In 2000, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self Determination Act was founded to ensure funding to states covered in a majority by National Forest. In West Virginia, Pocahontas County receives the largest sum of money each year.

The current contract, which ends in 2012, provides approximately $500,000 per year to Pocahontas County Schools.

Spanish teacher Shirlene Groseclose addressed the board of education Monday night with concerns over the loss of the money if the United States House and Senate do not include the funding in their budgets.

ﾓIf we lose this money, it would be like losing 12 teaching positions or 12 separate programs,ﾔ Groseclose said. ﾓI am a member of the Partnership for Rural America, whose sole mission is the reauthorization of the secure and rural schools act.ﾔ

Groseclose said the House Budget Committee did include the forestry funding in the budget and she is waiting to have a hearing with the Natural Resource Committee to find offsets to include in the funding. She told the board the best way for it to support the grassroots campaign is to contact as many state representatives as possible to gain their support.

The board thanked Groseclose for her input and asked her to keep it informed on any progress.
In other updates:

ﾕ Reta Griffith, with Frontier Communications, told the board several phone issues in the school system have been addressed and fixed. Several schools have had issues with phone lines, Internet speed and the board office had billing issues.

Griffith said all the schools have double the Internet speed and Frontier plans to update the phone systems and voice mail while school is out for the summer.

ﾕ James VanReenen with the Scottish Rite, presented each school principal with a DVD and book about the history of the American Flag.

ﾕ Director of Federal Programs and Instruction Terrence Beam said he and his staff researched the schoolﾒs retiree list and found 25 who had not received a plaque for their service to the school system. He said he hopes to honor the retirees at the next board meeting.

ﾕ Student representative Nathan Hamons introduced Chloe Bland as his replacement. Bland shared the results from the Evening with the Arts event. Ceramics: first place, Noah Pugh; second place, Katelyn Beverage; and third place, Khristian Smith. Pen and Ink: first place, Linzi Myers; second place, Haley Nelson; and third place, Michaela Tuttle. Pencil: first place, Sarah Riffey; second place, Steven Casto; and third place Sarah Riffey. Watercolor: first place, Felicia Sparks. Acrylic: first place, Felicia Sparks; and second and third places, Sarah Riffey. Tempera: first place, Haley Nelson; second place, Danielle Stuart; and third place Karen Keller and Billy Sabota. Colored Pencil: first place, Shelby Starks; second place, Sabrina Currence; and third place, Steven Casto. Scratchboard: first place, Samantha Walton; second place, Amber McClure; and third place, Olivia Workman. Sand/Watercolor: first place, Chyanna Hall; second place, Jennifer Fertig; and third place, Rachel McComb.

ﾕ Superintendent C.C. Lester shared the August 1 and 2 agenda for the principals academy to be held at Mountain Quest. He told board members they were welcome to attend and he would have a full agenda for them at a later date. He added that a picnic for all school employees will be June 10 at 11:30 a.m. at Pocahontas County High School.

Lester also recognized winners from the Pearl S. Buck Little Levels Heritage Festival Writing Contest. Sixth grade: second place, Mary Kelley; third place, Autumn Nelson; and honorable mention, Brandon Wilfong, Brady Jones and Mable Grace Schebek, all of Green Bank Elementary-Middle School.

Seventh grade: first place, Lara Baudler; second place, Jenna Bryant; third place, Marilyn Creager; and honorable mention, Michelle Murphy and Xnobia Varner, all of GBEMS.

Eighth grade: first place, Tristin Day, GBEMS; second place, Natalie Hartzell, GBEMS; third place, Miles Goodall, GBEMS; and honorable mention, Vincent Harper, Marlinton Middle School; Heather Pritt, GBEMS; and Destiny Varner, GBEMS.

Kindergarten: honorable mention, Samuel Williams, Hillsboro Elementary School.

Receiving the Allegheny Echoes/Pearl S. Buck Writerﾒs Workshop Scholarship was Mikalan Holder, seventh grade, GBEMS.

ﾕ Groseclose shared the results of the National Spanish Exam. In Spanish 01: first place, Caitlin Barnes, seventh grade, MMS; second place, Lara Baudler, seventh grade, GBEMS and Jenna Bryant, seventh grade, GBEMS.

Spanish 1: first place, Vincent Harper, eighth grade, MMS; sixth place, Miles Goodall, eighth grade, GBEMS; and David Rose, eighth grade, GBEMS; and ninth place, Galen Sexton, eighth grade, GBEMS.

Spanish 2: third place, Gavin Moore, 10th grade, PCHS; and sixth place, Michelle Smith, 12th grade, PCHS. Spanish 3: fifth place, Clayton Irvine, 10th grade, PCHS.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ 2011-2012 Budget.

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $71,415.21.

ﾕ Bank Reconciliation, Revenue and Expenditures Summary and Projects Summary.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Employment of Lucy M. Rittenhouse as academic interventionist at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective September 6, 2011 through April 27, 2012, at $20 per hour, three hours per day, as needed, not to exceed $8,400. Schedule to be determined by the principal but cannot be extended beyond April 27, 2012.

ﾕ Employment of Cindy Wade Price as custodian II, extra summer help, at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective July 5, 2011 through August 2, 2011, as needed, for a total of 15 days, not to exceed 120 hours.

ﾕ Abolishment of position Athletic Coordinator at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 fiscal year.

ﾕ Creation of position Athletic Director at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, at a supplement of $750.

ﾕ Employment of Sabrina J. Jordan as custodian II, extra summer help, at Hillsboro Elementary School, effective July 5, 2011 through July 18, 2011, as needed, for a total of 10 days, not to exceed 80 hours.

ﾕ Employment of Sabrina J. Jordan and Roy C. Shearer as custodian II, extra summer help, at Marlinton Elementary School, effective June 21, 2011 through June 30, 2011, as needed, for a total of eight days, not to exceed 60 hours for each individual.

ﾕ Employment of Tina M. Sharp as custodian II, extra summer help, at Marlinton Middle School, effective July 5, 2011 through August 2, 2011, as needed, for a total of 18 days.

ﾕ Employment of Phillip C. Anderson as head boys basketball coach at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Brooke Dickenson as head girls basketball coach at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Lawrence Workman as assistant boys basketball coach at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 season at a supplement of $1,000.

ﾕ Creation of position Athletic Director at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, at a supplement of $750.

ﾕ Employment of Michael F. Hudson and Kimberly D. McComb as custodian II, extra summer help, at Pocahontas County High School, effective June 16 and 17, 2011, June 21-30, 2011, a total of 10 days, not to exceed 80 hours for each individual.

ﾕ Additional supplement for Maria L. Hall and Lauralee B. Salyer as mentors for half-time employees in the amount of $500, effective for the 2010-2011 school year.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Contract between the Pocahontas County Board of Education and Katherine Snyder for consultation services at Marlinton Elementary School, Hillsboro Elementary School and Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective August 2011 and may extend through May, 2012, at a fee of $300 per day for 60 contracted days, not to exceed $18,000.

ﾕ RESA IV to sponsor a Science and Math camp at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School from June 21 through June 30, 2011.

ﾕ Professional Personnel Staff Development for 2011-2012 school year.

ﾕ Service Personnel Staff Development for 2011-2012 school year.

ﾕ Pocahontas County Schools Board of Education meeting schedule for 2011-2012.