Pocahontas County High School Principal Tom Sanders addressed the board of education Monday with his plans to apply for the 21st Century Community Learning Center Program grant.
Pocahontas County Schools applied for the grant last year, but was not chosen for the grant.

"Last year, we ended up being number 15 out of 30 and they funded 14, so we were very close," Sanders said. "I thought I would try again, at no cost to us, other than getting it ready again."

Sanders said he didn't have to change the application much.
"The budget is just a little bit smaller than it was last year," Sanders said. "It still has one full-time position which is a coordinator and the rest are extracurricular contracts. They will have at least $2 million to give out."

The board approved the changes to the application.

Superintendent Dr. J. Patrick Law shared an email he received from the WVU School of Dentistry concerning a research project it would like to utilize in Pocahontas County Schools. The project, titled "Lessons in a Lunch Box: Healthy Teeth Essentials and Facts About Snacks," provides children and their families with knowledge about "routine dental care, proper oral health maintenance, good dietary choices and using a 'dentally designed' lunch box. Each student would be provided a lunch box with a "Dental Care in a Carrot" case and a sand-filled timer. The carrot case includes a toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss and a rinse cup top. The program is for students in kindergarten through third grade.

Addressing the myriad snow days Pocahontas County Schools has endured, Law asked all school principals to provide him with a list that outlines their plans to maximize the days left in the semester. Some of the schools have implemented snow packets which contain activities to practices skill and review CSOs (Content Standards and Objectives) previously taught. Each of the schools has plans to utilize their time to make up for the time lost due to snow days. Law added that IS days (Instructional Support and Enhancement Days) can now be half-days instead of full days of faculty development.

In other updates:

ﾕ Alice Irvine, Associate Superintendent for Operations and treasurer supplied the board with new information on the school calendar for 2010-2011 school year. She said a committee will be formed to choose a calendar.

ﾕ Diane Delfino, Coordinator of Student Services and Special Education, reported that Pre-k registration dates have been set for students enrolling for the 2010-2011 school year. Marlinton Elementary School and School Days Child Care will be April 14 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at MES; Hillsboro Elementary School and School Days Child Care on April 21 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. at HES; and Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and School Days Child Care on April 28, from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. at GBEMS.

Delfino explained that school nurse Jenny Friel will have doctors and dentists at each registration to do screenings for the students.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $7,620.45.

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $266,723.24.

ﾕ Treasurer's report, revenue and expenditures summary and projects summary.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Placement from transfer list of Renee D. Hill as itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide/paraprofessional for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2010-2011 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. Assignment to be made at a later date.

ﾕ Employment of Michelle Arbogast and Brittany Propst as substitute teachers for Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 23, 2010, for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year, as needed.

ﾕ Change in classification and pay of Darin W. McKenney from an F classification (Electrician I, General Maintenance, Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic I, Painter, Plumber I and Asbestos Management) for Pocahontas County Schools to an H classification (Supervisor of Maintenance Asbestos Management, Electrician II, General Maintenance, Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic II, Painter and Plumber II) for Pocahontas County Schools, plus $2,000 (prorated by number of days employed), retroactive to January 1, 2010.

ﾕ Change in pay for Charles A. Wilfong, H classification (Supervisor of Maintenance, Asbestos Management, Electrician II, General Maintenance, Heating and Air Conditioning Mechanic II, Painter and Plumber II) for Pocahontas County Schools plus $2,000 (proratedﾠ by number of days employed), retroactive to January 1, 2010.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Travel requests for February 22, 2010.

ﾕ File: GBB-SS, Highly Qualified Teachers.

ﾕ To waive the Board Policy regarding the placement of all policies on 30-day comment as it pertains to Policy GBQC, Critical Need/Shortage ﾖ Substitute Teachers.

ﾕ File: GBQC, Critical Need/Shortage ﾖ Substitute Teachers.

ﾕ Pocahontas County 21st Century Community Learning Center Program Application Narrative.

ﾕ Dustin Cassell, Rick Hartzell, Shane Jones and Richard Walther as volunteer coaches for the 4th and 5th grade basketball program at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2009-2010 season.

ﾕ Dege Burdette as a chaperone/volunteer at Marlinton Elementary School, effective February 8, 2010, for the remainder of the 2009-2010 school year.

ﾕ Resignation of Dr. J. Patrick Law as Superintendent of Pocahontas County Schools, effective June 30, 2010, subject to the Superintendent executing a contract with the Wood County Board of Education.

The next board meeting will be March 8 at 6 p.m. in the board of education conference room.