Newly selected member Martha Giddings was sworn-in to take her seat at the board of education meeting Monday night. Giddings was selected by the board to fill Leslie Cainﾒs unexpired term.

The board also elected Emery Grimes as Vice President.
Trish Collett, representing Community Care of West Virginia, reported that the clinic has received grants to set up a school-based health system in the county. The system would provide basic care to students, as well as annual checkups and immunizations. Collett said Community Care has started school-based health systems in other counties and has had success with them.

The clinic developed a survey for parents to help determine what types of care the children have and need. Once the systems are in place in the schools, the doctors will work closely with school nurse Jenny Friel to ensure the childrenﾒs needs are met.

Collett said Valerie Monico and Rachel Taylor will be the healthcare providers students see most. She said the clinic hopes to be in the schools for the beginning of the 2012-2013 school year.

In updates:

ﾕ Davina Agee, of Child Protective Services, asked the board if she and her staff could present an abuse awareness program in the schools during the month of April ﾖ Child Abuse Awareness Month. Agee said she and her staff want to educate all county students and teachers in the county on the dangers of abuse, and help them be more aware about issues children in the county are facing, including abuse and neglect.

The board told Agee to coordinate the program with Superintendent C.C. Lester and thanked her for her work with the children.

ﾕ Rachel Taylor gave a presentation on the proposed Green Bank Wellness Center. She informed the board that a location, near Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, has been selected and asked if the annex at the school could be used as a temporary site until the center is built.

Lauren Bennett said Parks and Recreation is currently using a room in the board office building as a temporary site and said the center in Green Bank would be the same situation. She said that those using the temporary site will be covered under the parks and rec liability insurance.

The board told Taylor to organize the use of the annex with Lester and GBEMS.

ﾕ AmeriCorps volunteer Adrienne Cedarleaf asked the board for support in continuing the Farms to Schools program she has worked with for two years. The program takes locally grown foods from the farmers and puts it into the cafeterias and hands of the children.

Cedarleaf said she will continue her work until August, when she will be replaced by a new AmeriCorps volunteer. She asked the board to show its support by pledging $6,000 in matching funds for the program.

Board president Kenneth Vance said he felt the program is important for the students but, because the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act funding hasnﾒt been granted, the board is not able to pledge money.

The board told Cedarleaf to see if she can get an extension on the grant in order to hold out for funding. The program was previously funded by the Pocahontas County Commission.

ﾕ Director of Federal Programs and Instruction Terrence Beam said the Rural Low Income grant was reduced to $26,000 and he had to make changes to his budget. The grant is used for intervention, parent involvement and other programs that assist with students in low-income families. He said the state department of education is continuing to make changes to funding and he is trying to pinch pennies with the Title I and Title II funding, as well.

ﾕ Lester reported he, Beam and Director of Special Education/Student Services Ruth Bland met to discuss several programs offered by the school system. This year, summer school for elementary, middle and high school students will be centrally located at Pocahontas County High School. It will last 28 days in June and July, and attendance is required in order to pass the classes.

He also reported that Glenville State College is offering training for principals on Acuity and 21 more students have been selected as GSC Hidden Promise Scholars. Those students will be announced and honored at a later board meeting.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $23,663.33.

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $155,360.47.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Employment of Mary Dawson, Ricky I. Sharp, II and Kristy Sisler as teachers of homebound/hospitalized students for Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 14, for the remainder of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, as needed at $20 per hour.

ﾕ Employment of Joshua Barkley, Ollie Barkley, Loretta Irvine and Jetta Wilfong as substitute cooks for Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 14, for the remainder of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, as needed.

ﾕ Employment of Janet Cole, Dorthia Shamblin, Sarah Hamilton and Holly Taylor as substitute secretaries/accountants for Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 14, for the remainder of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, as needed.

ﾕ Employment of Tonja Armstrong and Loretta Irvine as substitute aides for Pocahontas County Schools, effective February 14, for the remainder of the 2011-2012 fiscal year, as needed.

ﾕ Employment Richard Hartzell as softball coach at Pocahontas County High School for the 2011-2012 fiscal year, at $1,500. Position pending on sufficient number of players to make a team.

ﾕ Employment Michael G. Burns as At-Risk Interventionist at Marlinton Middle School effective February 15 through May 28, at $20 per hour, not to exceed $2,600.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Travel requests for February 13.

ﾕ Bialek Insurance Agency to serve as Agent of Record for the Pocahontas County Board of Educationﾒs insurance coverage through the WV Board of Risk and Insurance Management at a fee of eight percent.

ﾕ Contract between the Pocahontas County Board of Education and JoAnn Persinger as math consultant for 30 days at $60 per hour, not to exceed $4,800, effective January 16 through May 25.

The board of education meets again in regular session Monday, February 27, at 7 p.m. in the conference room. An expulsion hearing will be held at 6 p.m.