001Do you want mine? You want one? Todd, do you need one over there? You can get mine. >> No, I'm her. Michael put me in. That's the timer. >> [clears throat] >> Watch the good [laughter] >> deal. It is six. All right, we got our list >> and they get according to how many they get five minutes. >> You're right. I got a new >> You better load me up before you leave. >> Don't worry. Then we got to go do that election. >> I'm really thinking I might [clears throat] We're gonna eat pizza. >> Just one, two, >> boys. Are you ready, >> man? Are you ready? >> Go for it, >> boys. All right. We're going to go ahead and call our regular meeting of the Wayne County Board of Education to order.
002It's 6:01. And if you'll stand, we'll say the pledge. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. >> Let the record show that all board members are present in person this evening. And we'll begin our evening with uh the first item on our agenda, recognitions if we have any. >> We don't have any recognition scheduled. No presentation scheduled for this evening. >> Perfect. >> All right. Next item [clears throat] is the good news section. And unfortunately with all the weathers, there's not >> not much good news to share at this point. We're hopeful to get back in school here at some point. If not, >> you know, if not by the end
003of the week, by the beginning of next week, hopefully. But with the prolonged cold temperatures, it's going to be difficult. So, we just continue working on it. >> Perfect. [snorts] All right. We'll move on to ourformational items. Special meeting on Tuesday, February the 3rd, beginning at 4:00 at Lavallet. A regular meeting on Tuesday, February the 10th, beginning at 6 in the board conference room. Meeting on Tuesday, February the 17th at 4 at CK Elementary. And then we'll move to CK Middle at approximately 5:15. and then back at the board office on Tuesday, February 24th for a regular board meeting. [clears throat] Everyone okay with those dates? >> Yes. >> Perfect. >> Next item is our construction project updates. >> Yeah, just a few items. Um the Serita Kenoba Elementary School, the alumni gym project that's
004going on. We had an on-site visit there Friday that is progressing uh quickly and uh the only thing we're waiting on is for some electronic parts to come in uh to u to upgrade the electricity in the basement. That should occur. We're probably looking at early March and [snorts] then they'll be able to wrap up that project. So, we'll we'll keep you updated as that moves forward. the uh major improvement project for a uh safe security entrance at Benson Middle School. There was the design meeting on that Monday and uh that's getting ready to be submitted to the state for their approval. The Buffalo Needs Project um Scansa, our construction management company, has submitted comments to the architect for their review. The SBA and Department of Education have al also provided comment to the architect
005on their review of the designs and the next step in that process is the con construction document uh submissions which should be occurring uh here over the next few weeks. So the next step there is taking that project out to bid. >> Okay, [snorts] that's all I have. >> [clears throat and cough] >> The next section is our delegations this evening and I think we have a couple. Um again with our delegations it's a five minute time limit. Um the board won't be able to interact or discuss any of your comments. We're just here to listen and take notes and then um if there's any followup our superintendent will get in touch with you um later in the week. Uh, the first one on our list this evening is Miss uh Mary Sword. It's come
006to my attention that in addition to the several legislators bring the legis And I just wanted [clears throat] to school. >> Thank you. Next on the list, Mr. John Wagman. [clears throat] >> Yes. Thank you, audience, board members, superintendent. I'm John Walker, director of elementary and middle school [clears throat] and uh prek. I just felt it was necessary for me to take a moment and speak um because what is taking place or what is before us is the closing of our schools and I wanted you to know that uh this is something that I have discussed for multiple years with the administrators with the superintendent and I think it's something that is necessary and I want to share with you why I think that is and the reason I think that is is because of
007education ational equity. Um, if you think back to our communities, you know, we talked a lot about money, and I think it's more than just money. It's not about the money, it's about the children. It's about the students and the education they're receiving. As the elementary director, as an educator, as an administrator, I'm not saying none of these teachers, the administrators in these two schools don't work their tail off every day for these students, and our county does it. that are superintendent. But what I am saying is that we have communities that are shrinking. It's a lot like if you think of our youth sports, we now have football teams. I'm from the Buffalo community. When I first came here in 2000, I mean, it was unheard of to think that you didn't have all
008those teams, A, B, C, D, whatever they are. Now, they can barely feel the teams. It's the same thing everywhere. And we're seeing it in our schools. I mean, you know, I was the one on Facebook answering a lot of things as people put them out there trying to clarify, never do anything. If we look at Duno, you know, right now in Dun, we don't have a prek. We don't have a kindergarten. We have two kindergarten students who attend there because we we had them come. They were five years old. You don't have to attend kindergarten until you're six. the the parents didn't want to travel to crumb, but we didn't want to hold those children out. So, we we took the kindergarten teacher and put her in another position we needed, but we let
