Pocahontas County Board Meeting 9.3.2025

001September the second 2025 at the board of ed board of education conference room order. One member is absent. That's Mr. Gibson. Everybody else is present. Please stand for the pledge allegiance to the flag. 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, liberty and justice for all >> delegation. We don't have any recognitions. You don't have none. >> School improvement updates. A is update special education professional development and deadlines to address monitoring. B is update on P County high school state of emergency. That's >> Oh, we have one. >> Okay. So, >> Williams, do you mind pulling that up, Christie? >> I printed these off. Can I not print these off? No. >> Okay. So, I wanted to give

002you a little bit of update from the monitoring debrief that we did with our staff on August the 21st and then tell you where we are in addressing our state of emergency issues. So, I just think it's good to have an overview, look at statewide compliance numbers and compare those to Pocahontas County schools. So for the school year 2024, 17 LEAs were monitored as part of the cyclical monitoring during the 2425 school year. Three service verifications were completed at each elementary and a service verification just means that they're pulling an IEP and reviewing the services that are in that portion of the IEP. um at each ele three service verification occurred at the elementary, the middle, and the high school for a total of nine service verifications per LEA. Last year, 155 random individual student

003files were reviewed to verify services statewide compliance versus non-compliance when they do a monitoring. So compliance means a student and service provider schedules logs match the specially designed services in the IEP. Non-compliance means that those two things did not match. The services that were in the did not match the service logs. So statewide um non-compliance was 44%. So 68 of 155 um files pulled uh 44% of those were in non-compliance statewide to give you a baseline. So 56% 87 of the 155 were in compliance statewide. So state minimums and maximums a minimum is the lowest value in a data set. So 0 L and nine. The maximum is nine L and N. So you kind of get how it looks. And that's where we're talking about those three files that were pulled at each programmatic

004level when they did a monitoring. In Pocahontas County schools, all five schools were monitored during the April 2025 special circumstance monitoring of our special education programs. 18 service verifications were completed in April. Four at Greenbank, four at Hillsboro, four at Marlington for a total of 12. three at Marleton Middle and three at Pocahontas County High School. So that means they pulled 18 files to look at services in those files and make sure we were compliant according to the law. So non-compliance in our files was 89%. Compliance so 16 out of 18 was not in compliance and 12 out of 18 were in compliance for our special ed review. Um next. So steps to take if the services does not verify. So this is what we have to do when services are not verified. The simplest

005fix and the things that we found or that they found are to adjust the teacher schedules to align with the IEP minutes. So let me give a little more detail about that. We were providing services 4 days a week. One day a week our teachers had free and they were doing IEP task. So we weren't meeting the services in our IEPs due to that fact due to that one planning day. So that's why we have to adjust schedules. But in addition to that earlier in the year when I presented here I told you that we had a problem with chronic absenteeism. When you drill down to the subgroups on the days that we did not offer services, those are the days that we had the highest chronic absentee with our special ed group of students.

006So, they just weren't coming to school. So, that's one of the issues that we have with chronic attendance. So, what else can we do? We can do an IEP amendment, which is an agreement for changes between the parents and the IEP team and the school team. That's how we change the teacher schedules and the minutes documentation. The LEA must document the changes made to the IEP or the IEP amendment form which is called prior written notice and provide a copy to the parent and the adult students. An annual review date, annual review date remains the date of the original IEP. So when you do an amendment to the IEP, it's a targeted review and unless you're evaluating everything, but if we're just changing a small portion, that means we can do an IEP amendment. Okay.

007So targeted IEP reviews, we have a targeted IEP review uh may be conducted when only one portion of the IEP, which is what I've just explained. Example, reviewing only the behavior or the present levels of performance goals, behavior plans of the IEP also addresses academic areas. So an annual review date, which means conducting a targeted IEP meeting does not change the annual review date meeting. So just to be clear, if we do an amendment and we do these targeted reviews, we still have to do the annual IEP meeting. So you have to do two next. This is it. There should be one more. There should be more slides. So general foul reviews, the top 10 findings for Pocahontas County Schools. Just I want to be as transparent as possible on what we have to work

008on and why we have to work on it. So we had some systemwide findings and they're called systemic findings. All items scoring below 80% is considered a finding. So we looked at in order to correct those we have to amend some IEPs, reconvene eligibility committee meetings, issue memorandums and andor clarification, conduct staff trainings and provide mentoring. The staff trainings was phase one of our plan that we have implemented. So if we look at addressing systemic findings below 80% prior to the West Virginia verification, we have some areas that we have to address next. So here's where we are. These are the areas and this is the percent compliant that we had. So we have the top 10 areas. We are top two. We have 0% of our files compliant. The next one, prior written notice.

009And prior written notice means you have to send out a notice to parents that you're either changing the IEP or having the IEP 8 days prior written notice is what it's called. So only 33% of the prior written notices that were sent out met. They were not within the 8 days. evaluation procedures, we only had 33% placement, 40% annual goals, specifically designed instruction for student performance. We were only 46% compliant there. Supplementary services, 46% compli compliant. And I've kind of talked to Sarah about supplementary services and billing for Medicaid. We submitted one claim last year. we can support our program with more services claims which is a lot of money. Yes, only one claim was supported. So as we beef up those services and get them, we can get reimbursed for those services. And we

010started that process with our our um our consultant. Present levels, the impact statements, we were 67% compliant. Special education services 73% compliant. And then smart goals that are measurable with two periods in time, beginning and ends. And that's based on your present performance levels and your data. Those were not um we were only 76%. IEP amendments, we were 60% compliant. Prior written notice, 78%. Initial placement with parent consent. I showed you that where we had the initial placement and we didn't have signatures. Um 62%, ESY services, 77, supplemental services 78, and reasons for meeting inviting members 78. Then we start getting compliant in the last four areas. Guess we didn't have you findings and then we were over 80%. Um is that the same slide again? So statewide this lets you know what the statewide

011was. So you can see where the state fell and where we fell. The top two we had zero. So they were a little while. So there's some areas that is an issue statewide when they reviewed the other IEP. So it's something that needs to be tightened up on. So administrative findings and what this means in administrative findings this means findings that started originated or involved the county office administrative oversight of the IEP process. So administrative findings a formal determination that a policy regulation or a law or standard has not been followed. So that's what meets that and when you have one of those findings you have to have a corrective action. So we had four administrative findings which means they were pervasive and systematic at every school and at the county level. So those were

012instructional groupings, a certification and case loads, other which we'll be we'll talk a little bit about that as we go through and then our cameras and it was it originated with a state of emergency at the high school that they had not been reviewing the cameras or did not have access to the self-contained cameras. Um second they came back again didn't have access to the self-contained cameras continued. So that is something that I've worked really diligently on and assigned to um Jimmy to work on as we move through. Go back. Is this the next slide after that one? Okay, next one. So administrative findings are functional behavior assessments. Those were not being completed. And I understand we don't have a behavioral specialist, but if you don't have that, your psychologist can complete those. So our

013psychologist can complete those. And then after we did or didn't do the assessment when we were suspending students with spe with disabilities, we didn't have uh a countywide pervasive method of behavior intervention plans. We weren't we didn't do those basically and we don't have those form. So we're going to work on developing those continuum of services. We had limited services delivery options and what that means is we had either um all kids were served in GE general education or all kids were served in a self-contained room. But if we had kids that needed and of course for that we weren't providing those in some situations. predetermination. Um, we had IEPs that were fully written and taken into the IEP meetings or we had IEPs that were written at the county level and given to the

014schools. Um, so teacher duties versus case management duties was uh the next thing that we're going to talk about. So if we look down through here, administrative findings, schoolwide concerns, grade level instruction, we had several classrooms or we had classrooms in every school. A classroom at least in every school that was not providing instruction that was per that was based on the grade level standards and expectations skills and expectations for that grade level. General education teachers reported that their input was overlooked at times. The least restrictive environment special ed students are being grouped together. um same content, same class and one lesson being delivered. So let's say it was math, English, science, social studies, they got a lesson in social studies or science. So groupings were not really um consistent or according to law, a

015positive behavior intervention and supports. We have to work on that countywide, which explains our afternoon. I don't know if any of you stayed for the afternoon session, but our morning session and our opening of school, Larry Bell, was about relationships and he was about relationships and having high expectations. The afternoon person was about the psychology and the sociology of the learner. It talked about generational understandings and how we work with different generations to establish positive behavioral intervention systems that can um teach students procedures and protocols for learning. So tailored to each finding, we have corrective actions. I'm not going to go over all that tonight because it's a lot of corrective actions. The schools and the special education teachers are aware of what their corrective actions are. timelines for submission. Originally, our timeline to have

016everything completed and done was October 3rd, but I did email the states and I asked after the state board meeting if we could have an extension on that because I did not feel that it was reasonable for us to get all those things that we see that we need to work on done by October 3rd. So we have an extension till December 3rd to get our documents uploaded that we have corrected those findings. So an example of a corrective action might be conducting a targeted office of special education training on-site or virtual. Um we did that pervasively. I trained all the principles. I trained all of the uh teachers and then I trained all the special education teachers. So, we went from small group to a large group to small group. And here's what that

