OHIO COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING September 5, 2017, 6:00 p.m. I. CALL TO ORDER The Board of Education of Ohio County met in regular session on Tuesday, September 5, 2017, called to order by Mr. Abraham, Board President, at 6:00 p.m., in the Board Room of the Board of Education offices at 2203 National Road, Wheeling, West Virginia, for the purpose of General Business. BOARD MEMBERS ATTENDING: Mr. Zachary T. Abraham, President, Mr. Timothy B. Birch, Ms. Christine N. Carder, Ms. Sarah C. Koegler, Mr. Shane M. Mallett, and Dr. Kimberly S. Miller, Superintendent. Mr. Abraham held a Moment of Silence for Ms. Lura Gear, Warwood School Custodian, who recently passed away. II. III. SUPERINTENDENT S INFORMATION Dr. Miller provided the following information: Welcomed everyone to the board meeting. Thanked West Liberty University for their hospitality in hosting our kickoff football game against the Brooke Bruins, and noted Wheeling Park won. Stated there were 108 Wheeling Park High School students who received the Promise Scholarship which was the most in the state of West Virginia. Noted there was a smooth start to the new school year other than a few power outages at Bethlehem Elementary School. Stated Wheeling Park High School, Middle Creek Elementary School, and Steenrod Elementary School have taken part in flood relief for the victims of Hurricane Harvey. J.C. Penneys at the Highlands recently donated approximately 100 book bags containing school supplies to Ohio County Schools. The book bags have been delivered to Middle Creek Elementary School, Elm Grove Elementary School, Bethlehem Elementary School, West Liberty Elementary School, Ritchie Elementary School, and Madison Elementary School. They will soon be delivered to Bridge Street Middle School and Wheeling Middle School as well. Congratulated and honored Ohio County School s staff members for having employee absences down more than 25% from last school year. MOMENT FOR MISSION Ohio County Schools Mission statement: Providing exceptional learning experiences in a safe and healthy environment that prepare every student to achieve success. Mr. Abraham had said the reason for doing Moment For Mission is to share stories relevant to what board members and central office administrators have experienced: Mr. Birch was impressed with how fast the work was completed at Wheeling Island Stadium. He was glad to see the new school year is moving on and going forward. Ms. Carder congratulated everyone who made the football game at West Liberty University possible, and stated the game was enjoyed by both sets of fans. Mr. Mallett had no additional comments. Ms. Koegler commended our students who are doing fundraisers for Hurricane Harvey victims. She shared our mission when she thinks about challenging situations for students around the country and in Charlottesville, North Carolina, with that situation a few weeks ago. She thinks about students of color in our own community and how they may have reacted, and she is grateful that our teachers talked to the students about that situation. She also thinks about the devastation in Texas, and is happy that our students are taking up responsibility for their peers across the country in doing fundraising. Stated she is grateful for the adults and students in our community who are taking up our mission, and alerting our students of the really important issues around the country, and helping them to be activists to work for what they think is right.