009those children come into the school and made arrangements for them. They attended the first grade and those were split classroom because they were prepared for school, but we didn't have a teacher. Now, next year at Dungo, the way it stands, we won't have a prek, a kindergarten, or a first grade. Our teams are shrinking. We don't have enough place. That's why it's necessary. We also have teachers every day that are going in a classroom and teaching two different grades. And this is why I say it's education, it's unequal. We're asking this teacher to teach first and second graders while this school over here waiting has a classroom full of first graders. Janoa Elementary has the lowest academic achievement annually. It's no fault of the teachers. It's no fault of the parents. It's no fault of
010the students. but they're only getting half per se of the curriculum because you've got two grades in there at the same time being taught. Our teachers struggle to come to the standards that are taking place now in a classroom. And I'm not talking about state testing. I'm talking about preparing children to be academically strong and prepared for life. So when you go to a classroom and you're in there with first and second graders that are completely this broad of needs, it's very very difficult. They bust there every day. They do too where I know that city that is not fair children. We built a new school in front of a year ago now 20 million school. They're almost in the same boat. They have small classrooms. 14 kids, 16 kids. Some of them they're getting
011out to 10 or 11 children. Our teams are shrinking. We're going to lose populations there continue. Are we going to end up there the same thing with split classes in a couple years? I don't know if you saw a Facebook post. I would. But we have 18 schools these two. If you took our student population, all of them, and broke it down, that would be 333 kids. That would be 18 Tulsa high schools. That's a small school. Tulsa High School is very, very small. >> When I came here 20 some years ago, I think it might have been 5 600. I'm not sure what. >> Yeah. Right now, it's half of what it was 20 years ago. If we took every one of our schools and divide our kids equally, there would be 33 kids.
012That's all I have. I'm not saying it's about money. I'm saying it's about providing quality education for all of our children. Putting all the schools where they can receive the same thing. That's all I'm asking for. And I just want to put that out there. I don't think it's about the money. I think it's about providing a good quality education for them because we have it available all our [clears throat] provided elsewhere. >> Thank you. Thank you. >> Thank you, John. [snorts] >> That's all we have. Uh so, thank you both for that. I appreciate it. Those >> move on to our superintendent reports. >> Yeah. Under the reports, there's a benchmark report and the the data has been provided in your folder. >> At our next meeting, we'll do a full review of the
013measuring success document. But uh I just wanted to briefly share some data with you that is encouraging. Uh the top two charts that you see vertically are star reading and star math for the 2425 school year. So that was last year. And then the bottom two, the bottom row is uh the new year 2526. And the most positive sign that we've seen is our math growth. >> Wow. Um if you look at 25 and 26, our growth from fall to winter has increased by 11%. >> Last year that number was at 5%. [cough] >> Uh so um that is an encouraging number. The reading score, the growth last year was at 7%, this year is at 5%. So not the same jump there, but there was a significant jump in math. And we'll get into
014this uh more specifically when we do the measuring success document, but we wanted to go ahead and share this with you [clears throat] this evening. >> Great. Thank you. >> No board any board directives or board reports? [cough and laughter] None. We have no unfinished business. So, we can move on to our new business consent action items. The superintendent recommends approval of the following action items. Additional items received prior to the time of the meeting may be [clears throat] added. Discussion and or separate action of the items may be requested by members of the board and or the superintendent. It the items are subject to change. Any blanks will be filled in prior to the meeting. In the event a nominee withdraws, we reserve the right to put the next candidate in that position. >>
015A couple changes I need to make. At the top of page one under employment, uh the first name listed there is John Castlebrand for substitute teacher. Um, I need to pull that for now. >> Okay. >> And, uh, might bring that back to you at a later date, but I just need to pull it for tonight. >> Okay. >> And then, um, on page two. [cough] [clears throat] Um, [snorts] the fourth item down under employment, there's Erica Wallace. Uh, applied for an autism [snorts] mentor aid until the return of a Fort Gay PreK through 8. Um, we're we're going to put Marian D. Markham in that position. That's M A R I O N Markham. Uh she will take that position. Miss Wallace is currently working at uh Genanoa and did not want to make