017does. That's a systemwide reset. Um, we can't we can't dwell on the past, but we can move forward in a very positive united FA fashion because together we're stronger and together we all know the correct process and we're going to work on it together. So, um, initial corrections by December 3rd. All corrections has to be verified by July 12th, 2026. And we are lucky in the essence that we get to prove how great we've done because we get monitored again next year and we're going to be the best in the state next year. I'm confident that we are going to pull together and we are just going to rise to the top. The cream rises to the top and I feel like we're we're we're going to do this. I know that we can. Um,

018next, Christie. So, that's the end of that. So, um, one of the systemic issues that I had to do, and this does not need approval or anything. It's just for your FYI, is we had to redo our special education teacher job that both of us are together. The one >> once. Um, what did you get? >> We had to review I had to review our job posting. Some of our job postings are outdated as um you may be aware. So, this is the new special education job posting that we will be using moving forward. Um, I will send this on up to the state and get their approval for it because it is part of our finding that we had to um make sure that we covered everything that we need to cover in the

019job posting. But all of our job postings could use a little bit of updates. So, with that stated, I wanted to give you time to hear what our deficiencies were. know that we're working diligently on them and that we're a team approach and ask if you have any questions from me or any team that I can provide you an answer to as a group. >> Dr. Hollandworth, this is your cup of tea. >> Do you have any questions? removed from it for a while. But um what is the SLSA status? >> That is part of uh it's got to do with federal it's it's exempl federal something. >> Okay. >> But we have to have that on there. >> We have to have it. >> We just have it on there. >> Yes. It doesn't

020it means that we're posting it in a certain way. My biggest question is, and now there's two reasons. First, that whole idea of special ed teachers getting that extra day was so that none of this garbage happened. That's correct. Second, now turns out that attendance is a problem on those days when and I know the teachers complained because they felt like they were dumped on because we've got six kids in the classroom that need special ed and one day a week they're all there. Now, I know at the middle school and high school, they're probably not all there, but they are at the elementary schools. And so, that's problem. So, we we really need to eliminate that. We have and that was one of our recommendations that that had to be eliminated. And one of

021the first things that we have to turn in is the schoolwide schedule and the schedule for each of our special education teachers. Um I have asked them to have those ready for me by October 3rd to upload. And then each school has to turn in comprehensively a week's worth of lesson plan of every single teacher in the building to the state to review to make sure that the lesson plans and the schedules were all jabbing. So I did not want to ask teachers to turn to give me that as soon as they get to school because we do have this procedures and routine things that we have to teach to make sure that our students are ready to learn. But we will do our first upload on October 3rd, which will include all the trainings,

022all the schedules, and the lesson plans. That'll be a big a big pull for us. I think all of our schools have been really lax with lesson plans. Well, now they have to turn in a week for the lesson. That's in our >> teachers will age. >> That's a standard procedure forever. And we do have plan books for some of our schools. I don't I think that was purchased. So if they're using plan book, it should be easy to download those and submit them. >> I think the teachers are welcome with open arms cuz when you gone through that list, I was thinking teachers was complaining to me about was doing that it was wrong. >> Mhm. >> But they told do it anyway. >> Yeah. >> So I think you're getting real positive teachers

023be positive in receiving this. They I'm going to tell you our staff has been second to none. They have absolutely been uh gone above and beyond with their positive attitudes and to work with. So I think you are right and I I have not had teachers say anything at all. So I want you to know they are all they are all working really hard. I feel good about that. Any other questions, >> comments? >> I did like I like the training up there the other day. I went to the training that was real real good. I liked it and I was going to do it under matters board. But I want to thank you for bringing those those speakers in and I was also up there for the opening day and it was it was

024it was excellent and I saw a lot of people a lot of the teachers and everybody it was a positive thing for everybody. I didn't see any negativity. So it was good. They were more engaged than I've seen them in a lot of years. >> That's that's what I was going to say. They was engaged. And uh you know the one thing the state told us is we had good educators. >> You know they said they said your educators is excellent. >> That's not the problem. >> That's not the That's not the problem. Well, thank you for all the hard work you've done on this and I hope by December the 3rd we'll be in compliance with everything. >> We will. Oh, we will. We will. I'm gonna tell you that um I feel like

025I feel like this is not things we cannot correct. We I mean I feel like they are doable and we have the time to do them. They granted us that. I think we're going to get them done. >> I don't want to go back to the state and have them done. >> Me and Dr. Hollenssworth, you Dr. Williams and I was a little bit shook. be I hope they're nice to us. >> Okay. Updates on Pocahontas County High School state of emergency. >> Yes. I just wanted to um Miss Klein is still working diligently with Pocahontas County High School to make sure that they are meeting all the uh compliance indicators for their state of emergency. So, I did want to provide you with the latest checklist that they are working on and let you

026know what deadlines are coming off so we can keep moving forward and get this school um independent. So, if you go to page four of seven, we have a list there that had to be completed before August 21st. August 28th, I'm sorry. Um, and I would like to thank uh, Miss Dunla. She was critical in some of this. She read the student handbooks and she read the faculty handbooks and made sure code was being followed in that. She took a great load off of my plate. So, thank you, Miss Dunlap, for all of your help and assistance. I really appreciate it. Um, so we have that and then we can see the next thing is school culture, tone, and climate and maintenance projects. If you have not been up to the high schools, I think

027it looks beautiful up there. Um, the special education room, we got pictures of that today. Uh, Mr. Gibson has had to work like a dog, but he's loved every minute of it, right? >> Heartbeat. >> He's loved every minute of it. The bathrooms look phenomenal. I really think it sets a tone for the kids. Hey, we care about your environment. We care about what it looks like with the gym floors being installed. We did have the gym painted. I know it cost a little bit of money, but we have that money to spend and that's our that's our flagship school. It has to look beautiful and we have to take care of it. So the community has pride, we have to have pride first. So that's on there about u the stuff uh the beautifification

028that's happening, the maintenance projects. Then we have the family open and school orientation that's planned um 4 4:30 to 6:30 at um the high school. And if we move down, we have some student achievement. We've also started a new um attendance policy up there, a process that they're going to be implementing tomorrow. Miss Shifflet will be there, Miss Hill will be there, uh Miss Klein will be there. It'll be all hands on deck to support the high school and make sure that they have one of the best openings they've had in years. And then I will be there later in the morning. Um because they're my people and I'm there for my people. So I will be there tomorrow for my people. Um I'm just going to let you take a second. Professional development. We

029have those students uh special ed services. We're looking at those, reviewing those. we have had to have because we have a high school that has a certain number of special education students and we're a small high school, it's hard to support all that. So the the law does allow for waiverss in some of those classes. For example, if you have five kids in a class and three of them have IEPs, you might be out of compliance, but there's there's a whole bunch of different calculations that goes into that. So, we're looking at that schedule. we're making sure we're compliant and we're applying for the waiverss that um we need when we um do so. Um additional items I want to go to last page seven of seven attendance taking. This is what I was talking

030you to you about. U Miss Klein works with Miss Campbell and develop that the procedures party protocols expectations and process for all the discrepancies on the attendance list. Classroom restroom breaks for protocols. Now that we have these beautiful bathrooms, we want to keep them beautiful. We don't want any um anything going wrong or defacing of school property. Full coverage for the duty schedule. We've got that all worked out. Um one of the things that I am really big on is relationships. I feel every student should be greeted as they're coming into the school. I feel like we should have an exit process. I've asked all of our principles, not just the principles at the high school. Um, soon as you get to soon as the kids are in class in the morning, you need to

031do a round. Check on each of your classrooms. After lunch, you need to do a round. Check on each of your classrooms. And before the end of the day, you need to do a round. What are you looking for? You're looking that people are where they're supposed to be, when they're supposed to be doing what they're supposed to be. That's just the basic stuff of leadership. And I've asked them to start doing that, and I think that'll work out fine. Um, that's kind of it for an update. Just a quick summary of that. Are there any questions about the high school status and agreeing with that or any comments or um any concerns? >> I've got a comment espec this goes out to the to the public a lot of to the public because I've

032been asked several times why are you doing this up there? Why are you doing that? Well, the state's telling us they found this. We have to do this. Okay. And like like Dr. Williams said, we're going to try to get the public back into believing in us and believing in the school system that we have here. And it is a good system. We're going to get it fixed and we're going to put it in the right right direction. But we need everybody's support. I mean, we need the county, we need the students, we need the community, we need everybody because it's our school. It's all of us. >> It is absolutely. And I I would like to add on to that. Yes, there are things the state is telling us to do, >> but some

033of these things are just the right thing to do. >> We don't we we need to do them just because we believe in doing them, not just because the state told us, but because they're right for our kids. And we we love our kids. We want the best for our kids. >> And there's a lot of work been done. A lot. >> Yes, there is. There's Everybody at the high school is >> And that a lot of that goes back to Miss Klein. Miss Klein's doing a she's doing a wonderful job. She's a blessing. >> I don't know if she's on there tonight or I don't know if she's on there tonight or not. >> No, but she's she's been a real blessing to to Poconos County. >> And she's my mentor. >> Yeah. Uh

