001Good evening. It is six o'clock and I'm going to call this meeting to order. All board members are present. It is the practice of our board of education to begin our meetings with prayer and the pledge of allegiance. We invite you to bow your heads in prayer and stand to join us in the pledge if you so choose. >> Lord, we respectfully ask for your guidance and wisdom as we proceed with the business before us. keep us mindful of our purpose of providing quality education for the students attending Taylor County Schools. Amen. >> Please join me in honoring our country's flag and those who protect and defend it. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty
002and justice for all. Dr. Stallings, do we have any adjustments or addendums to the agenda? >> No, Miss Garvin, there are none. >> Thank you. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of the agenda as presented. >> Second. >> Mrs. Galla moves Mr. Taylor seconds questions. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. moving us directly into the 1000 series information and our host school presentations. And we'll begin with Miss Lorie Shoemaker. >> Good evening. Welcome to High School. I would like to tell you if you would like to have an [snorts] outer even >> Oh, thank you. Sorry. So, um, this evening I'm just going to talk to you about a couple of things. Um, because we are sending our data in monthly, not as much to actually share tonight. Um, so I'm just going to
003focus on one area related to um, academic growth and then Mr. McCarthy and Mr. Knop are both going to address a very short part with me. Um, so if you guys want to come up and just get ready and I'll pass this out. So why I'm Oh, you're supposedly my passing out skills have became less uh high quality. You're supposed to have two papers. >> Okay, >> you passed. All right. So while I before I start to talk about this, I want to tell you at your table that you found a name plate that was created by Mrs. Ward and her students in simulated workplace and that is a um very I think beautiful creation that they have done and they have been doing a lot of these types of creations. >> So that is
004from the simulated workplace under Mrs. towards direction >> and >> you will also find a small container of cookies and treats from our beastro which is chef s's prostart class. Um we unfortunately had hoped to have the entertainers to do a very short song but also with the reschedule they are not here this evening. So I hope that you find those few little treats as our show of appreciation for you as our board here in Taylor County. We do appreciate you being here. So, we've had a good start to the school year. Um, I think I had already put this in a piece of data, but we started this school year and are currently um 100% staffed and certified at Grafton High School. And that is something that I say with great satisfaction and pleasure.
005Um, the ups and downs of finding teachers has been a very difficult time and the last we have been very lucky to stay full pretty much. Um but so thankful for that. Thankful for the young staff that we have and the senior staff that we have together. They work um both on the service and professional side so well together. We have an excellent head custodian, Zach Panel, who is just about as good as I've ever worked with. He's a go-getter. He wants to do well as long along with our custodial staff. One of the things you don't maybe realize um when we talk about custodians, every custodian at Grafton High School would be better off to go to another school. Um high schools never don't have some they they they always have something occurring. So,
006my custodians that arrive here at three o'clock are not going to finish a shift without somebody needing them to unlock something, get them something, whether it's pee-wee wrestling, uh, middle school baseball, high school basketball games, fan concerts. So, they are so pulled in seven different directions and and they stay. And I think we're very blessed to have that kind of commitment that even though it is hard and it's and it's a she's an old building so she does a lot of creaking and and um complaining like I do some days and she the building um they continue to take care of her and I'm very thankful for that and I don't get an opportunity to say that very often. So I wanted to start by talking about them this evening. Um with that said let's
007let's jump in real quick to what I shared with you. So the last few years it has been a goal at Grafton High School with my assistant principles who are here with me, Mr. Mr. McCarthy, our counselors and teachers that we've been attacking the um student failure situation. How many classes a student would fail and what was occurring? So in 2022, we did not have a implemented tier 2 practice. You guys, tier two is designed tier one is just what you're doing for every kid every day in the classroom. Good quality instruction. That's tier one. Um, tier two is when you start to identify students who need some help, but it's more like group support. It's it's not individual, but it's not the whole school. So, we needed to look at a tier 2 support
008program. And in beginning in 2023, we started down that steps and we saw a small improvement. Um, in 2024, we implemented our lunch tolearn program and we are partway and we are now in our third full year of lunch tolearn. and the raw data at the top which is just our numbers. Um we are very pleased to say that in our entire student body of just around 640 students there are only 22 students that have two or more Fs in our school and that data is that's strong that is very strong um when we started in 2022 that was 79 kids. So, our faculty and staff have worked very hard at at battling that because what we know is students at the end of their sophomore year that are on track to graduate graduate and
009that's the goal. We need them to be on track at the end of the sophomore year. So, that was our tier two. But unfortunately, if you guys see the students with three or four three or more Fs 11, that's a problem because that group is never getting out at that rate. You just can't like you can't fail three classes at a time and ever get finished. Um, and we do have the option pathway, which luckily we need less and less every year, which we're thankful for. Um, that's where our students take the GED test, but we don't want that to be our go-to. We don't want to move them there. So, that's where tier three comes in. And tier three is designed for academic support on a more one-on-one basis. And that is where we're