016that move and didn't understand that [cough] the move was to occur immediately. So she asked if I would allow her to withdraw and um so I'm going to grant that. So Mary and Markham will be the new name for that position. The other thing I want to point out on this agenda, uh, going back to page one, Kathy Miller, who attends a lot of our board meetings, and she couldn't be here with us tonight. She's attending to some family matters, but I know she's listening online. Um, her resignation for retirement purposes is on the agenda, as well as Pamela Reynolds at CK Elementary and, uh, Linda Williamson um, at at Wayne High. So, there's a several retirements on here. Priscilla Bryant at Buffalo Elementary and Darlene Hancock and Eight Hour Cook. And uh so, a
017lot of movement there. Y >> and so anyway, I uh I wanted to point out Kathy, especially since she was the state service person of the year a few years back, >> right? Um, so I know Kathy's listening online and uh we will miss her when she's gone along with everyone on this list. >> Big shoes to fill for these ladies. All right. Any other changes that we need to Is that it? >> That's it. >> Okay. So, I need a motion for personnel as revised. >> Motion approved. >> Second. >> Motion by John. Second, Dennis. Any other questions, concerns, discussion about personnel? >> None heard. >> All in favor? >> I. [clears throat] >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries five to zero. Number two, consider for approval the purchase requisition order in quotes in
018excess of $5,000 on pages four and five. Motion. >> Motion to approve. >> Second. >> Yes. questions, concerns. [clears throat] Four and five. This is a just a food and >> to project lead the way supplies. >> Yeah. [cough] >> Do [clears throat] you know what school that's going to? >> That's secondary. >> Yeah. It's one of the It's one of the It's probably being used for Wayne High School. Could Could be uh Spring Valley High School as well. >> I just didn't recognize. [clears throat] I wasn't sure. Got to cough. [clears throat] All right. Any other questions or concerns on those requisitions? No one. >> All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? Motion carries. Five to zero. New business. Separate action items. Number one, consider for and the possible action on the superintendent's
019recommendation of the closure of Dunlow and Genanoa Elementary with students reassigned torum PK8 Eastland Elementary and Wayne Elementary. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion by Jonita. >> Second by Randy. Questions, concerns, discussion. >> Just wanted to share some information before you voted. Um the the first thing on the agenda list is the um the closure of the two schools. [clears throat] And uh as Mr. Wamman said earlier, [cough] I I want to begin by saying that that recommendation has nothing to do Dunlow or Genanoa itself or its staff. Right >> now, it impacts them. But as we've talked about in these hearings, um the these are proud schools with deep roots and I understand that this is an emotional decision and I understand that it's an extremely difficult decision for this board. It's [clears throat]
020uh been something that we've talked about since 2019. >> We're recommending closure for one specific reason. um as discussed at the hearings, the long-term reality of declining enrollment and the structural financial pressure it creates for the entire district. Over the last decade, our district has lost enrollment and actually it probably goes back two decades, >> right? >> And the projections we've reviewed show continued decline for years to come. And again, as we've discussed multiple times, this is not unique to Wayne County and it's not combi confined to the pandemic area era or [snorts] hope scholarship or school choice or anything uh that has happened in the last few years. uh the Cardinal Institute on West Virginia Policy uh they released a report this week uh that indicated that many states are enrolling fewer students than
021they did a decade ago and West Virginia is projected to experience one of the steepest steepest proportional declines in the nation by the end of this decade. The report also warned and it examined nine counties that are under special circumstances review by the state and some counties that have been taken over by the state. The report warned that when districts delay rights sizing their footprint, the eventual corrections become more severe and more disruptive. And that's exactly the type of situation that we're trying to avoid. Um, as we've talked about in the hearing, school systems are funded primarily on enrollment. When enrollment drops, state aid drops. This board has looked, we are in the top five in the state of West Virginia for our dependency on the state aid formula. It's where the majority of our
022revenues come from. At the same time, many costs do not drop at the same rate. We've talked about how geographically large the county is. We still need bus routes. Whether there's 15 kids on a bus or 45 kids on a bus, we still have to have [clears throat] those bus routes. We still need kitchen coverage. We still need custodial coverage. You still need minimum staffing for safety supervision operations. When we have small underenrolled facilities and we are at the point where the majority of our buildings are considered underenrolled, the per student cost rises sharply. Not because anyone's doing anything wrong, but because the economies of scale disappear. Full classrooms and full buses are what make a s system financially sustainable. Underenrolled facilities make that much harder. We've had facilities that have been full over the