034for the new one. >> That's great. Yes. >> She she was so superintendent of Wyoming County >> for years and we got her to come in here as a kind of an advisor counselor type role. How would you what's her? She's West Virginia, the West Virginia Department of Education support. >> Yes. And she's done a great job for us. She really has. >> Any other questions for Dr. Williams? >> How are we doing on the gym floor? I know. I'm asking it down today. >> Did they? >> Great. Today was the first move everything in last Thursday and Friday. Got it in the gym and started to acclimate and they're starting the substrates. It'll be Probably a couple weeks before they start putting down the actual flooring. >> They got they got room to put

035all that stuff in there. I mean, I was up there when they unloaded it. Man, >> stacked in there and they got us. >> Okay. There was a pile of stuff there. >> Was a bunch. >> It was a good day for it to show up. >> All of us was there. It was a great day. >> Dwayne, you done good. >> You had that all planned out. >> He had all planned out. All of us was there and they show up with the flooring and you know that's planning. I'm proud of you. >> All right. Item number six is consent agend is approval of minutes from July the 29th, 2025 special meeting. B approval of the agenda. C payment of bills subject to addition deletion and other charges prior to the board meeting. Payment

036of vendor listing of $101,8181. Payment of local government purchasing card 14,19679 August 5th 2025 employee payroll 255,83568 extra duty pay August 2025 was 25,3497 grant awards budget adjustments and D budget transfers and supplements subject to additions deletions or other changes prior to the board meeting. Do I have a motion? Then the Mr. from Colles made the motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dr. Hollinssworth second it. We're going to take these one at a time. Approval of the minutes from July 29th, 2025 special meeting. Do I have any questions or do one time one time I guess? >> Okay. B. Approval of the agenda. Any additions or corrections to the agenda? >> Yes. Um on number eight under October calendar, we're going to strike that out. I just don't have that ready tonight.

037>> Okay. >> And then on number uh superintendence, I've got that wrong. If we go to new business, E, permission to post an extra duty contract for supervisor counseling services. We're going to strike that one out. E >> Johnny D >> E. We're going to strike that out. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> That's it. >> All righty. See if payment of bills. Anybody have any questions on the pills or grant awards or adjustments? >> Indeed. budget transfers and some of them subject to additions, deletions or other changes prior to the board meeting. Any questions? Hearing none. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Motion carries. Number seven is person agenda. Do I have a motion? Mr. McCall made a motion. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Dr. Hollinssworth second. Holly, you

038going to read the personnel agenda? for September 21 China resignation of Peggy Owens from the fifth grade position at Mon Elementary School effective August the 1st 2025 approval of a mutual agreement from Melissa Hill removed due to the changing enrollment was one of the teachers of fourth grade at Greenbank Elementary and Middle School Dr. Rhonda Colmes, director of personnel technology and student services for the central office. Uh she has completed that successful background and will be coming on board soon. Miss Griffith uh teacher of fifth grade Monet Elementary School coming from the new Stevens position at Poconus County High School. The resignation of Melissa Robinson uh employment of Emma Dean teacher of multi subjects Marlington Middle School effective uh with the start of a new school year. Those are all of the positions in the

039professional realm that will be filled. Um we are knocking those down little by little. Service recommendations employment to Caleb Barkley as extra summer custodian effective August the 7th, 2025 through August the 27th, 2025. Assignment by the maintenance director. Requested transfer was from Lorie Wayne. The employment of Michaela Malcolm as the secretary to accountant to at Greenbank Elementary Middle School. that's effective for the 2526 school year. Employment is Jennifer Yokum Special Education Classroom Bus Aid at Poconus County High School. She'll be replacing Lisa Johnson. And Cassandra Smith is the accounts payable here at the central office and she's already started her position. As of tonight, all of our service positions are filled. >> Employment of Logan Wyber is assistant football coach for the middle school. Employment of Owen Vogelong is the $1 assistant soccer coach for

040the 2526 athletic season. We have the following uh substitute teachers that have gotten their certifications through for the 2526 school year. Shannon Arbagast, Don Brewster, and Janette Writtenhouse. And then we have an amended for Tessa Gum paid master leave bankank elementary middle with an amended start date for effective September the 11th 2025 for a period of up to 12 weeks >> executive >> huh we have an executive session >> we we don't unless you want one >> I would like one >> okay on what >> okay Dr. Dr. Hollensworth has requested a executive session on personnel. >> Hopefully a short one. >> Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Mr. McNab second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. >> Motion carries. We'll go into executive session act 637. And she

041says it's going to be short so it shouldn't be but a minute. Dr. Hollinssworth made the motion second. Mr. McNab second. All those in favor signify by saying I. I. We come out of the executive session at 6:46. That was a quick one. told me. >> Yeah. Didn't take long, did it? Okay. Uh, personnel matters. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> I. Motion carries. Superintendent report a quarterly meeting with central faculty senate presidents to build culture, climate, and communication with schools. And that's you. >> That's me. So, I met with the faculty senate presidents before school started and talked to them about the things that we need according to code. We need somebody for the safety team that Mr. Gibson will be overseeing. We need the LSIC's to be up and running

042and functioning properly and we need somebody for the countywide curriculum development. I'm I'm looking at Mr. Make sure those are the three things I asked for. uh >> yeah a strategic plan member as well. So my goal is to have quarterly meetings with all the faculty senate presidents to establish that open line of communication between the schools and the superintendent. So, what I have asked them to think about moving forward is that I want a glow, something they're proud of that they're doing at the school, so we can recognize that on the board agenda and tell the board about the great things that's happening in your school. Um, a grow, something that they're working on to improve their school and what they've done, and if there are any additional supports or resources that we need

043to provide them to make them successful and overcome that barrier. So, it's just a problem-solving model that I'm implementing. So, before they have their faculty senate meeting or after they have their faculty senate meeting, we will meet and make sure that um we're working together again with the theme we're stronger together. >> Okay. Old business A is a decision review and possible action on policy 5136, personal electronic devices. B. Discussion, review, and possible action on policy 7540.04, staff AUP policy. C update on preK grade parent dropout and pick drop off and pickup procedures. Minimum age added. D is discussion, review, and approval of the JROTC application. E, approval of amendments to the SBA to include painting of the gymnasium. F is discussion and approval of amendments to Stephanie Burns mutual agreement. Do I have a

044motion? Say >> Mr. Holmes made a motion. Do I have a second? >> I'll second. >> Mr. McNab seconded. Starting off with a You want to explain that 5136 personnel electronic devices a little bit. Is that telephones and stuff kids? There's state law regarding this and I just kind of wanted to review and outline the the elements of our policy that is out on review which I believe if it's passed today then that would be something that we will be implementing. So um all personal electronic devices as used in this policy are defined in the bylaws of 010 0. All personal electronic devices shall not be accessible to students for use in classroom settings during instructional time with the exception of exemptions set forth in this policy. And this is a state law. Everybody has

045to have this in place for their schools. Instructional period is defined as the time from the start of the first instructional period to the end of the last instructional period, including transitions between classes. And students are permitted to have PEDs on school property. So that what this means is they have them, they're turned off, they're either in their locker or in their backpack. They never have them out except for when the exemptions occur. So exemptions document medical reasons. Um the county board may include um permission to use PDF if the student uses and uh approved for workbased programs. So that means if they're out in a workbased program sponsored by the school system, they can have their personal electronic device. Students may have their personal electronic device when taking an online course. Sometimes your online

046courses has that multifactor authentication when they send a text to your cell phone. So they would probably need it for that purpose. Students involved in extracurricular activities after school is dismissed, they'll have their phones on silent or vibrate and the coach will monitor that. So they should not have them out at that unless they have coaches permission and they are so they can contact their parents. And then students may use cell phones while riding um to and from school um or on another in another board approved vehicle um as long as there's not distracting behavior. So violations if students bring their personal electronic device to school, what does our policy say? How we will deal with this? and Niola had a recommended progressive scale. So disciplinary action and confiscation of the peed personal electronic device.