010at this year. So, we we feel we're not we're not content with tier 2, but we feel like we're moving in the right direction. And it's time to focus down stronger on the kids who are still struggling. That 11 well really the 22 two or more Fs is where we're at. So the the second page that I gave you is what we have designed as a tier three support program. So with the help of our counselors and our staff um or our administrative team, we have created this flowchart as to how we will identify students and then the steps that we will go through to try to identify the root cause because most of the time by the time they get to us, it's not an academic deficiency. Academic deficiencies by high school are probably
011on an IEP, a 504, at the very least an SAT. So, we're normally dealing with kids who either have a home situation, who have a lack of motivation, or possibly possibly a gap of instruction that while not a disability, it has created such a difficult bridge for them that they're starting to give up. So, that's where we're at with our tier three kids, and that's that's where we're that's what we're going to do. So, I'm anxious when Mr. McCarthy and Mr. not come back and whoever their third person is um in the spring and they send some data. We'll see where this is at as we are just in phase one of the implementation of this process. So that's my part to share with you today. Um academically, you already know we have the highest
012graduation rate that we have had ever last year um in special ed and regular ed. Um also our test scores in English have maintained or grown and we for the first time in a couple years saw a little math growth and we're really happy about that. Um we have tried something new with the support of Miss Mrs. Roberts. We have contracted uh Mr. for Don Kenyan to come in and he is doing some small groupoup seminars and some observation with our math department coming in and providing support for both me the math department and as well as the two gentlemen here with me um to try to look at the gaps that have been developed over the years either from COVID from the fact that we didn't have certified math teachers for what whatever happened
013to continue to fight that battle and also looking at where the test is because remember we take the SAT and where our instructions that and where is the gap? So he's he's coming in and helping with that on these PD days that we have in the calendar. So that's my part about the academics. U Mr. Novice is going to speak to you briefly about CTE and then we'll take any questions obviously. >> Good evening everyone. Um something near and dear to my heart uh career technical education. We're going to discuss that briefly with you. Each and every year we receive a scorecard from the state of West Virginia that uh basically highlights where we are um and evaluates each uh county on their ability to provide quality career education when it comes to uh uh
014CT career technical education. So, I wanted to briefly discuss this with you tonight. You know, when I came here uh six years ago, uh one thing that I'll highlight, the middle school didn't have a CTE program uh six years ago. Uh as we look at the data here, we can see that uh the we look at the indicators uh participation currently last year the middle school had 294 students that were enrolled in a career and technical education program. That was 61% of the student body. Um the high school at 396. Um if we work through the data, um I'll kind of briefly explain. So we have participation rates both at the middle school and high school level. uh a concentrator. Uh if you look at the the next uh item is 176. That means students
015have taken two or more uh career technical education classes at the high school. Um so we we received uh 28% of our student body uh in that completion rate that is to be a completer uh students have to complete four courses that are linked to a specific program whether that be agriculture, business, welding etc. Um we had 76 complete in that area as well. Uh work-based learning is a a large uh area that's being concentrated on these days in the state of West Virginia. Uh they want students to be out working using the skills, mastering uh the skills that they're learning in the high school. Uh you can see we had 134 of those students that and 21% of our body student body performance. So just like we have sat school day for the academic
016side of um you know Grafton High School we also have on the academic side for CTE a performance test for all completers. Uh 67.39% of those students uh met the requirements the standards that were set by the state which is fantastic. And uh if we flip it over to the back um we look at uh teachers that are certified uh right now uh 11 out 12 91.6 67% which is a very high rate. So uh looking at the scorecard you if you uh would analyze that the state uh department requires that we have a total of 75 points to be considered a quality uh having a quality program in the county. Um you can see that we scored a whopping 96 points last year and uh that is way above uh what the state is
017looking for currently when it comes to career technical education. So, uh, we have amazing teachers across the board in Gra at Grafton High School. We have a wonderful, uh, CTE, um, staff, uh, that is working hard every day to provide, uh, students, uh, the the knowledge base they need to excel, um, and, uh, many, uh, simulated workplace programs, um, that allow students to conduct, uh, business like if they're in a business or they're employed. So, um, that is the CTE side of it. Thank you. It's great. >> One addition to um something that Mr. Kn was talking about, we are very lucky to have Mr. Knob here with us with his background in CTE and that he has led us for the last well since 2020 when co um Sarah a few years ago the
018state decided to eliminate the fitness and um I'm sorry the wellness completer program that coach Foley was hired to do and we took a pretty good hit in CTE when that happened because Mr. Foley was probably having what 20 to 30 >> 20 to 25 completers a year and between the efforts of Mr. Knoff and the CTE program to do two things. One to get those students transferred into other programs so we could continue to claim them as completers because we could not claim them any longer under coach Foley's program because the state decided it did not count as a CT program. And in addition with the support from the board and the and the um teacher, we were able to keep coach Foley in his position and we run a fitness and wellness program.