023years and that provided a cushion to operate the smaller schools in the district, but as this enrollment has continued to drop, that cushion is gone. So you hear discussion about being over formula and 140 positions over formula and that phrase can sound like mismanagement when you read it on social media. In reality, it's often the byproduct of geography and underenrollment, >> right? >> We can reduce possessions and you know this, we do this every year. Enrollment drops again >> and then it just resets. The local burden just resets and we end up chasing our tail. The longer we've done that, the more we've drawn down the financial reserves that protect students districtwide. There's been talk of technology funding, curriculum, PD funding. Those type of funding items are earmarked. They can only be used for those
024specific purposes. They cannot be used uh for the district's general fund or for any expense that the that the board would choose. The reserves that we're talking about that have been spent down, they matter. Uh they matter because we have responsibilities we cannot ignore. We have ongoing facility needs across the county. Safe school entries, flooring, uh gym bleacher replacements, and many other improvements that still need to occur. Over the past decade, this board has invested millions into our buildings, roofing, HVAC, windows, paving, painting, security, restrooms, transportation renovations, demolitions, wastewater treatment upgrades, and more. The district has spent well over $20 million in the last decade upgrading the facilities in Wayne County. We've leveraged significant SBA funding and federal relief dollars to do it. That work has improved conditions for students throughout the district and for
025staff, but the work remaining is extensive. We have made strate strategic investments that directly benefit students, opportunities that our communities ask for and deserve. partnerships like Early College uh with with Mount West, the aviation maintenance program up at Huntington Airport, robotics programs for K through eight across the district, the medical explorers program with Marshall Health. But all these programs come with operating cost, including transportation and staffing costs that we didn't have before when those things weren't offered, but they are important offerings. Those are the kinds of programs that keep students engaged, expand career opportunities, and help families see value in what we're doing here at Wayne County. Maintaining those opportunities requires a financially stable district. So, the decision comes down to whether we can respons responsibly operate all facilities at current enrollment levels and still
026remain financially solvent now and in the years ahead. Two schools we are discussing have been under 100 students for roughly a decade. This board has supported them as long as it could and it has. We have reached the point where continuing to operate underenrolled facilities creates a risk not just to our reserves but to districtwide stability and ultimately to student programs. And I'm afraid unless something changes that this is not going to be the last discussion we have about school closures. I want to acknowledge that we have examined other ideas including consolidation. If I believe the consolidation would solve the underlying problem, I would recommend it. But the reality is that consolidation is likely a stop gap. If the combined enrollment rate remains below 100 or if district enrollment continues to decline as projected, we're
027going to face the same pressure again. temporary solution today would become a more painful decision later. That's why I'm recommending closure this evening because it's the most durable responsible step in the face of the enrollment decline that we've experienced in the last decade. Uh it's a difficult recommendation, but it is made to protect the educational future of the entire district, including the students who attend these schools today and including the staff that work at those schools today. Um, I know it creates grief uh for the staff members that are involved and for the families involved. Uh, if the board moves forward with this, our commitment is to handle their transition to their new school locations with care with clear communication every step of the way. There's no one to blame here. It it's it's a
028reality that we're seeing play out across the entire state. But our duty is to maintain a strong solvent school system [cough] and serve Wayne County students. And that's why the recommendation of closure is first up on your agenda. >> That's all I have. >> Thank you, Charlie. >> Can I say something? >> Sure. >> I just want to say that I absolutely hate this. I was I'd only been on the board a couple of months back in um seven years ago in 2019 and the closure of Genanoa came up then and I know the motion was made and it didn't even get a second. Uh, and I remember sitting there thinking, I be dad gone two months into this. I'm not going to vote to close a school close to where I grew up. I
029grew up at Sydney about five miles or so uh north of Genanoa. I did not go to Genanoa. I went to Wilson Elementary. That was a little two- room school, two- room wooden schoolhouse. When I first started there, the big boys shovel coal to put in a potbellied stove. Uh we had outouses to go to and there were eight grades there, 60some students. That school closed in 1968 and I started uh Wayne Junior High. And it is emotional to me. I Yeah, I went on I graduated from Marshall, graduated from Duke Law School, all of that. A lot of what I am, a lot of what made me, I know were those years at that little school. And I do treasure that. [clears throat] And if there was a way to maintain what we've got