047Building principal will refer matter to law enforcement or child services if the violation involves illegal activity. Um discipline will be imposed on an escalating scale. If the PDE personal electronic device is confiscated, it will re be returned after the parent or guardian and the student complies with any disciplinary consequences that are imposed unless the violation involves potentially illegal activities such as any pornography or any kind of bullying or anything like that that needs research. Funds will be marked by the principal in a removable manner with a student's name when they're confiscated. So, violations, use of a PDA for the purpose of academic dishonesty, recording, altercations, or unethical or immoral behavior shall, and that means you have to shall means you have to carry additional violations at the discretion of the principal. and that will be

048in accordance with policy 4373. So all violations have to be documented in weeas. Violations of the policy will include progressive penalties as follows. So the first time first offense the device will be confiscated and returned to the student after following a conference with a teacher, principal and parent notification and that should be a notification by phone. The student can get it back at the end of the day. Second uh offense with the PDA uh the personal electronic device will be confiscated and returned to the parent, not the student. The parent will have to come in and get the cell phone or smartwatch or whatever it is that the personal electronic device. The student will be assigned appropriate discipline as defined in the school's discipline matrix for habitual violation of rules. Because if you know not

049to do it, you do it and then the second time you do it, then you're habitually violating the rules and it should be dealt with accordingly to policy 4373. General refusal to surrender a personal electronic device to a teacher or administrator pursuit of this policy constitutes insubordination. It is not our staff should not have to put up with being uh defied, cursed at or any any retaliation because they are following the policy. So they will be um that progressive discipline will be done according to policy 4373. So what comments did we get? So when we p first put the comments out um we didn't have name on I feel if you're going to make a comment if you make a comment on the state board policy you have to put your name in right so

050our first comments were anonymous no name but these were the comments I think a PDA should be allowed a PED should be allowed I believe that the policy should be left for teachers to decide inconsistency that's not what the law says um I find that personal devices such as cell Phones should be allowed in classrooms as long as they don't become a huge issue. Um, we should be able to have them for personal use and even educational use. Allow them. Teachers use them for more than educational. That's all it said. And option B, I don't even know what option B was. I couldn't find it. But nonetheless, um, those were the comments. Um, none of those comments can we really use because they don't go along with the law. This is a law that was

051passed that we have to have. So, I'll stop on that policy to see if there's any questions or comments or concerns about that policy. >> Now, are the students are they going to have to sign an agreement for this or is if we put it in policy that means everybody should know it? >> I mean, >> everybody should know it and the principles will go every guarantee we're going to get calls. Well, I didn't know that. I didn't know that. But, >> okay. >> Yes. that principles will review that at their opening meeting. Any other comments? >> We're gonna get calls now. >> The only other thing that I got a question >> topic across the state of West Virginia. >> It's not just here. >> Yeah. >> The only other one that I got

052a question of that I can see coming up is like uh on the bus to ball games or any kind of activities. >> They're allowed to have it on the bus and the bus driver regulates it or the coach. >> The bus driver or the coach. Okay. So, everybody should know that. bus drivers make an announcement before the bus students should be able to hear them. So if there are earbuds in both ears and they're cranked up real loud, they can only have an earbud in one ear. >> Most most bus drivers would like to see them do that. >> Drivers this year Bluetooth speakers on the buses because the kids would bring those start cranking. >> Oh yeah. >> Absolutely. >> No, they don't need them. >> And that would fall under personal electronic

053devices. >> Yes. Okay. That's all I've got. We're gonna get calls. >> Oh, you know about the first time we take somebody's phone, we're gonna hear about it. But you know, that's right. State policy to implement the state law. >> And really, let's think about this for a second. They're in school to learn. >> Yes. >> You know, yeah. >> Just play on their phone, >> not to play on phones. >> We got along all right. >> They didn't help cell phones ever. I went to school. >> Me either. >> We had to send smoke signals. What was that? >> They didn't have computers in classrooms either. >> Do you want >> No, I don't. >> Do you want to go over to the next one? >> Yes, please. >> Okay. So, the next one

054is the te staff technology acceptable use and safety policy, which is also required by law for opening school for the staff. >> So, this is this presentation is not all inclusive of everything that's in the policy, but it's the highlights of the policy of things I just thought I should pull out. We already have this policy by the way. >> We're just we're just uh tweaking it to match the new state law. So unlike the past, the board may not be able to technologically limit access to only those services and resources that have been authorized for the purpose of instruction or for study or for rel related curriculum. In the past, before we opened YouTube and all that stuff up, you had to send a request to the West Virginia Board of Education. They approved

055it and you that's the only way you could get those things. Filtering has opened up. That's a local decision. So, we do not we put some filtering on there, but we do not make teachers get a pre-qual to use websites. So, this is saying, "Hey, you're a professional. We've opened this up. Follow the rules." basically um refrain from actions that are illegal, liable, slanderous, vandalism, harassment, theft, plagiarism, inappropriate access and/or unkind such as personal attacks, invasion of privacy, um injurous comments and the like. So that's what the policy says that you know, don't do these things. It's not nice and if you do there's going to be a problem. Users have no right to expect privacy when using the county internet or county technology device. It's given to users for instructional use. So if you

056do anything nefarious or inappropriate on your technology provided device using e-ate provided internet, you should not assume privacy because everything is monitored through our filtering system and if you have a violation then it will be addressed according to policy or law in some cases. Um, the use of electronic resources, technology, and internet must be must support education and cons be consistent with the educational objectives and priorities of the West Virginia Board of Education. Use of the network and computing resources must comply with rules appropriate to the network and copyright compliance. I think that copyright compliance is the thing that most educators are in violation of, but we have to follow cop copyright rules. So page four, building level principles are responsible provi providing trainers so that internet users under their supervision are knowledgeable about this

057policy and it's accompanying guidelines and we've provided all the Miss Hammond's provided all of our educators our teachers our principles our principles with training on this so that they are prepared to do this with their staff. Training shall include but not be limited to topics of appropriate online behavior interaction on social media such as don't be in a chat room with students, don't be cyberbullying each other and cyber bullying awareness and how to respond to cyber bullying. >> Dr. Wings, I believe you guys put that on vector training as well, didn't we? >> Yes, we did. Um staff are responsible for good behavior when using county technology and information resources. Behavior comparable to that that is expected when you are in the classroom with students or in a room with someone. You know, if you

058wouldn't say rude, obnoxious things to somebody in right now, don't do it online. It's still not appropriate. inflammatory comments that could compromise the county's mission and our county slogan this year is together we are stronger. We don't want to undermine staff relationships. We don't want to cause substantial disruption in our school or to the school environment. So there were no comments on this policy that I could elicit from the uh form that we put out and that's probably because this policy existed and we were just updating them. So we um I think we are at the end of our 30-day comment period to get these approved and let the if the board will do that. Please >> any questions on this one? >> No. No. >> No questions. We're moving down to number C. >>

059Number C. This would be Mr. Gibson. >> You're up Dwayne. >> The only thing that changed the left would ask third grade pickup policy or procedure. So, we did put 8 to 12 years old. 12 years old. went over that to the drivers last Friday and emailed it to the principal after I talk to the driver where they can hold the kids. We've covered all the bases on >> and that's uh drop off and pick up. >> Yeah. If people don't Okay. Any any discussions or questions for Mr. Gibson on this one? >> Okay. D is a JOTC application. >> Correct. I've asked Miss Dunlap to bring that in and we've done our survey which we had overwhelmingly positive results. >> I found a lot of good lot of good to get this submitted so

060far but it's open till Friday and we'll come pull up and show when the screen went online so we can get more student feedback. But this is what we have as of this morning. Thank you. >> And but currently we only have 10 students that have responded and but to give their their feedback. Uh we we didn't ask super specific questions about this. We just wanted to know you know what is your interest? Are you willing to support it? Um, I have contacted Major Pickinsaw, Adrien Brace, and Sergeant Smith, and they were really excited to help me because I do not know military language. I want to make sure when I complete the application, you all have a copy of that that I answer those questions correctly >> and they were super excited to help

061me. I have sent these to them, make sure I submit the fabrication on the 15th. And uh, they were very instrumental in getting the program started in Vancouver contacts in our region. Um he he said that there's a possibility of when doing your research if the wait time is like four to 10 years but he said there are some programs that are um going to have to close because they don't have instructors which will open up slots and he said the shift will happen and he said it might happen a little sooner for us but I wasn't you know I was a little more excited about that because I thought geez we need four years but I got to get our foot in the door before we get to that four years and I want

062to make sure that all my tees are crossed and my eyes were dotted. and um they're they were working on it today. They didn't have a chance to get back to me this evening, but um he said this is the first step. Um I looked at two or three other programs like for our Navy program, you have to have a million 500 students in the high school before you even apply. So, and the army's abroad. There's the other program that um called it written out here what we call a um future leaders program which through the national guard but that's funded by the county and there's no support military support for the equipment and and that's a huge expense when the army supplies the numbers of the salaries. So, I want to make sure that

063when we do this, we are all lined up. And um I'm I'm excited that neighborhood call. He said, "Oh, good." He said, "We'll come up. We'll help you." I was talking to Mr. Gibson. I think we have some thoughts in place for where we can have the storage closet, the office for the officers. And so, I think we'll have a good plan in place when they give us the thumbs up. >> Good. Any questions? But I know it's a little bit hard to read all that stuff. And I read it and read it and I wanted to make sure my language was correct. So maybe my son's in National Guard, but I don't know the language. He's a lieutenant. I know that much. >> I think I think as soon as school starts, you're going