019And that gives us five lifetime electives for health and wellness that our students are able to continue to take weightlifting, lifetime sports and things that they would not have if we didn't have that position. So two things happened there that we were able to keep those quality electives and we know with the obesity rates and the health in our community the importance of that and Mr. KN was able to transfer those students and get them still in a business program or uh prostart or whatever. So he's been a very big asset and the focus that he's put on CTE under me was not going to happen. So with me I mean so it's very we're very been lucky and with that said this gentleman's going to talk to you about attendance and um I have
020to say before Mr. McCarthy comes up. The amount of effort that he has made over the last five years, six years working on attendance, the numbers he wows me when he talks about them. But the hours he spends a week on attendance um along with special ed is uh it's a lot. So, we're very lucky to have him do that. But, >> good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Uh so, I don't have a handout for you. Mr. Knob said we were not going handouts. Sorry. >> Here we are with without handouts. So, um, when I took over I took Lor's position nine years ago when she became principal and I became assistant principal and I took over a lot of her duties and one of them was attendance. Um, obviously being married to the attendance director
021uh it's it's a little bit easy for me uh any supports or anything that I needed. Um, but I do want to say uh last year uh we had the lowest chronic absentee rate uh in school history which was uh big for us. Um we also were the highest percentage uh attendance in the county uh 94.7% we ended uh we ended last year with uh and we have picked up from there this year. Uh we are still currently the highest we have the highest uh attendance percentage rate in the county at 95.6%. Uh the Taylor County average is 94.8%. Um so we're 8% above uh the average for Taylor County. um all of our grades. So when you look at 9th, 10th, 11th, uh 12th grade, they're all sitting at 95% or above. Um I
022did a little dive as well. Um I looked at our subgroups, uh male, female, grade, everything. Um it's probably a bias, but I was assuming that girls would be would have a better attendance rate uh than boys. Um our highest subgroup is 10th grade girls at 96.196%. Our second highest subgroup, which which wowed me, was 12th 12th grade boys. >> It's wild to me that 12th grade boys. You would think that we're almost here to graduation and a boy. Um, but 95.8% is our 12th grade boys right now. So, um, that that uh that number really wowed me. So, um, so why why is our attendance uh so great at Grafton High School? Um, class offerings um, attendance exam reward uh definitely helps uh co and extracurriculars uh that we uh that we have and
023then the school culture um I say it to people all the time and parents say it to me whenever they come in the building you can just feel the positivity in the school I believe so um so students are wanting to be here so that's uh that's a little bit of attendance for you guys tonight uh very proud of uh where we were or how far we've come and everything and again leading the county in uh in average attendance uh again for this school So, a takeaway from that is might be a little emotional tonight. I'm going to work on that. Um, one of the things that has been important to me and I share this in case there's other administrators or teachers listening or that they happen to come back is many years ago,
024um, really really when I became principal and Mr. McCarthy came in and then Mr. not joined us. One of the things I try to tell my faculty staff all the time is it's more about how you frame the conversations than anything else. So there was once a time I talked a lot about don't drop out, don't do drugs because that's what we were told coming out of 2000 when everybody start looking at the dropout rate. We were don't don't drop out, don't do drugs, don't drop. And one time a student said to me and I was still I was an administrator but I was not the principal. I'm never gonna drop out and I'm never gonna do drugs and I'm tired of hearing not to do it. I heard you. I heard you. So, we
025started trying to reframe our conversation to the other side of graduating is the minimum expectation. What's the goal after that? Not doing drugs is not acceptable. If you are, let's help you and let's move on and talk about your futures and how we're going to go set. And something that he said about attendance is you hear people sometimes when kids are absent from school walking or That's a big one. And you come in and go, "Where you been? 15 minutes. You've already missed 15 minutes of class." Or, "Where you been for four days? It's ridiculous." Changing that conversation of saying, "Hey, I'm glad you made it today." Now, 10 minutes later, I might need to talk to you about why you're coming in so late. But the first thing I need to say is, "I'm
026glad you made it today." And if you haven't been here for for a few days and I finally catch up with you, or they do, it's usually probably one of them. The first conversation has to, "Hey, I really missed your face." Now you continue to do it. We're gonna have to talk about why I'm missing your face. But I think those changing conversations and nobody does it better than these guys. Like they're they are the front of what happens every day. And I just want to acknowledge that. So all right, speaking of amazing young people, Mr. David Waters came on board our staff a couple years ago and has blessed us with some serious creativity and also he took over as the president of our faculty senate this year. So he's going to speak on
027behalf of them. >> Mr. Waters. Thank you. Right. Good evening and thank you for allowing me just a few moments to speak with you uh on behalf of our faculty. Um just like to briefly highlight a few things that have truly made a day-to-day impact um on our buildings so far this year. The funds invested to help keep our bathroom doors open have made a significant difference. uh bathroom traffic has been far more manageable and this has relieved a great deal of stress for faculty members who once uh spent a ton of time clearing out those areas. Uh also the investment in the digital clocks and bell system have helped tremendously uh with consistency across the building. Having a visible synchronized schedule, eliminating confusion, guesswork, and ensuring that all faculty and students are on the
028same page, same schedule has been a huge help in uh expectations across the building. Um so at the beginning of the school year, our junior class was randomly and anonymously surveyed and asked to describe a memorable learning experience they've had at Grafton High School. Uh what stood out amongst these activities uh was the LA lasting impact that many of our teachers have had. So these are just a few of the highlights. Uh the list was pretty lengthy, but uh a couple of things here that we just narrowed it down to. So um in Miss Cazarelli's class, students um acknowledged the fishbowl style discussions, encouraging students to voice their own opinions and ideas and respectfully agree, disagree, collaborate on on those ideas. Uh Mr. Wilson had hands-on instruction in welding, cutting, torch operation, and grinding. Um,
029in Shimmy's class, students created uh presentations identifying real world propaganda would have been interesting. Uh, Mrs. Wineer's class, engineering water towers uh with toothpicks and marshmallows and learning about the structural integrity through inventive problem solving. Um, in her class, in Mrs. class, not only designing a kite, but also having the opportunity to fly that kite after using uh precise measurements and and geometry. So, those are just a a few of the highlights that our students are saying in their in their early stages of their junior year. Um, and I think illustrates some of the great things that our faculty is doing here. Um and lastly, um on behalf of the faculty at Grafton High School, I would like to extend a sincere thank you for the transparency and inclusion throughout the process of selecting slashremend
