Members Present: Nancy Hahn, Vice President Margaret Shriver Dixie Bean Douglas Hines Hardy County Schools Regular School Board Meeting Hardy County Board of Education Office December 15, 2014 Administrators Present: Barbara Whitecotton, Superintendent Bryan Cooley, Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Rogers, Director of Human Resources Others Present: Don Rhodes Jason Rooney Una See Missy Mongold Stephen Knight Jean Flanagan Samuel Williams Kelly Williams Amber Williams Wade Armentrout Avery Anderson Dwight Williams Public Comments: I. Call to Order President A., called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. B. Dixie Bean opened the meeting with prayer. C. Nancy Hahn led the group in the Pledge of Allegiance. D. Introductions were made around the room. E. Approval of Agenda A motion was made by Douglas Hines, seconded by Nancy Hahn, to approve the agenda. Superintendent Whitecotton requested to amend the agenda to include the following items. Presentations, Item A, Recognition of AP Course Recipient; and move Item B, New Business Partnership; and Item C, Visitation by Principals. Also, requested to add under Personnel, Item C, Litigation. On the motion of Dixie Bean, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved to amend the agenda. On the motion of Douglas Hines, seconded by Nancy Hahn, the Board approved the amended agenda.
Page 2 II. Presentations A. Recognition of AP Course Recipient Sardana Coyle, EHHS Student, was recognized for passing her AP test. B. New Business Partnership Wade Armentrout, Principal, MES The Board recognized the Business Partnership between Moorefield Elementary School and South Branch Cinema. The partnership was accepted by Mr. Wade Armentrout, Principal, Moorefield Elementary School, and Samuel and Kelly Williams representing South Branch Cinema. C. Visitation of Principals Mr. Anderson, Mr. Armentrout, and Mr. Rhodes Avery Anderson, Principal, MHS, and Dwight Williams, Assistant Principal, MHS, reported to the Board on the state of the school. The school has significantly reduced tardiness, skipping of classes, and disrespectful conduct, since October 20, 2014, when students began occupying most of the school. The school will continue to work to reduce these numbers. The school continues to need licensed math teachers. They will continue to motivate and work with students to develop caring attitudes toward academics. The school recognizes their strengths in the new facility, staff working collaboratively, and a strong direction forward with definite goals. Moorefield High School has a free and reduced meal rate of 40%, attendance rate of 96.9%, and an improved graduation rate of 86%. The school presently offers six AP courses and plans to add three more additional AP courses. The school offers eight dual credit courses through Eastern WV Community and Technical College and one dual credit course through West Virginia University. Wade Armentrout, Principal, MES, reported their attendance rate is at 98% and their free and reduced meal rate is 69%. Discipline issues have been largely bus issues. Challenges for MES include lack of control of visitors in the main office area, the development of performance based assessment, amount of classroom space available, cafeteria/gym use of same space, lack of space to house all Pre-K students, and caseloads for Special Education Teachers and Speech Therapists. Moorefield Elementary School is strong in their conferencing between teachers and students, collaboration in math curriculum development, an active PTO, and an effective ESL program. Moorefield Elementary School also shows strength in their autism classroom for students who qualify for these services. Moorefield Elementary School has high expectations of their students and staff. Don Rhodes, Principal, EHEMS, and Jason Rooney, Assistant Principal, EHEMS, provided the Board with information on their school. The school has a 98% attendance rate and a 56% free and reduced meal rate. The school has reduced their discipline referrals. A large number of referrals are from bus issues. The school has targeted communication within the school to improve both academic and school culture. Professional Development has increased with staff to enhance skills. The school has increased expectations for student performance by establishing the goal of having students on grade level.