064to get a lot more interest. >> We just kind of work together real quick. Got the questions out there and we just wanted to make sure we had some interest in the support. We do have to maintain 10% of our student body. They asked for 100 members in the unit, but um we obviously can't do that. But they've got more than um 10% at uh East. So I think that with their support, we should be able to grow our program and and I think we've got people that live here in our area that would be interested in possibly being our instructors. So I think we've got a lot of good >> Matt. Excuse me. >> Yeah. >> He was cuz I talked to a lefty Mr. Smith. >> Yeah. >> When I first on the

065board and he said anything I can do >> with then my previous superintendent said we don't have enough people. >> But the 10% worries me a little more across like when you look at the numbers across the board in our other CTE programs but they can still do both because it can be an elective and can fall under CTE which gives it another funding source. I know that when I worked in Greenar County, I did I bought supplies for them as well through CTE funds because they were a lot of part of the budget and it it was a good working relationship and there's a lot of support. Robert Malice from the state department when I was speaking information. He said just let me know whatever I can do to help you. Mr. um Ronnie

066Penny is also the FLP and he said any support that he could provide he'd be glad to help. So I've got people out there. I just want to make sure that when I start this journey, I got all the parts in my car. >> This has done an outstanding job getting this ready for us. Thank you for all your hard work. I appreciate it. >> Thank you very much. >> I just want to say number five, if you look at number five, when you support your child participating in the JOTC program, we had an overwhelming 43 yeses, 83% of the people surveyed. So, we have community support for this program. >> I've heard a lot of stuff from the community already about it. They're excited about it. They're talking about it >> and it's a

067nice little pay raise if you've been this program when you enlist. >> It is. Yeah. >> I forget the exact amount. It's like 150 a month or something extra. It's >> good for our kids. >> Any other questions about this? E, approval of amendment to SBA to include painting of the gymnasium. >> So, >> like we're going to vote no on trying to get money. >> So, actually that's on there a little a little bit. Um, and I think we have Audrey Blackburn online, so if if she raises her hand, we will unmute her to talk if we can. But really what I wanted to talk to you about today is the deadline to submit an SBA project is September the 15th. So I provided Let me give you a letter here. Here you go.

068>> Thanks. >> You're welcome. Thank you. Let me pass it down. Um, so what I have on the top of your packets is our project priority list from to submit things to the SBA from our CFP plan. So the first group is number one priority, second group is number two priority, and the third group is number three priority. And I will be calling on Mr. Gibson, Miss Hawk a little bit because he knows all those words, the technical words. Okay. So in the first group you can see that the the thing that we haven't done there is a new HVAC project at the high school and we need HVAC at the high school. In group number two we have the Marlington Elementary School electrical upgrades. They cannot get HVAC until they have electrical upgrades. It's

069it's it's this before that kind of a thing. And then on group number three, we'll have if we look at those two things on group number three, we will have uh Marlington Middle School, Mr. Gibson has said we need a new roof for that school. So this is our priority list from our CFP and what we are talking about is an energy systems group and they use a contract called source web. And source well is one of those contracts that you can buy and purchase off of um without having to go through the RFP process. So, I told them in um I actually spoke to Miss Klein about it and I said, "We have several projects. You know, you know somebody that can help us." And she recommended Audra Blackburn. Um so I asked them

070to help me with the renovations of the board office, the boiler at Gillsboro and gas water heaters at >> electric mill. >> Electric at Marlington Mill. So, she came into that and then I told her I said, "I'd really like to do an SBA project um for our school and in talking to her about working with those things. They can help us with all of these renovations." So, I asked her, she's going to be online to talk to us about this letter of intent, what it means, and what it details. Barbara, can you hear us? You should be able to now. >> Yes, I can. Can you hear me? Hello. >> Hello. >> We can hear you. >> Oh, good. Hello, everyone. Good evening. Um the letter of intent I provided to the superintendent basically

071outlines the work that we would do uh on behalf of the county and we would look at we would do engineering services for you know any needs that you have uh with regard to HBAC roofing uh energy infrastructure such as those electrical upgrades and any needs that you have. we would bring back the uh costs of of those systems and that kind of thing and let you know how much that would cost, how much savings would be associated with that and help you figure out a way to pay for that over time. So, u that's what the letter of intent says. The letter of intent also says that you intend to move forward with a contract. It's an energy savings performance contract. And if you don't, if you decided to not do a project, which

072I know you have a ton of needs, and um if you decided not to move forward with a project, you would have an exit fee of $25,000. If you decided to move forward with a contract, the $25,000 would roll into your contract. So, you're really never out a penny. you're not going to pay u any money to develop this project or to engineer this project to move forward with making improvements to your board office uh to those water heaters to your boiler at Hillsboro Elementary and all these different items that you need to get done. Um I also know that you can um approach the SBA for funding through an energy savings performance contract as well. I just there's form I think it's 210 on the SBA website. Dr. Williams, I just looked it up.

073So that is a possibility that you can do that through this process as well. But that's what that letter of intent is for. And so it is a comprehensive project where you would look um at all of the facilities. I know you have a priority list there, but it would help you figure out a way to pay for it over time through a lease purchase agreement. And we have worked with Mrs. Klein. That was one other thing I wanted to say. Um, we did the Wyoming County Board of Education board office and um, three phases of work for Wyoming County schools. We did HVAC for their Westside High School and uh many of their other facilities as well. So, we have a lot of experience in the state of West Virginia. We've been working in

074West Virginia since about 2006. And I'll just stop there and see if you guys have any questions or or need anything from me. >> I guess the question is do we and Aubra am I saying her name right? Abra. Audra, are we >> you would when we spoke this letter of intent in the facility evaluation, you you would provide service to help us get to help us propose an SBA project. >> Correct. But if you don't get SBA funding, the beauty of the process and why people use it is not everyone in the state is going to get SBA funding. I mean, let's hope that you do. I mean, that's really the goal, but it doesn't mean that you can't get your work done. Um, I know that Mrs. Klein had mentioned to you that

075the lease purchase is a beautiful thing because you it gives you the ability to address needs that you have and pay for it over time. So, it basically takes money that you have, you know, that you have planned to spend on things and it helps you buy down your lease purchase agreement to pay for things that you need. And, you know, obviously without us looking at your facilities and assessing how much these things would cost and how much savings we could gather to put towards that project, I mean, we wouldn't be able to tell you how much that project would cost. So that's really the first step is to move forward with what we call the investment grade audit of your facilities to determine how much that would cost. You know, how much those projects

076would cost and of course we would help you come up with a um budget for your SBA request and we've actually already started working on it. >> When do we pay the $25,000? >> Um well, you don't actually. If you decided to move forward with a contract to do improvements to your facilities, such as, for instance, let's just say the boiler at Hillsboro, your water heaters, and uh the infrastructure improvements that you're going to make to your board office and maybe air conditioning somewhere else. That $25,000 pays for the development and engineering cost to get that that project designed and engineered. I mean, that's that rolls into your contract. You really are not out any funds to move forward with a contract. Basically, what happens is you finance that project through a lease purchase agreement.

077And let's say that you got local funds, state or federal funds, you can put that towards your lease purchase agreement to to pay for your lease purchase agreement over time. >> Mr. Gibson, what what's your ideas about this? Then we need to move on. I don't want this to cost more money, but we do need to make moves on pretty quickly. >> How does this tie in with the window that we have the energy contract? Two different things. I think this energy saving. >> That's what I was going to ask. We did away with that down at Hills. We voted to do away with that at Hillsboro because it wasn't saving anything at a Hillsboro meeting to get out of that. I don't know what the difference is between that and this. Um, Miss Blackburn,

078do you want to address the difference in your organization and window organization? >> Probably need to unmute Miss Blackwell. I >> think she's done left us. >> No, she's still >> Can you hear me now? >> Yeah. >> Okay. Um, I think my computer decided to mute me for some reason, but uh, basically ESG is a national company. We've completed $4.5 billion dollars worth of these projects. We've been working in West Virginia for, uh, since 2006. We've uh, been in this business and this is all that we do. And we've done this for over 30 years. We've done approximately $1.4 billion dollar worth of these projects in our history. and 40% of our business is K12 schools. We've done multiple phases of work for over 20 performance contracts in the state of West Virginia with

079each one of those being highly successful projects. So I'm, you know, I would have to just say all the positives that I can about what we do and how we stand behind our projects. We uh make sure that your systems are operating properly and um make sure that you know you are getting the project that you signed on for and making sure that it's constructed properly and operating properly and we stand behind that project for the term of the project. And uh we guarantee no change orders as well. And so there's a lot that we do that differentiates us against uh several of our competitors. And I mean that's that's all I can say positively about us without saying something about someone else. And that's how I'd like to keep it in a public meeting.

