The Pocahontas County board of education, like many county residents, is still dealing with damage from a derecho windstorm on June 29. The storm caused widespread damage and power outages.

Hillsboro Elementary School received the most damage from the derecho, including part of the roof blowing off of the building.

Superintendent C.C. Lester informed the board of education Monday night that repairs are underway in order for the school to be ready to open August 15 for the new school year.

ﾓAll the scrap has been removed,ﾔ he said. ﾓWe have Reliable Roofing, who will be in Tuesday to put on the new roofing. All sheeting on the roof will be replaced. Cornerstone Interiors, out of Charleston, will install new ceiling and put a popcorn finish on it.ﾔ

Lester added that asbestos will be removed, the bathroom will be renovated and lights have been ordered.

Board member Kenneth Vance asked Lester why he was not informed about the contractors working on the school. Vance said that since the board will have to approve paying for the work, it is important for board members to know what is going on as it happens.

Lester said he was concerned with getting the school ready for the new year and added it was difficult to keep everyone informed because the contractors were coming in and out as they were available. He said he did not hear from the drywall company until earlier that day and thought informing the board at the meeting would suffice.

Board member Dr. Hannah Sizemore agreed that she would have appreciated an email keeping her informed on the companies coming to work at the school.

Vance asked Lester to keep the board informed through email with updates on the construction. The board agreed to retro-actively approve all the contracts so that the construction may go quickly.

Although Green Bank Elementary-Middle School did not suffer damage, several of the pine trees between the school and playground were felled by the storm. Lester said Clay and Laura Hise volunteered to cut and remove the trees. They will have the lumber made into rails for people to buy with all the proceeds going to the school.

In updates:

ﾕ Lester said the Pocahontas County High School SkillsUSA Chapter Business and Procedures team placed first at the national convention. Members of the team are Mackinsey Halterman, Gabriel Walkup, Morgan Langston, Derek Hamman, Patrick Martin and Phil Whiteis. Dalton Walker placed 13th in carpentry out of a field of 49.

ﾕ Associate Superintendent for Operations and Treasurer Alice Irvine shared a letter from Alpha Associates, the firm doing the HES cafeteria project. The letter was an overview of the contract for the project. Irvine said the firm requested that a geotechnical topographical map be made of the school because the cafeteria will connect two buildings which are on different elevations. She said Alpha Associates will include the geotechnical mapping in the project.

ﾕ Sizemore said she has been approached by parents with concerns about the new mathematics practices. She said the parents do not understand the math and are afraid they canﾒt help their children with their homework. Sizemore asked if it would be possible to help the parents in some way.

Lester said he has considered having forums to help parents. Sizemore asked if the parents could attend a board meeting to discuss the issue. The board welcomed all parents to attend to share their concerns.

In financial management, the board approved the following:

ﾕﾠPayment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $25,581.64.

ﾕ Payment of vendor listing of claims in the amount of $8,823.16.

ﾕ Payment to United Bank (government purchasing card) in the amount of $11,100.20.

ﾕ Treasurerﾒs Report, Revenue and Expenditures Summary, Budget Supplements and Budget Transfers.

In miscellaneous management, the board approved the following:

ﾕ Travel requests for July 23.

ﾕ Request of Leslie Goodall, an out-of-state resident, and Kevin and Melissa Ferrell, out-of-county residents, for their children to attend Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Request of Bruce and Sheila Rose, and Dina Buly, county residents, for their children to attend Greenbrier County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Katherine Snyder for consultative services in reading/language arts for Marlinton Elementary, Marlinton Middle, Hillsboro Elementary and Green Bank Elementary-Middle schools at a rate of $350 per day, for 60 days, not to exceed $21,000 for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕﾠContract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and David B. Wamsley, at a rate not to exceed $325 per psychoeducational assessment, $40 per rating scale and $95 per hour for conferences and consultations assigned by the Special Education Director, not to exceed $6,500 for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Joyce Brown, for psychoeducational assessment services for the 2012-2013 school year at a rate not to exceed $200 per evaluation for IQ or achievement, $300 for a combination of IQ and achievement evaluations and $60 per hour for consultation with the board and school teams as assigned by the Special Education Director, not to exceed $6,500.

ﾕ Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Leslie Goodall for occupational therapy services, at an hourly rate of $60 not to exceed $20,000 for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Melanie Mason for physical therapy services for the 2012-2013 school year at an hourly rate of $110, not to exceed $9,000 for physical therapy services for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Contract between Pocahontas County Board of Education and Kimberly Robin Groves for physical therapy services for the 2012-2013 school year at an hourly rate of $85 not to exceed $10,000.

ﾕ Pocahontas County Schools to adopt West Virginia Department of Education Policy 2419 for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Patrick C. McCurdy to volunteer as assistant coach for the boys and girls soccer teams at Pocahontas County High School for the 2012-2013 season.

ﾕ Policy JCBB ﾖ Expected Behavior in Safe and Supportive Schools.

ﾕ Abolishment of policy JGFF ﾖ Student Driving.

ﾕ Revisions of policy IABB ﾖ Programs of Study.

In personnel management, the board approved the following:

ﾕﾠRequested transfer of Lora S. Miller from cook at Marlinton Elementary School, to cook at Marlinton Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Employment of Stephanie T. Poppe as teacher of language arts at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment is 200 days.

ﾕ Requested transfer of Wanda L. Hrabina from itinerant classroom/technology support teacher for Marlinton Elementary School/Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, to teacher of health/social studies at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Abolishment of position Teacher of electronics, half-time, at Pocahontas County High School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Employment of Morton Taber, II, as alternative education/GED option/credit recovery teacher for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 school year, at a state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment is 200 days.

ﾕﾠEmployment of Silas L. Sattler as school bus operator for Pocahontas County School, at state minimum salary, effective for the 2012-2013 school year. Term of employment is 200 days.

ﾕ Change in Classification Renee D. Hill from itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School to itinerant special education classroom aide/bus aide/paraprofessional at Green Bank Elementary-Middle School, effective for the 2012-2013 school year.

ﾕ Requested transfer of Gary C. Beverage from teacher of electronics, half-time, at Pocahontas County High School and computer equipment and repair technician, half-time, for Pocahontas County Schools to Technology Systems Specialist for Pocahontas County Schools, effective for the 2012-2013 fiscal year, effective for one year only per provisions of TSS Grant, at state minimum salary based on degree and experience plus equity. Term of employment is 200 days.

ﾕ Employment of Nancy T. Martin for technology repairs and software upgrades for Pocahontas County Schools, effective July 24 through August 14, at $20 per hour, not to exceed $800.

ﾕﾠEmployment of Gary C. Beverage for technology repairs and software upgrades for Pocahontas County Schools, effective July 24 through August 14, at $20 per hour, not to exceed $800.

ﾕ Employment of Jean O. Srodes as teacher - extended school year at Marlinton Middle School, effective August 6 through August 17, at $20 per hour, five days per week, three hours per day.

ﾕ Employment of Carolyn J. Pennington as aide - extended year program at Marlinton Middle School, effective August 6 through August 14, at $12 per hour, five days per week, three hours per day.

The next board meeting will be Monday, August 13, at 7 p.m. in the board of education conference room.