Page 3 The sharing of staff with other schools complicates scheduling for the school and reading skills need to improve. The school is targeting performance-based learning and assessments to improve student performance. III. Consent Items A. Board Minutes November 17, 2014 B. Special Board Minutes November 17, 2014 C. Board Minutes December 1, 2014 D. Special Board Minutes December 1, 2014 E. Bank Reconciliation November 30, 2014 F. Treasurer s Report November 30, 2014 G. Cash and Investment Ledger November 30, 2014 H. Budget Journal Entries I. Invoices to be Approved On the motion of Margaret Shriver, seconded by Nancy Hahn, the Board approved consent items. IV. Unfinished Business A. EHHS/MHS Building Projects Stephen Knight, Construction Manager, Howard Shockey and Sons Stephen Knight, Howard Shockey and Sons, provided the Board with an update on the punch-out list for both high schools. The list indicates work that needs to be addressed by contractors that is identified as not acceptable. B. EHHS/MHS Building Projects Other C. School Libraries Policy - IEC On the motion of Margaret Shriver, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved School Libraries Policy IEC to go out for first reading with noted corrections. V. New Business A. Permission to Broadcast Hardy County Board of Education Meetings Elaine Davis, WELD No action taken due to Ms. Davis not being present.
Page 4 B. Approval of Experiential Learning Site for 2014-2015 School Year On the motion of Dixie Bean, seconded by Nancy Hahn, the Board approved Pearson Family Medicine as an Experiential Learning Site for the 2014-2015 school year. C. In-County/Out-of-County Transfers On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved the following transfer. A.L. from Hampshire County to Hardy County VI. Public Comments No Public Comments VII. Concerns A. Updates B. New Concerns VIII. Future Agenda Items Review of Public Participation in Board Meetings Policy BDG Review of News Coverage of School Board Meetings Policy - BDH Review of News Media Relations Policy - KBA Review of Sports and Special Events Coverage Policy KBB School Designations EHEMS Roof Bids Directors Report on the State of their Department IX. Announcements December 24, 25, 26, 31, 2014 and January 1 and 2, 2015 HCBOE Office will be Closed January 5, 2014 Special Hardy County Board of Education Meeting BOE 5:00 p.m. January 5, 2014 Hardy County Board of Education Meeting BOE 6:00 p.m. X. Mission Statements/Accomplishments The Board sends their thanks to Mr. Armentrout, Mr. Rhodes, and Mr. Anderson for their school presentations.
Page 5 XI. Personnel On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved the following: Service Personnel Hirings: Charles Michael Cost: Substitute Cook Phillip Fertig: Substitute Custodian, pending background check and TB results Karen L. Borror: Substitute Custodian, pending background check, and TB results Ruby G. Shupe: Substitute Custodian, pending background check, and TB results On the motion of Dixie Bean, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved the following: Professional Personnel Hiring: Richard A. Hamilton: Substitute Teacher Extra-Curricular Professional Hiring: Stephanie Simmons: Alternative School, After School Program Teacher, MMS, for the 2014-2015 school year On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved the following: Approved Contracted Services: Cynthia Harman: Speech Language Pathologist, Grades Pre-K-12, two days per week; $60.00 per hour On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Douglas Hines, the Board approved the following: Approved Volunteer: Paul C. Homan: Volunteer, EHEMS, pending background check On the motion of Margaret Shriver, seconded by Dixie Bean, the Board approved the following: Approved Job Description: Academic Support Instructor, Extended Day
Page 6 On the motion of Douglas Hines, seconded by Margaret Shriver, the Board went into Executive Session at 8:31 p.m. to discuss litigation. Policy BDE, Item 2, Authorization A. The Board reconvened into regular session at 8:57 p.m. On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Margaret Shriver, the Board approved to appeal grievance decision Docket Number 2014-1507-HrdED. XII. Adjournment On the motion of Nancy Hahn, seconded by Douglas Hines, the meeting adjourned at 8:59 p.m. Barbara Whitecotton, Secretary
Hardy County Schools Executive Session December 15, 2014 Members Present: Nancy Hahn, Vice President Margaret Shriver Dixie Bean Douglas Hines Others Present: Barbara Whitecotton, Superintendent Bryan Cooley, Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Rogers, Director of Human Resources On the motion of Douglas Hines, seconded by Margaret Shriver, the Board went into Executive Session at 8:31 p.m. to discuss litigation. Policy BDE, Item 2, Authorization A. The Board reconvened into regular session at 8:57 p.m. Barbara Whitecotton, Secretary