080>> So I want to say that the main difference to me is they are part of the source well contract. We're part of the source well contract. >> We needed to bid out architectural and engineering services and we haven't done that. >> And if we want to do an SBA project, we either have to we either have to skip not doing an SBA or get some help doing it because it's due soon. So that was the reason that I had asked this client. I said, "We need to we need to be able to do projects and I don't have time to bid out the architectural services." >> Sort of like having retainers. >> Yes. >> We need them. They're there. >> So, we're going to pay you $25,000. Now, what what when do you get

081more money? If you get a percentage of whatever jobs that we do that you you write for us and we get, you get a percentage of that. Well, the letter of intent basically says that that Pocahontas County Board of Education intends to move forward with a contract to do a project. Okay. And then it says, "If you do not move forward with a project uh within the 90 days of us completing the investment grade audit, you will pay ESG $25,000 for the work that they have completed. We're going to go and look at all of your schools, all of your energy consuming and possibly losing, you know, devices and that kind of thing and and develop your project for you. That would require engineers to come in, spend time looking at all your facilities to

082develop this project and bring that back to the board of education. You're not gonna pay anybody $25,000. >> You're going to sign you're actually going to sign a letter of intent that says you intend to move forward with a project because you have a ton of work to do in Pocahontas County and you intend to get some of that work done. And when you do move forward with doing that work, you no longer are held to that exit fee. That's what the letter says. >> I I got two or three problems here. Number one, I hate to vote on something when I don't know what the total cost of it is going to be. That's that's the first thing because they could come in and I'm I'm not blaming her, but they can come in

083at $20 million. >> We don't know what they're going to look at and say at the end. The other problem I have being a board of education, a public entity, do we have to put this stuff out for bid? >> If you're just going with an engineering and an architectural firm, yes, we we need we need a we need a firm on retainer to do that. This particular thing is the source well contract that they work with, which is a federal contract, which is different. >> Okay? >> Do you understand? Policy 8200 allows for certain certain contracts to be used that are federal contracts. So they're working through the source well contract and we're part of the s source well contract. It's kind of like the tips contract. It >> it's cooperative purchasing and um

084you know basically every this is a letter of intent. Okay. The next step would be moving forward with a contract >> and she has a great ation in West Virginia and we would not uh ever bring anything towards the board that the administration has not does not support and basically that would not be financially feasible to the county. So, the whole goal is to help you and partner with you to be able to um address the needs that you have in your facilities and try to help you figure out a way to pay for those. And um you know we have a list of references statewide where we have done this with even counties that are under state control and been able to help counties that have very little money to be able to help

085them address their HVAC needs, their facility needs in their county. So I mean that's really all I can say. Um, the one thing I would really like to do is be there in person to be able to give you ESG's presentation from beginning to end and to be able to meet all of you all. But, you know, it is not our goal to try to strap any county with a long-term debt because that's just not something we're looking to do. We're looking to partner with with a board of education and a school system to make it better and do anything we can do to help you push your money further and be able to address the needs in your county in the best way that we know how. >> Any other questions? >> She can

086come on September 16th and present. >> And you're going to do it to when's the SBA meeting? The SBA meeting is September the 15th. >> We have submission date for December. September 12th for the needs project. >> September 12th. That's correct. >> So, you got to have it prepared by then, >> right? Just submit it. >> Yeah. And she will help me, correct me if I'm wrong, Miss Blackburn, but you will help me get those forms filled out for the initial submission. So that's that's but that's that's the reason I feel like we needed her or we can say we want to table it. >> We can't table because of the SBA stuff. We got to have something taken from the SBA. >> Correct. Uh, >> if you want to have something, I need some

087help to do that. >> Yeah, and we've always had help doing it. >> Well, you can, but it won't be as as complex. You can do them. I mean, we've presented stuff before to the SBA and we've just received funds. >> Huh? >> We We've done it and received funds and we did it and hasn't. But it's better if you got somebody, an architect or somebody to to stand up for you. They they read that a lot more than they do a superintendent or a board member because they they've got three or four architects that they recommend. >> So I don't know what >> it's it's up to the board to see. It's up to the board, >> but I still will have to we still have the renovations here that we have to do.

088>> Yes, we but we want to submit that all time, >> but I don't think they'll give us anything from the board office. >> Oh, I know. I was going to say that we cannot get anything for the board office, but last year you submitted Mr. Gibson >> the HVAC. We had HBAC enclosed access between academic and CTE new windows as part of and last year we received nothing. We received zero financing come in. >> We're going to have to get on this Bullard and Hillsburg because one of these mornings we're going to get up and it's going to be 32. >> So that that's something that whether whether we got any money for it or not pay for it to get it done. Now, we go ahead and submit it, but I think with

089that buller, we need to go ahead and start the ordering process. >> We're going to have to that >> and get that thing in place. >> She can help us get that off the source. Well, Mr. Gibson met with her person that >> right, we went down. We went down last week, week before and looked at the boiler. We were back at the hospital for a little bit. We stopped and looked at water heaters, put it into her. Not all the >> Can we not fix the boer that's there? I mean, I forgot to ask that question the last time. >> Say that again. >> Can the buller there not be fixed? >> It's got a got a hole in one of the sections. There's a possibility we could put a like a soft leak

090type material in it. I talked to a guy with one of our suppliers and he's been in the boiler system for like 40 45 years. He said there's possibility we could do that. Um, and then we still need to replace the boiler. >> But yeah, section if one section's going bad, we know what the section we're going to be doing. How long's that buller been there? >> 21 21 years. >> Could Pat Schulner a welder? I've >> talked about that too. I've already talked to Pat. I'm sending some pictures of it. Talking to this gentleman. Um, like I said, one of the contractors, he said maybe if you touch that boiler with a million rod, you might blow a one inch hole in. >> Yeah, we've been in the thought process. >> I I don't

091even know what the buller looks like. I'd like to see that buller, though. cuz I dealt with bullets forever. Big bullets. >> 400 horsepower bullets. We didn't We didn't buy a new bullet. They $900,000. Oh, >> we fixed them from the ground up. >> Got some quotes on this. I'm not going down. >> Well, yeah. Sure. >> We do have some quotes and they vary quite a bit from one to 11. >> I know the last one. That one come out of Ohio. I know that Hillsboro. >> Yes. Yeah, I remember when we had to order it. I was on the board. Judge Holding. >> We have one quote that's below the Sil bit threshold and then all the other quotes are above the sil bit threshold. Um my only thing with buying the cheapest

092product or the lowest price product. >> You get what you >> Yeah. So one if one's 49 and one's 100 >> I don't understand >> how many horsepower is that both >> horsepower >> BTUs >> give me a second I've got pictures of it I can't look that way if I can find Take time for him. The mayor's waiting on us. He's waiting all evening. While he's hunting that, I'm gonna take a break. >> I've got pictures on my >> We're going to break. YouTube. >> You know, there's a sign on the It says boiler room. I almost went there when I did the walk through house, but I was >> You should have went and looked That's where they keep all the Halloween decorations. >> Even all the Halloween Did you find the pictures?

093>> I found the pictures. It doesn't say the BT news on it. >> Do you want to go and send them to Christie? She can pull them up. >> What's that? >> Email them to Christie. You can pull them up for us maybe so we can all look at them together. >> Um, I texted Jeff and he thinks it's 1.3. What we're talking is this a year contract that we're doing or five year or three year. What what kind of term limit are we looking at here? >> Are you all talking to me right now? >> You could answer. >> Yes sir. Um, basically the letter of intent would allow us to go do the investment grade audit and that looking your facilities which usually would take us about 3 months time and come up

094and develop a project for you all and then the construction of the project once a contract is signed a real contract for the project. Uh, the construction normally takes around 12 months. So you're not really signing a contract for any length of time. you're just intending to move forward with a project. That's all that letter of intent says. >> Okay? >> And then you move forward, you know, once you move forward with a project, that's when you would sign a contract. And the um contract then would line out the scope of work, what is in your project, how much it cost, and um how much savings could be put towards the project. And that's when you would determine, you know, if you wanted to do a lease purchase or how you would pay for it.

095That's kind of how these projects are done. And um there's no time limit on it. You can you could use us at any time. You know, source well is basically cooperative purchasing. It's already been you bid out. That's why it's allowed for you to use that. And um it allows you all to move quickly >> to get things done. >> Will you all supply somebody for the clerk of the works and to oversee the the quality of it and all that the installation of whatever projects we do or is that back on us? >> Yes, we supply the project manager. He's already been to your county. He's already looked at the urgent needs and already willing to get this stuff as soon as possibly can be done and such as the Boiler at Hillsboro Elementary,

096for example. Um, you know, and get things done that you really have to get done quickly, such as the upgrades at your board office that you're under um state order to get done. and he's looked at that and he's looked at also the water heaters that are having a problem right now and um you know those are the real urgent needs and then we would look at you know other needs that you have in the county and bring those forward to uh your team and see what they would be interested in doing. But you're not signing on for any long-term deal or anything like that with the SJ. you're just, you know, you would be selecting us through this source well, which is cooperative purchasing and it's legal and allows you to do that quickly

097so that we can help you quickly. And then we can also help you on the long term to determine what things you can get done, how much it costs, and if you can find a way to pay for it within your um, you know, financial ability. >> All right. Thank you. Any other questions? All right. Number F is decision and approval of amendment to Stephanie Burns mutual agreement. >> Yes. That was in your packet, correct? >> Yes. Yes. >> So, when I did Stephanie Burns mutual agreement, um, a federal programs coordinator gets a $2,000 supplement if you're halftime. If you're full-time, I should have doubled that and put that on her mutual aisle. I should have put her $4,000 supplement. Instead, I didn't put anything on there because she she had zero supplement. So, Sarah