030recommending our principal here at GHS. Uh the open communication, open communication for faculty input was truly and genuinely appreciated. Thank you. >> Thank you. So, as I said, um I am going to read a statement as I am Jennifer Biller. So, um on behalf of our LSIC, um on behalf of Jennifer Biller, um I'm here as um well, she would be here as the president of the local school improvement council at Grafton High School. The LSIC has met several times this year with student council officers and representatives from the community. The conversations at these meetings are to have are always enlightening and encouraging and we are blessed to have such invested students and staff and community whose goals are to examine the current school environment and strive to improve areas where needed. The students have
031expressed to us how the change in cell phone policy of not permitting phones in the school this year has been a sweeping positive change. The students say communication has improved so much and students are actually talking to one another during lunch and throughout the day. This is true. True. The cafeteria is quite chatty. Um, they also were removed. Oh, sorry. Bogle. Wait a minute. They were also pleased to tell us that the bathroom changes to remove the outside exterior doors has mostly eliminated the use of bathrooms for loitering or vaping and the problems with any vandalism. The LSIC would like to sincerely thank you for fulfilling our request last year to reimburse students for their AP examination fees beginning this year. This has become a financial burden for some students who take multiple tests at
032$99 a test. By [snorts] June of 2025, we had 37 students take 63 AP exams in the subjects of US history and government, literature, language, Spanish, calculus, and chemistry. To be able to receive college credits for these classes, students must pass the exam with a three, four, or five out of five, depending on their prospective college requirements. We are pleased to share with you that your investment in these students was a good one. US history and US government had the highest passing rate in the history of the programs at GHS scoring 89 and 86% respectively. In addition, these scores are above the national averages of 72 and 73%. And Mr. Zakowski is here this evening and congratulations to him. A 100% also 100% of students who took the English lit exam scored a three or
033better 100% passing rate in that class and the same for chemistry which is the hardest AP test that is completed. In language 94% of the students who took the exam scored a three or higher. These students work hard all year to prepare for these tests and the exams and we thank you for not saddling them with the financial burden especially come upon the end of their high school career. In preparation in preparation for next year, AP teachers are collaborating on testing strategies and students are taking practice tests. In addition, the test will be digital next year completely. So teachers are working to adjust and be prepared as they pretty much already are because most of them were last year. We thank you for your time tonight and your support with that. So that was from
034Miss Biller. And in conclusion, um I just want to say that um I am very thankful for the time that I've had at Grafton High School. I'm very proud of them. Um I am thankful for this board and the members of the board that came before you. Um and the superintendent that I have worked for while I've been in this building. This is the good staff that I've ever worked with and I believe that they want what's best for Taylor County. And one of the things that I really take a lot of pride in is the last few years we've been encouraging kids to go into education. And as I look through the county right now at Anna Jarvis and at West Taylor and at Taylor County Middle School and at Grafton High School, we
035have new teachers who are ours. They came from here and they came back. So, um, thank you. That's what we have. So, now I'm supposed to ask you to give me questions. >> Give me questions. What do you guys have for me? >> Okay. >> [snorts] >> never figure these out. >> You went over the um tier 2 support data. >> Yep. >> So, when we're looking at um the number of students with grades of F. >> Yes. >> Okay. So, total students with one or more was 46. >> Yes. So, in the whole school 46 students have one or more. >> But is there any grade level that has a trend of having more or is it just spread out? >> No, it's very Yeah. So, first semester, believe it or not, it's usually
036sophomores, which is weird because you would think it would be freshman and transitioning, but freshmen have they're kind of still on a honeymoon period. And we're also our teachers work hard to transition them successfully. So, this semester it is 10th grade, >> okay? >> But next semester it will likely be second semester freshman. So, your sophomores are going to finish figuring it out and your freshman are going to start screwing it up just a little bit more [laughter] and then so that that second semester freshman first semester sophomore is almost always our worst place for the number of Fs. So >> that's all right. Anybody else have question for me today? Um, are there any other support plans or pieces that you need um to implement these supports more broadly at the 1D level versus
037like do you need what do you need? We do have a and I I don't want to speak because my predecessor will drive the train, you know, but as a as a faculty and as an administrative team, a few of the things that we have been looking at is we've made some changes to math. You do there's no question that math is our weakness. It's our weakness at the high school. It's our weakness at the state. It's our weakness at at the national level. Um so we continue to try to look for the answers. So this year we added a new math course um that for anybody in eighth grade who was 18 months or further behind grade level. They went into a math course that's not algebra 1 that the state has allowed. So
038next year we will be keeping them together into their algebra 1. Um then their senior year they'll no longer no longer have to have algebra 2 um to graduate. They have to have a fourth math but it doesn't have to be algebra 2. So, we'll be we'll be investigating a new math class. So, I'm sure that we will look for some support in the future from Mrs. Roberts because we'll probably need a textbook that's outside of the adoption. We're probably going to need a curriculum and we'll have to come before the board likely to get a new class approved. Um, so there's going to be a little support, but that is we're still two years out of that. Um, we have been lucky that we are able to provide um slightly smaller math classes um
039than some of the others. So that allows us to do more of these. I'm gonna go off a little bit, but when you build a master schedule, the more electives or the more singletons you offer, the harder it is to do that. So when every freshman takes algebra 1, you just offer algebra 1 six times a day, divide it by 25 and you're good. But when you need to offer a non-algebra 1 class, like this new, not called pre-alggebra course, it's like um conceptual understanding of math or something like that. And you only need 40 kids to take it. That means you're only going to put 20 and 20, right? And not 25 and 25. So now your algebra ones are suddenly going to get a little bigger unless you have an add extra section.
