The board of education received a lesson in reading and writing Monday night as Reading Specialist Kathy Snyder shared the outcome of her work in Pocahontas Countyﾠ schools.

Snyder worked with students on reading and writing skills in Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, Marlinton Elementary School and Hillsboro Elementary School. She studied test scores from the previous year and focused on areas where the students were deficient.

Students used West Virginia Writes and Acuity to improve their writing skills and Snyder shared results from practice essays showing improvement in each student. As an example of the programﾒs success, Snyder read an essay by a first grader and one by a third grader. Each essay showed vast knowledge of narrative and descriptive terms, she said.

Snyder said she hopes to return to the schools next year, if the funding is available for the program. Director of Federal Programs and Instruction Terrence Beam said he hopes to have the funding once he receives the Title I and Title II budget.

The board thanked Snyder for her time with the students and for sharing information with them.

In updates:

* Maintenance supervisor Darin McKenney reported that several upgrades are underway at the schools. A contractor is doing a pre-bid evaluation at Marlinton Middle School for the roof project and McKenney is pricing new gutters for Marlinton Elementary School. He added that he hopes to finish pouring concrete at Pocahontas County High School during spring break.

* Coordinator of Student Services and Special Education Diane Delfino shared the food services reports with the board and explained that three of the five school cafeterias were evaluated. The report stated several small upgrades the cafeterias need, as well as a storage problem at MMS.

Delfino explained that the cafeteria at MMS is used as the primary storage unit for the countyﾒs food services. The report stated that a separate location is required in order to make the MMSﾠ cafeteria more efficient. She said she is looking for grants through disaster relief funding because the middle school is the school systemﾒs disaster shelter.

*Superintendent C.C. Lester recognized the efforts of MES principal Ron Hall in working one-on-one with two students. Lester said Hall offered guitar lessons to one student and played football with another. Because of these efforts, Hall has noticed a behavioral change in both students.

Lester added that he asked the principals to assign two teachers from each school to do an in-service regarding the Respect and Protect Program. Board member Emery Grimes asked Lester to include statistics which show the difference between boys and girls receiving BIFs (Behavioral Identification Forms).

* Board member Jan McNeel reported that she was pleased that Hillsboro Elementary School is implementing West Virginia Read Aloud in the classroom.

* Board member Leslie Cain said the eighth grade quarter auction at MMS was very successful this weekend and more than 200 people attended the auction. The money raised is for the eighth grade trip to Washington, D.C. and Virginia Beach.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

* Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $110,165.91.

* Treasurerﾒs Report Revenue and Expenditures Summary and Projects Summary.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

* Employment of Jennifer L. McCarty as academic interventionist at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $8,400, effective September 6 through April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond April 27, 2012.

* Employment of Shannon C. Anderson as Title I Reading Specialist, half-time, at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 one-half days.

* Out-of-field authorization of Shannon C. Anderson as Reading Specialist, effective for the 2011-2012 school year.

* Employment of Mary P. Dawson as academic interventionist at Hillsboro Elementary School at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $8,400, effective September 6 through April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond April 27, 2012.

* Employment of Teresa W. Barb as academic interventionist at Marlinton Elementary School at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $4,200, effective September 6 through April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond April 27, 2012.

* LyAnn B. Zelinsky as academic interventionist at Marlinton Elementary School at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $4,200, effective September 6 through April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond April 27, 2012.

* Requested transfer of Cynthia E.L. Shreve from teacher of special education (mental retardation/behavior disorders/specific learning disabilities) at Marlinton Middle School, to teacher of science, grades 5-6, at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

* Requested transfer of Carolyn J. Pennington from half-time itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Hillsboro Elementary School, to itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

* Employment of Cheryl R. Jonese as at-risk interventionist for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, at $20 per hour, 10 hours per week, as needed, not to exceed $6,200, effective September 6 and ending on April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal and teacher.

* Employment of Michael G. Burns as at-risk interventionist for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Pocahontas County High School, at $20 per hour 10 hours per week, as needed, not to exceed $6,200, effective September 6ﾠ and ending on April 27. Schedule to be determined by the principal and teacher.

* Employment of Jessica R. McLaughlin as itinerant teacher of special education/autism for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2011-2012 school year. Term of employment is 200 days. Assignment is Pocahontas County High School.

* Resignation of Susie L. McCree as substitute cook for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to April 7.

* To pay Christine Campbell for eight days of employment, March 14-16 and 21-25, contingent upon receiving reimbursement from AFT for salary and all fixed costs. March 17 and 18 to be paid by the board.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

* Travel requests for April 18.

* Abolishment of the following policies: File: EB, Buildings and Grounds Management; File: EB-R, Buildings and Grounds Management; File: EBB-R, Safety Program; File: EBB-R, Furnishing Protective Glasses or Goggles; File: EBBCA-R, Bomb Threats; File: EBCA, Vandalism Protection; File: EBCB, Use of Metal Detectors; File: EBE-R, Cleaning Program; File: EBG, Repairs; File: ECH, Employee Use of School Equipment; File: ED/EDCA/EDCB/EDDB/EDE/EDF, Student Transportation Management; File: EDB, School Bus Insurance Program; File: EDDB, Walkers and Riders; File: ED-R, Student Transportation Management; File: EE/CF/JGH, School Food Services Management; File: EE-R, Food Services Management (The School Nutrition Program); File: EEA-B, Soft Drink and Flavored Water Policy; File: EEA-E, Policy Statement for Provision of Free and Reduced Price School Meals and Snack Program; File: EEC, Food Service Records; File: EEC-A, Pocahontas County Schools Student and Adult Meals Billing and Collection Procedures; File: EG, Insurance Management; File: EGA, Employee Benefit Programs; and File: EGB, Student Insurance Program.

* To place on 30-day comment, File: EE-A, Local Wellness Policy.