The board of education was in celebratory mode Monday night as it recognized several county students for their academic achievements.

Superintendent C.C. Lester presented certificates to students, as well as members of the Lady Warriors basketball team and its coaches for competing at the state tournament in Charleston.
Coaches Tim McClung, Kenneth Lehman and Melvin Lindsay, along with Chloe Bland, Olivia Workman, Karey Barb and Bethany Arbogast represented the Lady Warriors.

Vincent Harper placed fifth at the state spelling bee; winners of the Young Writers Contest are: Odie Leyzorek, Victoria Rose, Cora Hedrick, Skylar Coehenour, Shanna Carr and Khristian Smith.

The board members congratulated everyone on their achievements and thanked them for attending the meeting.

In updates:

* Director of Federal Programs and Instruction Terrence Beam reported the legislature is discussing new policies on bullying, harassment and intimidation in the schools and suggested the board create policies on the same subjects.

Beam also requested the board change the reimbursement policy for teachers who attend training. He explained that the Teacher Learning Institute Training beginning this summer will train teachers on the new common core standards which will take the place of CSOs (Content Standards and Objectives).

The training this summer is for kindergarten teachers and Beam said only one kindergarten teacher from the county is willing to go. Currently, the stipend pays $150 a day. Beam requested the policy be changed to pay $20 an hour in order to get more teachers to attend training.

The board discussed the issue and agreed that the policy will stay the same and that the $150 a day was selected as reimbursement to make the pay equal for all teachers.

* Coordinator of Student Services and Special Education Diane Delfino gave the board copies of the universal PreK audit and part of the food service review. She said both reviews went well and the second part of the food service review should be in soon.

* Lester reported that a new study by the state board of education revealed Pocahontas County has the highest rate of students going to college. He added that 21 of the Hidden Promise scholars will attend a concert at Glenville State College and several GSC athletes are coming to the county to help the baseball team prepare the baseball field at PCHS for the season.

* Board members Margaret Worth and Emery Grimes mentioned the community meetings and said they narrowed down three dates and locations. The board said it needs to be sure the meetings are legal since all members will be in attendance. The meetings are a way to bring the communities together to discuss issues with education in the county. The tentative dates are April 14 and 21 and May 5 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Worth said she will set the locations and let the board know where the meetings will be held.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

* Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $8,707.61.

* Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $67,226.26.

* Bank Reconciliation, Revenue and Expenditures Summary, Budget Supplements, Budget Transfer and Projects Summary.

* Schedule of Proposed Levy Rates for fiscal year ending June 30, 2012.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

* Requested transfer of Sandra R. Irvine from itinerant supervisory special education classroom aide/bus aide/autism mentor for Pocahontas County Schools, to Custodian IV/Sanitation Plant Operator at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective July 1. Term of employment is 261 days. Must hold a Class I License for operation of the water and/or sewage plant before receiving pay for Sanitation Plant Operator.

* Requested transfer of Rosanne T. Zeni from teacher of special education/Title I Reading specialist at Hillsboro Elementary School to teacher of multi-subjects, second grade, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

* Abolishment of position teacher of special education/Title I Reading Specialist at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

* Creation of position half-time Title I Reading specialist at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 one-half days.

* Employment of Kimberly Rao as athletic seasonal coordinator for volleyball at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2011-2012 season at a supplement of $500. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

* Employment of Drema Sharp as athletic seasonal coordinator for softball at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2010-2011 season at a supplement of $500. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

* Requested transfer Michael F. Hudson from itinerant supervisory special education classroom aide/bus aide male position at Pocahontas County High School to custodian II at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2011-2012 fiscal year. Term of employment is 220 days. Night shift schedule, 2 p.m. to 10 p.m.

* Abolishment of academic interventionist positions for Pocahontas County Schools, one each at Hillsboro Elementary School, Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Marlinton Elementary School and Marlinton Middle School, effective at the end of the 2010-2011 schoolﾠ year.

* Requested transfer of Gary M. Cutlip from school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools, Poage Lane/Clover Lick bus run, to school bus operator for Pocahontas County Schools, bus run beginning at Marlinton Middle School or Pocahontas County High School to Frost, Huntersville, Marlinton Elementary School, MMS and back to PCHS. Effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

* Abolishment of position itinerant teacher of special education for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2010-2011 school year.

* Creation of position itinerant teacher of special education (behavior disorders, mentally impaired, specific learning disabilities)/autism for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

* Employment of Larry R. Strader as substitute custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, effective March 29, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year, as needed.

* Employment of Kathryn C. Gillispie as substitute teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, effective March 29, for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year, as needed.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

* Travel requests for March 28.

* To terminate the services of David Stacy, Wells Fargo Insurance Services of West Virginia, Inc., as the insurance representative and producer of record on all matters relating to and in connection with workersﾒ compensation insurance coverage for all Pocahontas County Board of Education employees.

* To appoint Commercial Insurance Services as the Agent of Record on all matters relating to and in connection with workersﾒ compensation coverage through BrickStreet Mutual Insurance Company in the State of West Virginia for al Pocahontas County Board of Education employees, at no cost to the board.

* To advertise and sell bus #5, bus #6, bus #30, bus #33 and bus #38.

* Abolishment of the following policies: File: CA, Citizenship; File: CD, Line and Staff Relations; File CD-LS, Pocahontas County Public Schools Line Staff Chart; File: CDA (GBH), School Building Administration; File: CEA, Qualifications of Superintendent; File: CEB, Duties of Superintendent; CED, Election and Term of Superintendent: File: CEE,
Compensation and Benefits of Superintendent; File: CEF (DJD), Superintendentﾒs Expenses; File: CGA, Administrative Personnel Compensation Guides and Contracts; File: CGB, Positions; File: CGBAB, Qualifications and Duties (Principalship); File: CGBAC, Duties and Responsibilities of Assistant Principals; File: CGBAE, Director of Special Education; File: CGBAD, Director of Instruction; File: CGBAD, Duties (Director of Transportation); File: CGBAF, Duties Attendance Officer; File: CGBAG, Duties Food Services Supervisor; File: CGBAG Duties and Responsibilities Food Services Buyer; File: CGBAH, The Athletic Director; File: CGBAI, Reading Coordinator; File: CGBAJ, Treasurer; File: CGAJ, Director of Vocational Education; File: CGBAK, School Psychologist File: CGD, Hiring of Administrative Personnel; File: CGK (GBL), Tenure; File: CGPA, Administrative Personnel Health Examinations; File: CGPB, Administrative Personnel Time Schedules; File: CGPFB, Conferences and Visitations; File: CGPF/CGPG, Administrative Personnel Leaves and Absences; Fie: CM, Policy Implementation; File: CMB, Administration in Policy Absence; and File: CO, Administrative Reports.

* To increase the contract between the Pocahontas County Board of Education and David Wamsley from $2,500 to $5,000 for the remainder of the 2010-2011 school year.