040So the continued that we've been able to do that has helped because it keeps our numbers to allow us to offer these stu more student specific sections as opposed to just everybody gets algebra one, everybody gets algebra 2. So that's been helpful. We're going to hopefully continue that. The other thing is with Mr. Waters actually been doing a little bit of brainstorming. students who fail math more than one year, looking at doing some type of an alternative learning math environment where rather than sitting in algebra one and geometry at the same time or geometry and algebra 2 that we will look at the option pathway model of where you pull in and you show mastery of those by taking the GED test where we will pull you in one period and work on closing the
041gaps of multiple subjects at one time because credit recovery allows you not to have seat time. That's a I know I'm way out there, but so yeah, the answer is continued support of the fact that at Grafton High School, we are able to offer a lot of good quality of electives and smaller classes in order to get at these needs. And that's probably what they're going to ask for in the future is to continue that option. But um other than that, I don't think anything specific right now. Yeah, >> the rest of the board's completed asking questions of you. But before you sit down, I want to say publicly um that this school has been blessed to have you for as long as we've had you and for as long as the community's had you
042to be principal of this school. your enthusiasm, your love for this community, your love for the school, your love for the students has shown over the years. You've worked to get us where we needed to be. Um, you have seen several superintendents all have different goals, but basically the goal of a lot of the things [snorts] you talked about today and it has taken us a few years to get where we've been, >> but you've been at the helm of it and you have worked with your staff and the staff has worked with you. You've collaborated. Um, I think we're at a point to where you work very very well with the staff and the staff has respected you along the way and we've been blessed to have you. So, career is about to take
043off in a different >> It is >> in a different path. It is >> and I'm glad we're keeping you. >> Thank you. >> Um because the county would be at a loss if we would definitely lose you to a different county which I think your love for Taylor >> Yeah. >> not going anywhere. >> But uh we're just I'm thankful and just want to say congratulations on your new career path and congratulations on what you've done here at the school. >> Thank you. It's it was it was a great school when I started. I think it's a great school now and there have been a lot of excellent it's a team. Um I am a big believer in team and just to let you know my applying on this new position um I think
044the greatest thing Taylor County has is its people and the next greatest thing is a community that that passes bonds and levies and gives us great facilities and I believe that there is a need there and to continue to support and um protect the fiscal um the amount of financial support that this board and this community puts into our facilities and our campuses. Um, I look forward to that challenge to continue to lead that and grow that and be a good caretaker of your investments and our county's investments. So, it's definitely a different path, but I look forward to it. It is going to be a learning curve. That's very steep. So, [laughter] I'm ready. But thank you for the kind words. Anybody else questions? >> I don't have a question. Just Sorry. Go ahead.
045>> Just a comment really. um just some things that I ever heard this evening um from everyone that presented. So I think Mr. McCarthy had mentioned about culture and um I think that that is so vitally important and I'm glad that he hit on that. And then the other thing is the commitment that you have had to this school and then that just cascades down, right? And so you've had staff that have been committed and committed to um teachers with certifications and um making sure that we have the right people in the right positions and then we're seeing those results with um our testing scores and our AP classes and and all those things are coming together. But the main thing is um the care that you guys have for your students and that's that's
046why we're all here, right? Number one um is the the care that you have for your students. So all of that um together and I just want to thank you just like Mrs. uh Knots had mentioned because I've known you all my life, Mrs. maker. >> Literally, [laughter] >> we literally have known each other all of our lives. And uh I really wish you all the best and thank you so much for all of your dedication over the years to to Grafton. >> Thank you. >> I have one more thing we talked about. You mentioned math and we know where this countyy's come and where we've been and where we're going hopefully with our math scores. >> It's been a struggle and we're going We're getting there, right? We're getting there. But I gotta say,
047I know a few students that have left quite I've known a few I have a few that have just recently left and have moved on um to higher education and they're in those higher education classes that they are having with math, they're doing very well. So they've carried something along with them that they've gotten from Grafton High School, Taylor County Middle School, right from this county. Even though they've struggled along the way, you have sent them along. You and the staff, not just Grafton, but all the way through, right? Elementary and Taylor Middle have sent them on their way and they're doing really, really well. So even though our county where we know where we've come from with our math, we know where we're going, we know where we're trying to get to and we're
048getting there, but the students are doing well after they leave here. So that's also a testament um to to the every staff member in this >> I appreciate you saying that about math and and I didn't I don't purposely ignore the other subjects. I think the thing is they have been they are so very successful. They like our everybody is and it's just math is is in a constant climb. So um But yeah, all of them. We get a lot of feedback from our students that go one to trades or to college about I always love it when they come back and say, "I sat through that English 101 class and it was a whole lot easier than my senior English class because I was ready." And we'd love to hear that kind of feedback.
