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With astonishing statistics at hand, Jenny Ramos and Cheryl Jonese of the Pocahontas County Prevention Coalition gave a presentation about their program to the board of education Monday night.

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The Prevention Coalition, which is losing its funding this month, works with the schools and the community to spread awareness about and prevent substance abuse.

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"I would like to stress the impact the use and abuse of drugs has on our county and the children," Jonese said. "I was shocked when my husband [Sheriff David Jonese] shared with me that we have five to seven drug overdoses in this county a week. They don't all die, they get to try it again next week. This is affecting these kids. They're seeing this at home and they have to try to get up the next morning and go to school."

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Several programs, including Keep a Clear Mind and STARS (Start Taking Alcohol Risks Seriously), have been implemented in the schools with positive responses from students. Ramos and Jonese stressed the importance of continuing the programs and asked the board for any help it can offer.

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"Our statistics are proof that what we are doing is working," Ramos said. "We would like to do whatever we can do to keep these programs in the schools."

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The board told Superintendent C.C. Lester to look into what the board can do to assist the program.

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In other updates:

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ﾕ High Rocks Education Corporation Director Sarah Riley presented the board with AmeriCorps members who will work closely with the schools this year. The volunteers will be based at High Rocks, but will be working on education-based projects at the schools and in the community. Members attending the meeting were; Hazel Scott, Amy Cole, Lisa-Sun Gresham, Corey Bonasso, Adrienne Juergens, Jessica Perry and Annie Mountcastle.

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The board thanked Riley and the members for their time and said they must be approved as volunteers before they can work with children in the schools.

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ﾕ Associate Superintendent for Operations and Treasurer Alice Irvine reported that the CEFP (Comprehensive Educational Facilities Plan) was approved by the School Building Authority. The board office has not received a final copy of the plan.

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ﾕ Director of Federal Programs and Instruction Terrence Beam presented the board with information on WESTEST 2 and a comprehensive layout of the county's scores by grade level. Beam said the cut scores, the numbers which determine whether a student is above mastery, at mastery, below mastery or at novice level, have been changed this year. In order to be at mastery now, students must receive on average 20-to-30 points higher than in previous years.

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Because of the change, Beam said the test scores may seem poor when, in fact, the students had done as well or better then they had last year.

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ﾕ Student representative Nathan Hamons reported that fall sports are in full swing and the first home football game is Friday. He added that students who performed in the Heritage Plays at the Pocahontas County Opera House will travel to New York City to perform their skits at the annual theater conference "Performing the World." They are Mac Halterman, Nicolas Solliday, Lee Ryder, David Irvine and Lauren Garretson.

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Hamons added that Pocahontas County High School had a new hot bar and salad bar for lunch, which has been met with mixed reviews.

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In financial management, the board approved:

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ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $19,438.25.

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ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $97,125.49.

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In personnel management, the board approved:

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ﾕ Resignation of Warren Scott Hayes as assistant boys basketball coach at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to August 27, 2010.

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ﾕ Employment of Elaine J. Sheets as teacher of multi-subjects, grade three, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to August 23, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. Term of employment is 197 days.

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ﾕ Requested transfer of Ella M. Taylor from Title I supervisory classroom aide/bus aide/paraprofessional to supervisory classroom aide/bus aide/paraprofessional at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to August 23, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Abolishment of position Title I Aide at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, retroactive to August 23.

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ﾕ Employment of Jennifer L. McCarty and Joshua D. Shinaberry as academic interventionists at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective September 15 through April 22, 2011, at $20 per hour, six hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $19,200 for each position. Planning time and lunch are outside the six hours worked. Schedule to be determined by the principal.

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ﾕ Medical leave of absence of Jessica H. Dean as teacher at Marlinton Elementary School, effective after the use of paid sick leave beginning September 17 and ending November 14.

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ﾕ Abolishment of position Teacher/Coordinator for after-school program at Marlinton Elementary School, retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Out of field authorization of JoAutumn Hill in Preschool Special Needs, PK-K, effective for the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Employment of Phillip C. Anderson as head basketball coach, boys 6th, 7th and 8th grades, at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2010-2011 season at a supplement of $1,500. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

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ﾕ Employment of Lawrence T. Workman as assistant basketball coach, boys 6th, 7th and 8th grades, at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2010-2011 season at a supplement of $1,000. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

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ﾕ Employment of Teresa Mullen as teacher of Family and Consumer Science at Pocahontas County High School, effective September 15, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. Term of employment is 180 days.

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ﾕ Employment of Darlene D. Arbogast as athletic seasonal coordinator for soccer at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2010-2011 season at a supplement of $900. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

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ﾕ Employment of Wanda L. Hrabina as teacher, in-school suspension, at Pocahontas County High School, effective October 1, 2010 and ending on June 4, 2011 at $20 per hour, as needed, not to exceed $18,504. Schedule to be determined by the principal and teacher.

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ﾕ Employment of Thomas E. Plumley as golf coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2010-2011 season at a supplement of $1,200. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

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ﾕ Employment of Ruth A. Bland as technology coordinator for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to September 1 through June 30, 2011, as needed, at $20 per hour for 150 hours.

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ﾕ Employment of Michael F. Hudson as itinerant supervisory special education classroom aide/bus aide, male position, for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to August 23, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. Term of employment is 197 days. Assignment at Pocahontas County High School.

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ﾕ Employment of Sandra K. Perdue, as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, effective September 14, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year, as needed.

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ﾕ Employment of Melissa Ervine as substitute secretary/accountant for Pocahontas County Schools, effective September 14, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year, as needed.

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ﾕ Employment of Michelle L. Arbogast, Melissa Ervine, Brook Leyzorek and Sandra K. Perdue, as substitute aides for Pocahontas County Schools, effective September 14, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year, as needed.

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ﾕ Release of Maria T. McKelvey as itinerant teacher of special education for Pocahontas County Schools, effective September 29, or until a replacement has been employed.

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ﾕ Requested transfer of Danial P. Lewis as school bus operator from the Poage Lane run to the run beginning at Marlinton Middle School or Pocahontas County High School. Effective September 15, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year. Term of employment is 180 days.

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In miscellaneous management, the board approved:

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ﾕ Travel requests for September 13, 2010.

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ﾕ Out-of-county request of Emma Hambrick for her child to attend school in Greenbrier County, retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Out-of-county request of Nadine Kellison for her children to attend school in Greenbrier County, retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Out-of-county request of Angela J. Tanner for her child to attend school in Randolph County, retroactive to the beginning of the 2010-2011 school year.

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ﾕ Placement on 30-day comment of revision of File: DJD, Expense Reimbursement.

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