098brought it to my attention that her supplement wasn't on there and we needed to rectify that situation for auditing purposes. So, I said I will get on that and get it on the next agenda. So, hence um that was my first day on the job till I won. I just want to say give me a little a tiny bit of grace on that day. But we need to amend her mutual agreement to include her supplement and it was an oversight on my behalf, >> which will be $4,000. >> All right. Now, we're voting on all of these. So, if you want to pull one out, let me know. All those in favor sign I. >> I. >> Motion carries after all that discussion. Okay, new business. >> Yes, sir. >> Yeah. >> Morningington. Mayor Sam

099Felton downtown trail update and BOE property request. And I'm going to stop right there and I'm going to let the mayor present himself right now. But all those in favor signify by saying I. >> Give me a motion. >> Yeah. >> Second it. >> Okay. Dr. Williams and board members, I just want to thank you for this opportunity. Perfect to allow Sarah and I to come present. And uh Mr. President, can I how much time do I have? Can I have 10 minutes after waiting this long? Because >> Mr. Felton, we we'll we'll get as long as you don't go to preaching, we'll give you time. Well, if you do, that might be okay, too. >> Yeah, we might go eight minutes. >> Yeah, that that might be okay, too. >> I could talk about

100this project for two hours without any problem. >> Nonetheless, >> u, this will, before I even give you the handouts to give you an identifier, here's Discovery Johnson. Okay, here's the big white Verizon cell tower that you see downtown. Here is basically uh your lot. Okay. Right in here that's adjacent to the frontier uh communications materials yard. Okay. what we're talking about. Let me also say that uh I've been listening to you guys handle uh policy and and and uh this the educational puzzle that you have to put together each each uh day each month and you know I'm tasked with administrative and economic uh also uh puzzle pieces to put together and economic development is difficult enough in uh any place, but when you're in flood plane, it has a whole other layer of

101complications and so forth to it. And part of the way that I started down this road to begin with, even with Discovery Junction, and now with this project that we're proposing, is projects that could be built in a flood plane. Technically, we're talking about a a farmers market and so forth at Discovery Junction. over here talking about parking. Okay, but they each have economic components to it. Okay, and that that's the thing I want uh the board to consider. And uh I don't expect you to uh absorb in all of this this evening, but maybe for the final decisions afterward, this may help with with some of your questions. It may actually prompt some questions. I don't know. But but uh one for Sam here as well and you probably are interested as well on

102um and I just wanted to say that that uh before Sarah does her part by the way Sarah Cottingham has uh we first met through the uh law enforce program. She done some uh grant writing for us then and now Sarah works independently contracted still with law enforce also with the town on this project up to her eyeballs in the Mundy Lake Trail. I don't know how many's familiar with that. uh Monday Trail project, 27 milei project that uh ended up being uh the first recreation construction project that ARC had ever funded and WVU has projected about $45 million I think in bringing to the area and so forth over the next few years. So, having said all of that, I want you to keep in mind, you have this piece of property downtown that

103its basic usage has been, it's what we call the old bus lot. I've mentioned that in your handout. And it's basically used for student parking. And when I came three years ago to talk to the board, and I should have said that first. Um uh I went away uh with the sense that it had been received by the board at that time. Uh the board of edifications attorney uh drew up a a uh an agreement memorandum of understanding. Uh we talked about 50 years. It came to me with 25 years of uh contract ordish. And when Sarah talked about two weeks ago, uh the eligibility has changed. We were always concerned about the 25 years, but now that just doesn't work. They want us to have uh the thought to be outright to remain eligible

104for this power grant that she is working on. So when she called and told me this eligibility requirement had changed, I called the officer first and Sherry Raffles was here. I knew that Sherry was familiar with some of that previous conversation and u she said well why I couldn't find my copy was I had read it I had signed it returned it okay you know how it is I go on to other projects and I never really thought much more about it until Sarah called I got to looking for my copy and I didn't have a completed copy so when I called back and maybe it's a good thing now because I didn't I didn't locked into a 25 year agreement was not going to help. So here we are and uh there I think

105it's your turn. Okay. >> Well, good evening everybody. As Mayor Felton said, I'm Sarah Cottingham. I'm the grant writer for the town of Marvin and the other 11 forest towns. And job is to tell you a little bit about the grant proposal that we have 59. All right. So, um, the town Marlington, uh, is hoping to apply this round, uh, this October for $2 million from the Appalachian Regional Commission's power initiative to build this downtown trail head. Uh, this project has been in the works for several years, basically since we got the funding to build the 28 mile Monday lip trails three years ago. Um, through the same pot of arc money. Um, soon as we got that awarded, we said, "Okay, now we've got that. That's step one. Uh step two is building the

106trail head where all those visitors uh WBU projects 16,000 mountain bikers >> uh going to be coming through town and that's where they're going to land. That's going to be their introduction to Normington and to this region. Um so the town of applicant um it's not just when we say trail head um this a destination attraction. These trails are part of this Snowshoe Highlands Ride Center and they were built um specifically to help Snowshoe get this gold level status uh to which the International Mountain Life Association awards very few of them and uh snowshoes what they call a silver level right now and they said build these trails and you will become gold one of seven in the entire world. the young woman in niche. >> So, it's a big deal. Big deal. Regional economic

107development project. We're so proud that ARC, like Mayor said, um they had never funded trails. This grant is economic development grant. So, you know, they'll they'll go for trails and trail heads, but only if you can make the case that this is going to make a difference in your rural town, rural region like this, which is this project does. Um, it's all about helping local businesses downtown, bringing more people down. Um, you've got people already coming from all over the country. Just this morning, I met people from Oklahoma, North Carolina, Florida, Virginia, from San Diego, California riding bikes. >> Today on a Tuesday, uh, the Green River Trail, which this is going to serve, is one of the top 10 rail trails in the entire country. Uh so this this is a big deal economy

108and stuff. So uh it's very competitive grant program but we've been laying the groundwork for several years now. Um we through my M forest towns hat we got the money to hire North Carolina to do the concept planning to say okay uh we know we need a downtown trail head. What could that be? What does it need to look like? Um they designed this very fancy elaborate uh oval piece. Uh we then raised the money to hire for the town for the graduate group. They've done the culinary engineering. We've you know gone through this multi-year process and now we're ready to apply. Um, we've got Snow June all on board to support this, region 4 Planning Development Council on board to administer the grants. Um, so we've been waiting all year for ARC to announce

109they're ready for the grant window to open. We're there and like said, they've got a new requirement this year. I've been I've written a lot of successful power grants and uh the new provision this year is that they are only going to award applicants who own the land outright. If you're going to build, they expect you to own it. So therein that is our reason for being here tonight. And maybe I could jump in there and also say that if this transfer is made possible, we certainly hope that uh you see the the benefit for the area economically and otherwise uh that u if there's a circulation for instance with regard to it must remain open to your student parking and so forth the way it does in the past. I don't think there's going

110to be any issue with that because keep in mind you have a parking lot now. And for the most part, what we're talking about is going to improve and expand upon your parking lot. You know, we could we could do this project with the with the land that is left, but we can't do as much as we want to unless we include uh your lot. And so that's that's basically what we're talking about. So >> it's question our students could use it to park their >> absolutely yes. >> Now the problem I had mayors change like board of education mayors change members change what happens would that be put in that memorandum understanding to where we >> it it could be written >> somehow written up by our attorneys. >> It could be written into

111the title itself. >> They have to be in the deed that way put on the deed. >> Yeah. to to do that because you know we change. >> Sure. I I understand. That's right. >> You know, down the road a board member will call me. >> As a matter of fact, when someone might change in the next 24 months as far as >> Well, we don't know that. We don't we don't know exactly. >> That's why I'm here too because it is it it's this is kind of the icing I say on the Monday cake, so to speak. >> Now, what if we go through all this and we deed the property over to you and then you don't get the grant? Well, I we'll be trying again next year. That's for sure. You know

112how that works. That if if something does happen that we are denied the grant because I unfortunately I thought about that. I didn't want to think much about it. >> It's a big part of what we're trying to do right now. >> That could also be written up in the deed where if they don't get they don't get back to us. >> Yeah. >> If we decide to do it. I mean that's up to you. >> And that's my only concern. I mean, if we knew for sure was a done deal, we should write your deeds tonight. >> Well, >> if it does, you know, five or six years down the road, but still hasn't happened, >> it it would be perfectly acceptable for the purpose of the application to have a letter from the

113Lord that said exactly what you said. Should this be awarded, then >> I don't know. And in reality, the land is not much good to us being in the flood plane sitting next to >> and and already I hope you understand that uh we're already taking care of your lot. >> You are. >> We we graded we put gravel there. Uh it we could go online and I've got a camera that shines on your parking lot right now. It helps monitor activity there. That's something >> we need to see that camera. You might want to put the new back to see that. >> It's lit. You know, we we've >> sign a couple of new signs are already there. And that's that's also the purpose of this destination downtown Bronx trail head is that it's