049So >> So I know a few that are that are there now. So that's a good testament to you all. >> Yeah. Mrs. Shoemaker, >> Mr. Taylor, >> we go way back. >> Not quite as far as Miss Gallow, but a ways. I remember when you were the uh president of the SAD club that I was the adviser for when you were in high school. >> This is true. >> Uh I taught 41 years under a lot of principles and hands down you were the best. >> Thank you. >> Of all of them. >> Thank you. Uh I wish you luck in your transfer of career uh path and I know you'll be the best where you're going >> from now on. >> I will tell you that um you know I have a legacy
050here. My son is teaching and I'm pushing him to go get his administrative certification um and I believe he believes blue and gold just like I do and and I'm hopeful that um I'll train him up uh in the ways of administration. We'll see what happens there. Thank you. >> Good. >> Yeah. I mean, I could say all the nice things that everybody else said, but we don't need crying on camera. >> So, um, >> you're a rockstar. >> Thank you. Thank you, guys. >> All right. Uh, we are going to move on to the recognition of our 2025 National Board Certified Teachers. Dr. Stallings, I'm assuming you're leading that. delightful. >> Well, we are very excited to announce that we have a national board certified teacher um Miss Charity Caski and I just want
051to tell a little bit about the process and then Charity can share as well um what she went through. So, this is not an easy task. Um Charity had to uh submit four components. Um, three of the components being that she had to videotape herself, um, collect student work samples, analyze it, and then write about that. And she's was very limited on how much writing she could provide. And then that was sent to someone across the nation. we have no idea a colleague across the nation and they had to review um charity's teaching and had to score just based on the very limited information charity um could provide which I think speaks volumes that you have to show what an exceptional teacher teacher you are in just a little bit of um what you're what
052you're doing. Another piece of that was Charity had to go and take a test um on her content knowledge um for her certification and all of that together um determines if she has a score high enough for national board certification. Like I said, we're very excited to announce that she is so ask Dr. Shelings to come and present the award to charity. >> [applause] >> Charity, do you want to share anything about your process? >> Sure. >> Your experience? >> So, this was a wonderful experience. It was very reflective. I learned a lot about, I would say, myself as a teacher. Um, but I grew a lot as well, too. And I think a lot of times you can kind of get after a while kind of like in a rut with how you do
053things. And it challenged me to different things and to be better um to be a better teacher for my um students. And I wanted to thank Helen as well too because she was my cohort leader throughout all of this and it would not have been possible without her. There are so many times I sent her things to get her feedback and her ideas and it really helped me um grow as well too. So thank you. [applause] >> Thank you. Congratulations. We are You honor us by creating such an amazing um achievement. Achieving such an amazing achievement. I have all the wrong words in it. Clearly not an English kid. Um [laughter] so, but congratulations on all your hard work and we are super proud of you and we are super delighted that you are here.
054>> So, Congratulations. We are proud. and I want to say one more thing about charity and then I've got some more exciting news to share. Um so typically this this is a process and a journey for many folks because um it is not an easy process. I just gave you a piece of it. charity could probably go on and share more. Um but with that um the success rate rate of certifying your first year is less than half of um those and this was Charity's first year. Um so we're very very excited for her. This was the first year she went through the process was a part of our cohort and certified. So, we're also excited to announce that um Miss Rebecca Bartlett has maintained her certifi certification. So, just a little bit more about
055National Board. Um this is where my heart is. Um Dr. Slings has gotten to listen to me talk a lot about National Board um because it definitely is um a professional growth process. Um but with national board um you certify but then you have to show where you continue to grow professionally and you continue to show um and you're teaching the excellent standards that um encompass national board and so through that you have to do what's called maintenance of certification um now the process is every five years you have to go through this um similar to what charity did Miss Bartlett um had to showcase her teaching using evidence video student work samples had to provide a written commentary and then um it was once again sent somewhere across the nation. Um each piece was
056sent to some a different group of um librarians and they had to review it and determine if she had a score high enough. And we're very excited to announce she did she scored um high enough to maintain her certification. So she's m um she is continuing her certification as a national board certified teacher. Um she unfortunately is not able to be here with us tonight. She had a family obligation, but we wanted to take the time to recognize her and her dedication to our our district. >> So, I wanted to one last thing and then I I'll be quiet about national board. I just wanted to kind of let you know where we stand as um as a county because I think this speaks volumes about um how mighty we are. So, we currently have
05715 national board certified professionals. Um so, that is including um adding charity to the list. Um we have uh make sure check my my numbers here. We have six educators that hold the certification for teachers. Um we have four speech pathologists, three nurses, a counselor, and one school psychologist um that hold the certification currently. So we we do offer a cohort um to try to support our educators as they work through this process. So um and I wanted to thank you for the support because um you do support the cohort um providing them with a stipen to participate in some other resources. So, thank you very much. >> It's fantastic. All right, Dr. Sings, who is going to handle the VFW Patriots pen winners? We have to do that for us. >> Wonderful. Hi, I'm
058Scubis from Taylor County Middle School. I have three winners I'd like to recognize. Um, last Thursday on the 4th, uh, the BFW held their meeting in Grafton. Um, I wanted to recognize him here tonight at the board of education meeting. We have from the eighth grade class. I'll call you each up and you can stand up here with your certificates and get your pictures taken. I do want to say before I called them up to um the theme was patriotism. How do you show your patriotism? And whenever we worked on this essay in class, one thing I told them, well, how do you show your patriotism? You can't vote. You're only 13 or 14 years old. And so we had a discussion before we wrote our essays and they were very bright, very smart in
059their responses. Um they show patriotism through supporting local businesses by being respectful and responsible citizens to each other, to their classmates, to their family members. And um it was a very eyeopener for me to see that they could form those responses. It's not just going to a fourth of July picnic or viewing the fireworks. They um definitely their responses in a way that showed that they were thinking outside of the box and showed their intelligence. So we have third place winner Leilen Tricket. [applause] We have second place Michaela Tingler. [applause] McKinley Tingler. And we have first place winner Liliana Shiplet. [applause] If you girls would like to stand up here, we can get a picture of you together. >> Now, I'm on a snow day, non-traditional instructional day, too. And I'm sorry, McKinley. I I
