At the request of Superintendent C.C. Lester, Anne Smith, middle school science teacher at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, presented a plan for a science camp at the board of education meeting Monday night.

Smith has offered a summer science camp for students at GBEMS in the past, and Lester asked her to create a plan to include students from all county schools. As Smith went about planning a camp, she connected with The Mountain Institute (TMI), at Spruce Knob, to collaborate on a camp.

ﾓWe decided that a camp for all fifth grade students to be held during the fall and during regular school time would be the best way to ensure that all students are able to attend, that all students have a chance to benefit from this and that we would be able to enhance the science curriculum at the beginning of the year,ﾔ Smith said. ﾓThe goals of the camp would be to teach science while incorporating math, art, social learning and team building.ﾔ

In the plan, the National Radio Astronomy Observatory is selected as the site for the two-day camp. The camp will be similar to camps offered at TMI, education coordinator Charlie Water explained.

ﾓThey are learning about how to use certain tools out in the field, how to note take, how to collect data and eventually, how to analyze that data,ﾔ she said. ﾓOne of my favorite things is they are learning how to collect data using field journals, which is the skill of a scientist.ﾔ

While at the camp, students will be out in the field, collecting data from local streams and studying the forest habitat.

ﾓThe field-based methods that we use include the scientific method as well as inquiry, guided discovery, peer collaboration and reflective exercises,ﾔ Waters said. ﾓThe new movement we are going to try to implement is how can we, out there in the field, start creating checklists for the types of skills and behaviors that weﾒre seeing in the students that relate to the content standards about skills performances.ﾔ

Smith estimated that the science camp would cost around $12,000 to $15,000, which is about the same cost as previous summer camps. The difference is that this camp will include all fifth grade students in the county, instead of serving just one school.

The board of education asked Smith to meet with Lester to discuss funding plans and possible grant applications.

In updates:

ﾕ Director of Special Education/Student Services Ruth Bland shared results from the RESA compliance monitoring of the special education program. She explained there was only one place where the school system was not compliant, in the continuum of services section.

Bland said continuum of services, or ﾓpull-out serviceﾔ is when a special education teacher is supposed to take aside a student with an IEP if he/she is having trouble with a concept. The teacher then works with the student individually on the concept until he/she is caught up and may return to the classroom.

With a small special education department, Bland said it is difficult for special education teachers to have individual time with the students.

The school system has a year to become compliant.

Bland also reported that 58 children had health checks done at the Early Childhood Fair, which was held April 21 at Pocahontas County High School. The fair gave parents an opportunity to sign their children up for preschool and Bland said she has roughly 60 applications so far.

ﾕ The meeting was student representative Chloe Blandﾒs last night on the board. She will be graduating May 26 as co-salutatorian of the class of 2012. Bland introduced her replacement, Cassidy Rao, who gave her first report as representative.

Rao reported that the FFA Banquet and Foreign Language Festival was a big success. She added that the Tourism Club took a field trip to the New River Gorge where they ziplined and white water rafted.

Important dates to remember: May 22, PCHS band concert, 7 p.m.; May 23, athletic banquet, 6 p.m.; May 24, senior awards night, 6:30 p.m.; May 25, baccalaureate service, 7 p.m.; and May 26, graduation, 11 a.m.

Rao also requested that the board or Lester reconsider making the last day of school, May 31, a full-day. She said it has been a half-day for a long time and students and teachers were looking forward to having a half-day.

ﾕ Lester reported he is working on implementing a summer driverﾒs education program this year.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $18,021.69.

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $166,476.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Resignation of Melvin B. Lindsey as principal at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School.

ﾕ Resignation of Kay E. Wiley as athletic seasonal coordinator, volleyball, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 season.

ﾕ Resignation of Robert A. Sheets, due to retirement, as teacher at Pocahontas County High School, effective June 8.

ﾕ Employment of Derek R. Lambert as assistant principal at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Term of employment is 210 days.

ﾕ Employment of Timothy L. McClung as head boys basketball coach at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 season, at a supplement of $3,000.

ﾕ Employment of Cindy L. Brock as Emergency Medical Technician for Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 football season at a supplement of $2,500. Must attend all games and practices.

ﾕ Employment of Kay E. Wiley as boys track coach at Pocahontas County High School, retroactive to March 13, for 35 days at a supplement of $750.01.

ﾕ Employment of Kathryn White as co-head boys soccer coach, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Kathryn White as co-head girls soccer coach, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Steve White as co-head boys soccer coach, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Steve White as co-head girls soccer coach, effective for the 2012-2013 season at a supplement of $1,500.

ﾕ Employment of Jennifer W. Whiteis as teacher of science at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

ﾕ Resignation of Joshua L. Ashby as teacher of health/physical education at Pocahontas County High School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

ﾕ Resignation of Samantha J. McClure as teacher of mathematics, grades five-eight, at Marlinton Middle School, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

ﾕ Abolishment of position math consultant, grades six through 12, for Pocahontas County Schools, effective at the end of the 2011-2012 school year.

ﾕﾠCreation of position math coach for Pocahontas County Schools, assignment Marlinton Middle School, Green Bank Elementary-Middle School and Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Term of employment is 200 one-half days.

ﾕ Employment of Lisa M. Dennison as Coordinator of Child Nutrition and Food Services/Technology Integration Specialist, effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Term of employment is 220 days.

ﾕ Employment of Joshua T. Moore as general maintenance/electrician II/plumber II, for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, pay grade G. Term of employment is 261 days.

ﾕ Resignation of Larry Strader as substitute custodian for Pocahontas County Schools, retroactive to March 27.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ The Marlinton Middle School eighth grade students to travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania on Tuesday, May 22, and returning on Thursday, May 24.

ﾕ To extend Robin Groves, PTA and Melanie Masonﾒs Physical Therapy contracts from $6,000 to $9,000.

ﾕ To extend Career Solutions contract from $20,000 to $23,000 for compensatory special education services.

ﾕ Travel requests for May 14.

The next board meeting is Tuesday, May 29, at 7 p.m. in the board of education conference room.