114not just parking. >> It's spatial parking. It'll be a place for kiosk and and information for tourist that's coming to the area for the first time. Any chance we get you to throw a swimming pool in there? >> Well, you know, I've been asking about that, too. >> You know what stops swimming pools in West Virginia? >> Liability for >> liability insurance. >> Yeah, that's the biggest. >> So, the next best thing was the splash pad. There you go. >> Years years ago, uh, Miss Moore married more than the restaurant up on the hill. >> We talked about me and her talked about going together and putting in a swimming pool, but she ain't lame. >> You can't afford to do that. line of the liability potential. >> Wow. >> Well, I'm just throwing this

115out. Can you verify with your grant wherever you're getting your grant that if we give you a letter stating what we talked about that that would let you all go forward or do you have to have the actual deed >> before you can go forward? So I >> would be better than a letter would application. um a letter really is golden in terms of you know from the partner that that spells all this out um based on my I've never had one of these grants where with this particular case but typically that's how we do all the documentation where there's a match partner we just say yes this is the condition if you award this grant then I entity X will provide a million dollar match and that's all they need at the application stage

116Uh, so >> you can check. >> Personally, I have no problem as long as our as long as our our students can use it and that it if something happens that you all don't get your grant money and all this doesn't and it's not built, it goes back to board of education. That's my >> But I can put that question to ARC. They're usually very responsive to >> Dr. Williamson said, "You got >> We could do agreement that if it doesn't happen, you would do it back to >> reverts back. We can do a letter to start with and then >> I would ask for a little bit of grace period on that also 3 to five years because like I said, if if for whatever reason we did not receive this year, I'd want

117to term any sub. >> We can't do it longer than our longest board." her brand. >> So I don't have one comment. >> We have to check in soon. >> Okay. >> The legality of having >> permitting students to park on non-school property. >> He's only got two years. >> We do have brim that covers if there's accidents or stuff on non-school property. So let's say the students were on your property, they had a fight, something happened. How does that brim insurance how we ensuring our students being up? Does that make sense? >> So we probably need to ask our attorney just about that portion. >> Well, I think in the end that you'll find out is that you're uh transferring your prison liability to the challenge liability. >> That's what I was thinking. >>

118And we use Brenley as well. So I I I do appreciate the comment. I didn't think that would end up being >> Yeah, there's 25 with liability problem in the end because we're taking up that liability for that you're leaving at all. >> But you can check ours. >> Well, they they don't park as much there as as they used to. It seems like I've noticed that they're they're out on the weekend more than they're parking during the week. Now, if we if we if we go ahead and give you this letter or whatever, are you going to go ahead and pay that now for us? >> Uh, not unless I get my money on it. >> I'm trying to get what I can. >> Let's break this down a little bit. We We can

119only go three years on a letter. >> Okay. >> I think because we can't go any longer than our longest board member, right? >> Yes. You cannot end that or make decisions for >> The next board. So that would be uh 26 27 come back through. >> Yeah. Right. >> Yeah. I don't I don't mind. Do I have a motion to give him a letter on what we talked about? You know, uh saying that if they get to grant, we will deed that over. And it will also say in the it don't have say this in a letter, but it will say this in a deed that our students have the opportunity to use that lot. >> Yeah. at least during school. >> I do have that if >> there's any caveats that Jason needs

120to put in there because of our students. >> Yeah. And we can have Jason. >> Yes, we will have to. And also this conversation will be included in your minutes. I guess >> it will be. It will be. So, do I have a motion for that effect? >> All right. Mr. Mcomes made the motion. Do I have a second? >> Dr. Hollinssworth second. All those in favor signify by saying I. >> Motion carries. Mayor Felton, you got your letter. Uh, will you appreciate >> you need to Dr. Williams, will you see that that letter is put up by Jason so we can >> Thank you very much. >> All right. >> And I wanted to stop there for a second because I wanted to >> Thank you, especially for waiting. >> Absolutely. >> I'm sorry

121you had to wait so long. >> Process. >> Thank you. >> Okay. B. Permission to post special education compliance assistance through SESC to be paid for from the special education fund. >> So move. >> I'm just going to read them all. >> Yeah. Permission to post. Well, where am I at? Permission to post special education consultant services through SEC to be paid for the special education fund. Is that on there twice? >> It should have said one should be compliance officer and then the other one should be >> Okay, that's what it is. Permission to post a countywide counselor and supervisor of comprehensive counseling services. D is decision or possible action on a letter of intent emergency service groups. >> H we jump >> one was struck out. >> E was struck out. D we

122just talked about for some reason. Okay. >> Yeah, we done talked about E. F is decision and action to convert $1 coaching position for Morningington Middle School football to be a paid assistant coach position $1,100. G is approval of attached fundraiser. H is decision discussion and decision on workstation to establish board goals and superintendent goals for the 2526 school year. Any questions on any of these? >> Um F. >> Yes, ma'am. If we give Marlington Middle School football coach, 1100 is Green Bay that science >> that Marlington Middle School football is is Pope County middle school football. They all go together. >> They all go together. >> That's where they go to the high school. >> We have two head coach for the Green Bank and a head coach for Marlington Middle and assistant coach

123for each of them. In the past, it's they've combined teams. >> Yes. And they have one head coach and then they had a volunteer coach which converted to a dollar coach. But after I started thinking about it, they should have a paid because technically we're saying three salaries. >> I don't know how. >> Well, see the athletic director, one of the one of the assistant coaches went to athletic director. Well, he can't draw a coach's salary and a athletic director salary. So, that freed up one one coaching position. Any other questions on any of these? All those in favor signify by saying I. Board members remarks. Mr. Mcomes, you're up first tonight. Sam's not here. >> I'm I'm just excited things is happening. A lot of positive comments about the training. A lot of positive

124comments from staff and parents about Miss Williams, Dr. Williams. >> That's all right. Dr. Holmes. >> Well, I I I think I shared this with Dr. Williams, but I've been going to the first day at school for over 40 years. And I have to say this was the first one that I felt invigorated by. You know, usually it's like this, especially when we sat in the gym with bleachers. >> Oh, this is >> But great, >> great job. Thank you, >> Mr. I just like to reiterate what the what the other two members have said and just looking forward to the first day of school and a new year and a new new beginning and we're all going to work together and make it work. >> And thank you. >> Stronger together. you. >> Yeah.

125>> Uh I was at the orientation I guess we'll call it the first day. The guy that spoke there and I don't remember his name. >> Larry very >> I'm telling you if you wasn't energized after listening to him they wasn't much of a way to be energized >> and you know because he done an outstanding job not only of speaking and motivation but getting people involved with what he say. And I really enjoyed it. I'm really glad I was there and I really enjoyed it and I'm glad you knew him. So you you're the one that brought him in. Now I didn't stay for the afternoon, but they said it was just as good. I think our educators around the county, and this goes back to what you said, they they're enthused. They they

126have a pathway now, and they have somebody that's going to give them direction and supervision. And if they call, they can get an answer. And I think that's what we've needed all along. And I think you're doing a terrific job. Just keep it up and don't burn yourself out on it for a long time. >> As long as we fix the telephone system. >> Yeah. >> So that people when they call, they know they'll know who to which button to push, you know. >> Same same for me. >> All right. >> I have comments from Mr. Gibson. >> Go ahead. if if he said, "So, I'm just going to read what he wanted for his board comment. So happy that school is starting again. Um, want to give an extra thanks to the custodial maintenance

127staff for the work for working hard lately. Uh, Mrs. Williams list was extensive and you got most of the things done. So, congratulations." Several folks have been asking about the county attendance policy. Um are we updating um with recent legislative changes? Uh let's please step up that attempt. But we do you want to >> we we were actually talking about that this morning and we haven't been given guidance from the state yet with the the most recent legislative updates, but we're awaiting that. As soon as we get that, we'll have that for you all to >> he said. Um, and then his final thought was uh that he loves dogs, but he has recently noticed parents and spectators bringing dogs to sporting events. And I must say, I'm guilty for loving on a dog at

128sporting events. Um, he's worried about dog fights and wants to know what that policy is about bringing pets to um, sporting events. And I will have to look and see because I don't know if we have a policy. >> Get into a lot of stuff with that cuz you got therapy dogs. >> We used to have a policy that you cook cuz I remember being an issue at the high school and or they told me there was a policy. Mr. Young used to bring his two big golden retrievers to every football game at the high school. You know, they listened, but he used to bring >> Not all of them. >> Joe Janice brought a horse. Yeah, >> he did. He rode a horse. >> Yeah, we might have to look into that. >> Thank

129you all. >> We're we're done. Any other questions or discussions? >> Good to see you, Sam. >> I will say that uh >> Dr. Williams and Mr. Mcomes and myself will be headed to Charleston Friday. She hasn't told us what time we're leaving yet, Morgan, so I can't tell you. And we are hereby journed.