060do that to you all the time. as well. >> Thank you so much, [applause] >> ladies. I just wanted to congratulate you and then um thank you to um our teacher who helped with that. And then I just wanted to encourage you too to um when the time comes I really encourage you to go to Girls State um that you'll learn a lot about citizenship and patriotism and everything there. It's a really wonderful wonderful opportunity. Um, I know my son got to go to Boy State and he talks about it all the time. You will make such great friendships and everything. So, just wanted to encourage you for that, too. Okay. Congratulations. >> I want to say congratulations to all three. It's wonder wonderful opportunity to be able to have your teacher get you involved
061in um items and situations and writing and contests and things like that in the community. Um it seems to be just just a contest but also to understand what patriotism is is especially in the county that we live in. It's really important here, but also there's a learning event, learning opportunity along with it. So, you were able to write and that's going to carry with you all the way through your life. So, it was an opportunity for you to probably, you know, learn as you went, right? So, this congratulations to all three of you. It took a lot of dedication, I'm sure, um, to be able to take the time to be able to be involved in this. A lot of dedication, a lot of evening, a lot of studying, a lot of research, but
062just you you saw it through and that's that's an accomplishment for you. So, congratulations representing your school, too. That's awesome. Congratulations. Keep up the good work. We'll see you back someday. >> Ladies, I see Patriots pen. That means you had to write something. What you had to do was develop a life skill, something that you can use the whole rest of your lives. And the skill with which you did that, you're to be congratulated for it. Good work. I'd like to thank you for the bravery that this takes to be able to willingly craft your words knowing that they are going to affect somebody and then have the wherewithal to put that out there and let somebody judge that is huge. That that piece and the fact that you have figured out how to craft
063your words so that they move other people is amazing. I am crazy proud of you. Um that is a skill that I think not enough of us use properly. Um so well done. Well done. Well done. And moms and dads and other adults, thank you because I'm sure that they had some proofreading help. [laughter] So, >> Miss Garvin, if I may, I I think I'd be remiss not to me if I did not mention that uh these ladies need to be encouraged to uh consider that every year the Memorial Day parade committee challenges and offers an opportunity for students to do two things. One is that is to identify and craft a theme for the parade and that is always selected from our student body in our county and also once that theme has been
064identified we they also challenge and offer opportunities for students to write an essay and I know of that because I happen to be fortunate enough to be serving as the master ceremonies at that at that time when that essay is then read for the public. So, uh, congratulations as well. But, uh, hopefully this is just the beginning of that process for you. >> Thank you. >> And now we're going to get into the like businessy stuff. So, if y'all got someplace else to be, thank you very much for your time and attention this evening. Go on. Be warm. Congratulations. >> All right. Um, and that moves us forward into the superintendent's update. >> Thank you, Miss Garvin. I believe I've passed out a couple uh pieces of information from our our schools. Both our high
065school and our middle school have provided you an update regarding their weapons detection system and their tracking of that. And it appears from what they've shared for the November report uh for the high school and September through November for the middle school that there has been a very successful process of using that randomly as as has been our interest and preference um both at those two schools and they have committed to continuing to do that. uh our students have become much more comfortable as I understand it going through that process now that it's becoming something that is done still randomly but uh some with some regularity likewise in the back of the you have the monthly updates from our middle school and Flemington elementary school this month provided that for you regarding those three areas
066the data reveals the shoutouts for success and in case you haven't heard uh both schools provided that information uh I will not take the time to read it to you, but I would hope that you will do that on their behalf. In addition, I did want to share other one other brief information and announcement that I received asking that I made sure our board members were aware that the next uh the West Virginia Schoolboard Association's winter conference has been scheduled for February 13th and 14th, 2026. And that is at the Marriott Hotel at the Waterfront Place in Morgantown. So, in this case, this winter, you will not have to travel to uh Charleston or other locations. And I will ask that you let uh Miss Katie Westfall, our secretary, know of your interest and intent
067to uh participate in that. So, I know that the state will be asking her, she and I, let's be honest, they'll be asking Miss Westfall, what the status of your intent would be. And I know that she worked very diligently recently getting a training that was at Stonewall and she will continue to do just that for the one in February. >> All good. >> We did have one other thing to today. We had another construction meeting at the new facility or the future facility of the new anarvis elementary school and uh we are continuing to make progress in spite of the extremely bitter cold weather. When you drive by there you may notice occasionally there are uh plastic coverings over sections and those gentlemen are working and ladies are working very hard to keep with
068the schedule and we are I am told we are on schedule. Thank you. That is all. >> Anybody have any questions? >> Right. Do we have any board member updates or board committee meeting reports? I have a report to make. Uh at the recent uh United Technical Center meeting, uh we were told that we uh although the uh number of grafting students had dropped or stayed the same at 32 that they had had some drop otherwise. Uh that's a good thing. So we have 32 students going over there to the United Technical Center. Also in the A+ core one certification they were told recently that the United Technical Center is the highest in the nation. >> All right. for A1 core plus core one A+ core one certification for for the United Technical Center. So
069that's a significant uh achievement. >> That's fantastic. All right. Hearing no other updates or reports, we will move to the 2000 series minutes, policies, contracts, and agreements. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of the minutes from the regular meeting of December 2nd, 2025. >> Mr. Taylor moves. >> Mrs. Gallow seconds. Questions? All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. policies and codes in the first and second reading. Those need no action at this point unless there are questions. Moves us into the 3000 series. The consent calendar that's facility use out of county travel chaperones. Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 3080 through 3085 in the 3000 series. Mrs. Gallow moves. >> Mrs. Knox second questions, >> comment. Uh I I would take note of the fact that my son and daughter-in-law are listed among the chaperones.
