted to know. I see from why you want to make it official. The point is if we don't make it official and Mr. James agrees to go on, at least he has the hope that he gets some help. Well, or he could say, "I'm not going to teach middle school." And then then we'd have to
093go back and figure out what the substitute or whatever that may. This came up in the 1990s about whatever. Okay. And I I do remember that uh Mr. Bailey uh informed Mr. Lester and uh Mr. Printergast that uh um Mr. Printer the high school had custody of me and Mr. Leser had visitation. Okay. So I would be that would be my home school when I would be doing both. Okay. It was put on paper then because there was a question at that time. Okay. That was 1990s. Was that a couple years ago? Yeah. I thank you for your words. It almost sound like I was leaving and quitting right now as I walked out the door. But thank you for the kind words. No, I I didn't mean anything. I just want to appreciate what
094you're doing. He probably named most of them by name. He did. He absolutely did. Yes. Yeah. Well, we're going to have some uh discussion on all these issues, all these four personnel hearings that we just had. We'll have some discussion behind closed doors, right? Y'all want executive session for that? And uh so, Mr. James, thank you. Do you have anything else you'd like to add? No, I pretty much said it all. I'm just trying to I just want to get the kids involved in music, etc., etc. So, I mean, you know, I just we have a we we have a lot of kids involved in music, okay? I want to keep that going. And then I can't do choir and band. We've had two successful programs. You know, you just can't do that. Whatever. And
095we did have, you know, kids. You were there. Okay. You saw, you know, standing. You had head in there trying to reach out. Yeah. She was one of her daughter's one of the teacher right there behind or whatever. I know everybody was a lady named with their time, you know, so they have to give them something to do, you know, and be able to say, but you know, go for your lunch and your advisory all that's hard to do. I think maybe if this been uh addressed and put out for bid at a at a time of the year where uh people were graduating from college and you know I can't help if Mr. Bo then didn't reside until right then if I had known that uh at the spring of the year I would
096be out searching for kids that you know w were looking for a job but you know you just when I throw an appointment you with you know a couple days not done it's like whoa you know you know you don't know you got a plan etc etc I know a kid who just graduated from college was looking for a job and looking for a job and and he he took a position he really didn't want but then but he found another job the following year which been this year. So once again I'm just going to say you know one person only four and that's just that's probably wrong. Okay well thank you gentlemen. Thank you for your time. Um, so at this time, do we have a motion to go into executive session? Mr. Moose
097makes a motion. Seconded by second, second by Mr. Green. All in favor? I at 652. We have a motion to come out of executive session. Mr. Barry makes a motion seconded by Mr. Moose. All in favor? I I at 7:37 there were no decisions made during executive session. personnel. Um I have the following personnel on the recommendations that changes to the um agenda. I'm going to strike Jason Miller from the transfer list. Um, also, um, Donna Dver, I had her incorrectly labeled and she's in red on your agenda. She should be a school counselor, not a social worker. So, that change was made. Um, we are going to strike Cody McClung from the reduction in boards list. And we are going to make 92 on the transfer list on page six. And the rest of
098it is as presented including um the employment professional professional substitute substitute leave of absence retirement and the resignations mlang right. Yes. Page five. Third one down. Third one down. Be happy to answer any questions that anything. Anybody have a question for Mrs. White? I make a motion that we accept the director's recommendation. We have a motion to accept the personnel uh agenda. We have a second. Second. Second by Mr. Green. Any other discussion? All in favor? I opposed motion. Unanimous. Thank you, Mrs. Whitel. Reports. SCSC. Mr. Ferguson. Uh SCSC did meet uh twice had a regular meeting on Wednesday, March 19th. There's a lot of discussion uh in uh they're going to establish a professional development position part-time. going to write a job description for it to help out uh in math, ELA, etc. be
099on an hourly rate. Uh there was discussion on losing funding from the state department of education for the Beckley public service training program. Uh there was discussion on principal training scheduled for July 31st through August the 1st, which is a Thursday and Friday. and they were impressed with uh Kelly Whitel of of our Nicholas County board. Uh they said some really great things about her and they're supposed to contact her and hoping that she will help with that agenda. Um then there was discussion on the legislative bills and possible effects on the SECC and the educational industry. And they had a special meeting on Wednesday, March 26. I participated on both of those uh through Microsoft Teams call and they took action and they dissolved the Beckley public service training program effective April 1 due
100to lack of funding because the state department of education cut their funding for that. uh action was taken to terminate two employees that were administering that program uh effective April one and then they had discussion on the legislative action to move the advanced career education from local CTE schools to the community colleges. I did follow that bill and that bill did not pass the legislature. So that was a moot point and that's my report. Thank you Mr. Ferguson. Bright horizons Mr. screen uh meeting coming up in a couple weeks. Congratulations our protected our funding just as well as everybody else's. So what how we're going to end up at the end. Okay. Thank you. Keep us informed. Um items for future agendas. Um, I believe we need to put on a future agenda um the
101superintendent's um contract. I'm sorry, Chief. What was that? Next uh next agenda. superintendent's contract. Is that just going to be like for a discussion or will that be discussion with action or um possible action? Discussion discussion with possible action on April 21st work session. We have a meeting in the afternoon 5:00 work session. What time was on? Three. Three. Okay. Yes sir. Now that regular meeting is that right? Yes it says. Yeah. Uh matters of the board. So, at the Nicholas County Commission meeting the other day, I was slammed pretty hard by delegate uh excuse me, former delegate Heather Tully. And um so I did not personally recommend anybody to be hired. Um I don't know where she got that from. That's a lie. Um, when someone applies for a job, it goes to personnel.
102Personnel uh gives it to us to vote on. So, I want to clarify that. And don't always believe everything you see on Facebook, about maybe a third of it. So, that's my comments. Anybody else? I I'd like to give a shout out uh a positive shout out to Heather Williams who's a math teacher at Summersville Middle School. Uh a lot of that math that uh those middle school people were bringing home. Um uh I'm just comparing to when I went to school. Uh they're doing some good things. you know, we beat up our education system a lot, but it's there uh for the students that want to take advantage of it, the parents that want to get involved. I I was very impressed. Uh but to see some of the work that she uh was
103doing, um I just want to give her a shout out. I think she's an excellent math teacher and doing a good job. Anybody else? Future meeting dates, Tuesday, April 15th. That is a meeting that we reconvene to enter the levy rates for the 2025 school year. Um, so that will be a reconvening meeting from the March 17th. Shouldn't take very long. It's at 8:00 here at the board office. And then regular meeting Monday, April 21st. Um, before that meeting, there's a special work session April 21st at 3:00. Those are both here at the board office. Anything else? Yeah, I I I do want to say one more thing. I did the shout outs to I know we approved Kristen as our treasurer again. Uh I had the privilege of being on a a call with
104her and and our accountants uh that did the audit and it was very informative meeting and they were very complimentary of the work that Kevin had done and that that Kristen is doing and u I was really impressed with the work. So uh she's doing you a good job. Anyone else? Okay. Do we have a motion to adjurnn? Mr. Green makes a motion to adjurnn. Seconded by second. Second by Mr. Barry. All in favor? I at 7:47. Motion unanimous. Florida. Drive the truck. New place.