030and be fiscally responsible, that's what I would like to do. But this has not been a quick, rational decision. It's been 7 years. The state essentially has spoken by its silence. They've not done anything to alleviate this situation. And I believe I'd be in violation my duty to the entire county to oppose this this stage. But again, I hate it. >> Can I say something? >> Sure. at that time that he Mr. Troutwine was talking about. I I convinced the majority of the board members to oppose those closings because I grew up on Wilson's Creek in a one room schoolhouse and I remembered those fond times and those the great teacher we had and I realized how it affected communities. But at that time we probably had a comfortable balance probably what 7 8 9
031million >> probably up around 5 million that's >> 5 million. [clears throat] [snorts] >> In the meantime we had promises from politicians that were in the legislature. You know put it off another year everything be fine. We'll get her done. It's still not done. And like Randy, this breaks my heart to have to make a decision on something like this. It breaks my heart. But we all have a responsibility. And my worry is if we don't do it tonight, we'll end up in receiverhip and the state take over. And if the state takes over, you don't want to see that because it won't be just two schools. It'd probably be what? Two to three more. Correct, Mr. >> It's possible. Yes. >> Yeah. because we're on that fine line. We've tried to be economically and
032financially responsible to the uh people of Wayne County, our teachers, our parents, our students. But we've been put in an impossible situation. That's all I have to say. I just want to say I I agree with these men and I've it is a hard decision and I've been through school consolidation before so I know what you all are feeling and you've got to realize that like they said we're not doing this hastily. We almost did it in 2019 and decide well it'll get better and it hasn't with the enrollment drop and everything and so I agree with what they said. It's really a hard decision to make. We're just doing it for the students and for the uh school system and to keep our budget fiscally safe is really what we're doing too, >> right?
033>> So, obviously nobody sitting here tonight wants to do this decision, but [clears throat] as board members, uh this is what we signed up for. >> Yeah. making those tough decisions. Um, so just remember that when you see us out and just understand that we're we're trying to do what's best for the county as a whole. So with that, um, this is for the consideration of closure of Dunlow and Genanoa Elementary. >> A motion by Jonita, second by Randy. With no other discussion, all in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> No. >> Motion carries four to one. >> Okay. Since item number one was approved, item number two is not necessary. So, it will be pulled. We'd also just like to let you all know that um as we move forward uh that we
034are going to make sure that this transition happens with care and responsibility and compassion. We want [clears throat] to make sure that every student knows that they're loved and valued and supported and they will be um they will be taken care of. So, thank you for coming tonight. Thank you for the care you've shown for our communities and but most of all, thank you for the love and the care you've shown for our students. So, moving on then to our third item on the agenda is the consider for approval out of state field trip request. That's Spring Valley High School speech and debate team to travel to Murray, Kentucky on January 30th through the 1st of February. >> Motion to approve. Motion by Jonita. >> Second. >> Brandy. >> Any questions or concerns on that
035out of state travel? >> Just a quick question on how's this funded. >> Is it listed on the >> I didn't see it. That's why that's why I was asking is it how how's the funding for that? >> Taking them. >> This will be county funding. >> You haven't estimate how much that funding is. the the trip >> well altogether because I see >> it says students will pay for their lunches breakfast >> or for breakfast is >> right I see that but >> just wondering how much it was going to be it's going to be like >> I think it it would be 2,000 or under [snorts] [clears throat] >> and this is the uh >> the directing speech and debate. >> This is the new speech and debate and we are offering this
036countywide. It's based at Spring Valley. We do have [clears throat] a Wayne High School student that is uh participating is my understanding and we're trying to expand it to um to to both of the schools. So there there's a possibility that there will be students from other schools participating as well. >> So you do you know >> it's a it's a low number. >> I say you don't know how many students there are. >> I think it says six on here and then three chap. Okay. might be sad. >> Okay. >> Be a good opportunity for for them. [clears throat] >> All right. All in favor? >> I. >> Any opposed? >> Motion carries five to zero. Potential items for a future agenda. in your um in your folder is a u in addition to
037the benchmark results, there is uh items on budget planning and potential cuts. Uh in addition to um the closure consolidation action that was considered. Uh there's additional cuts that are listed in there. We've talked about some of these things before. I wanted to give you a more itemized breakdown. I provided this to you by email. We'll go over this in depth more at your next meeting and I'll probably have some edits to it. Uh we'll probably have more information at that next meeting, too. But I wanted to get it to you early so you could start reviewing it. >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Motion by Janita. Second. >> You beat me, Randy. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. 5 to zero. It is 6:36. >> And that is all. Thank you.