070Uh but uh they are in a group larger than five. So I will vote on that. >> Thank you. Any additional comments or questions? We have an open motion on the floor. All those in favor? I >> opposed. Motion passes. Moves us directly to the 4,000 series financial financial update budget supplements and vouchers payable. Mr. Dolan, tell us some things. >> Good evening. Uh inside your packet um for this board meeting, I provided the uh financial update. Uh as I stated there at the last meeting, I provided a copy of the bank statement uh for the month of November. um you know has a list of um uh deposits and and u outgoing payments uh listed there. Uh we ended the month with a um a $2.4 million balance uh there at the end of
071the month. So like I wanted to provide that information to you. Sorry a little hot. Um, and then your next page, uh, after the bank statement, uh, provided you copies of our, um, savings account and our, uh, money that we keep the bond the bond money in. Um, like I said, our savings account staying, uh, pretty hefty. um you know with almost 11.5 million dollars in it uh with a $40,000 um reinvestment for approved money for that month. Um and our bond statement $1.2 million that's for the uh for the Jarvis project and uh the other projects that are assigned to from the sales of the bond. I also provided the uh SBA requisition requisition reconciliation. Uh you know the SBA gave us $7.3 million for the anarvis project. Um and as of November 30th
072we've used $2.7 million of that money for that project. >> Wonderful. Does anybody have any additional questions for Mr. >> Dolan? Y >> I know there's just a few more things. Um I don't know. I get to go this evening. Sorry. [laughter] >> We had uh we had two grant uh two grand awards that um came in. Actually, we got one grand award and uh our title one funding uh we had to update it. Uh we did have to do a about a $20,000 decrease to our title one budget. So I had to make that adjustment. Uh U at the beginning of the month. And then the last bit of information is the schedule of checks that have been written um that they had right between the last meeting and this meeting and the schedule
073of checks to be written on your approval. >> Sorry. All right. Questions? Superintendent respectfully requests approval of items in the 4,000 series. >> Mrs. not moves. I will Mr. Taylor seconds. All those in favor? >> I opposed. Motion passes. Moving us into the 5,000 series. >> All right, we have a motion to go into executive session. Do we have a second? >> She's a She has a personal question about a contract. Okay, Miss Mrs. Knes, Mrs. Gallow seconds. All those in favor? >> I opposed. All right, motion passes and we are in executive session at 7:02. Yep. >> Okay. And we are back from executive session and we are moving into the 5000 series where we have some personnel transfers, some extracurricular, extra duty contracts, resignations, substitutes, a creation, and a leave of absence. Uh,
074superintendent respectfully requests approval of items 5352 through 5359 in the 5000 series. >> Mrs. Gallow moves. Mr. Taylor seconds. Questions. All those in favor? I oppose. >> Motion passes. >> Congratulations. >> All right. Thank you. >> And that will move us into the 8000 series. Board member comments and discussions. Seeing none, is there anything anybody needs for the next meeting? >> So, Miss Garbin, I just um on the next meeting probably when we look at the 9,000 series, the future meetings, um that last meeting in March, I have a schedule conflict, but I wanted to check with Dr. Decker because I believe that would be is that going to be the RIFF meeting. Okay. >> Is it should be around the time of the levy rates? >> Well, we have two two different meetings. there's
075a potential >> I think the request is that we look at that in relation to the other deadlines um in in that beginning of March to beginning end of April and see if that >> Yeah, >> please. Okay. We know there are other things moving about. Uh any other specific? Okay. Hearing none, we will move into the 9,000 series. Future meetings January 13th, 5:30 and 6 o'clock at Anna Jarvis Elementary. January 27th, 5:30 and 6 o'clock at the board office. February 10th, 6 o'clock at Flemington. February 24th, 6 o'clock at the board office. And March 10th, 6 o'clock at the board office. >> Miss Excuse. >> Yes, Dr. It is with disappointment that I suggest to you or remind let you know that I was informed today that we have the need for yet another
076expulsion hearing and the deadline for having that is January 7th. I would suggest that Monday the 5th, Tuesday the 6th or Wednesday the 7th be your choice. That will give me ample time to contact the families and arrange for other participants. With all due respect, I >> two the 6 works for two out of five so far. Any objections to that? >> I you you can, but I I don't have time to inform the by what? By when? Next week. >> I can do the next. >> Okay. >> Which date am I hearing? >> Mr. Douty, I'm not okay. I believe we are five for five on the 6th at 6. >> Thank you. >> Will you send us a reminder? >> Yes, ma'am. I will. Thank you. >> All right. We've got minor revision
077to the future meeting schedule. >> Yes, ma'am. >> I believe we can entertain a motion for adjournment. >> Mr. Taylor moves. Do I have a second? >> Second. >> Mrs. N seconds. All those in favor? I opposed. Very good. And we are journed at 7:19. Thank you Grafton High School for hosting us this evening.