Mr. Abraham presented a video that he shared from the teacher/parent education session at Middle Creek Elementary School prepared by fourth grade teacher Ms. Stephanie Crow featuring the class projects worked on by the students in her class. IV. DELEGATIONS Mr. Eric Anderson, Wheeling Park High School Dance Team Parent, represented the Wheeling Park High School Band Dance Team and parents. He presented events that these student-dancers have had to endure since early 2017. Mr. Anderson provided a summarized timeline of events and information for the board to review so that similar situations can be avoided in the future. He stated their goal is to hope that the elected Board would take interest in this issue and how it was created so that something like this never happens again, and they would like assurance that the plan that has been set forth will be followed for next year s dance team. He expressed thanks on behalf of the entire band dance team to Ms. McGinley for stepping up and taking over as coach, Mr. Alfred for his efforts in keeping things moving forward for the band dance team while they did not have a coach, and Mr. Jones for taking the time to meet with the band dance team parents and all their questions. Mr. Anderson asked Dr. Miller and the board to respect the feelings of the band dance team, established long before this other dance team, and realize it may not seem like much of anything to you, but it may just mean the world to them. He thanked Dr. Miller and the board for the opportunity to speak this evening. V. PARADE OF CHAMPIONS Above and Beyond Staff Bridge Street Middle School: Dr. Miller stated Mr. Birch had suggested taking the time to highlight our staff members and the great things that are happening in our schools at our board meetings. She introduced Mr. Joe Kolb, Bridge Street Middle School Principal, to highlight his school. Mr. Kolb reported that Bridge Street Middle School has been very fortunate that they have many teachers that seek out and successfully receive grants and other funding for the school. Since 2011, Bridge Street Middle School has received over $111,000 in donations. During the 2016-2017 school year, the teachers have raised over $19,000 for projects. He stated Mrs. Julie Schultz, Music Teacher, has received nearly $83,000 in grant funding for the music department, including over $5,000 this past year. Mr. Kolb announced some of the donor projects which include necessary renovations to their music department, funds and resources for their first musical, new instruments and equipment for the band, general music, and chorus, Chromebook labs, items for dissection in science, math manipulatives, reading resources, stand-up desks, exercise balls, and other classroom resources. Mr. Rick Thomas, Physical Education Teacher, was awarded grant funds in the amount of $1,000 from the Try This Program for more fruit consumption during lunch, and healthy options at their after school concessions. He also received a High Mark Foundation Grant in the amount of $3,830 to provide water bottles to every student and staff member. Mr. Thomas received grants through the National Whitetails Unlimited Organization for $1,000 for their Archery Team to purchase equipment, and West Virginia DNR donated six archery targets. Mrs. Jessica Broski-Birch, Mrs. Karen Moffa, and Mrs. Belynda Laing, are teachers who also received a Try This Grant for $2,000 that was matched through the West Virginia Extension Office for a total of $4,000 in funds that will go towards their first outdoor garden. Mr. Kolb stated they also received over $10,000 for their outdoor classroom project which is about 80% finished. He thanked Mr. Donald Thompson, licensed contractor, who volunteered his time and talent to work on that project. He said the teachers are very involved with Bridge Street Middle School, and that is just another reason why they are family. Mr. Birch asked Mrs. Schultz how many pianos she purchased with her grant. Mrs. Schultz stated she purchased 16 pianos, and has a blue bass guitar that is autographed by the bass guitar player from the band Iron Maiden. VI. REPORTS/FOLLOW-UP ACTION Student Life Coordinators Report: Dr. Miller introduced Wheeling Park High School Teachers, Ms. Gail Adams, Ms. Amy Rice, and Ms. Lyndsay McCormick to report on events they have planned and are already doing at Wheeling Park High School. Ms. Adams thanked Dr. Miller and the board for creating their positions, and Ms. Amy Minch, Wheeling Park High School Principal, and the Wheeling Park High School Administrators for their support. She reported they are working to create change for the way students experience Park to make their great school even greater. The first thing they did was created the hashtag #experience The Park that encompasses everything they can do at school, and will be used throughout this school year. Ms. Adams reviewed some of the things they will be doing this year such as tailgate parties for
most of the fall sports; create goodie bags for their academic and career and technical teams when they go to competitions; playing the fight song in the beginning and end of the day on game days, and they are teaching the students the words to the fight song; lunchtime activities where they can play games such as Uno and corn hole; student spotlights; the football team is sending notes to a high school football player in Indianapolis who is battling cancer; established a new Twitter account, @wheelingparkhs; and the students in English/Advanced Topics are doing a humanitarian project under Student Life to get as many students as possible to host a charity kickball tournament on Saturday, October 21, 2017, at the J.B. Chambers I-470 fields where they will adopt a high school in the Hurricane Harvey area and call it Home After Harvey. They will invite students from John Marshall High School, Wheeling Central Catholic High School, and The Linsly School to participate. Dr. Miller stated she was contacted by West Virginia Metro News about our test scores, and she noted Ohio County Schools is way more than that which is evident of some of these examples. She and the board thanked Ms. Adams, Ms. Rice, and Ms. McCormick for their report. Wheeling Island Stadium Update: Dr. Miller reported the Wheeling Island Stadium opened with soccer on Saturday, September 2, 2017. The braces are up on the east, west, north, and south ends of the stadium. The project was completed early and was under budget. She received an email from the contractor indicating there were just a few non-safety related items to finish like caulking and clean-up. Dr. Miller thanked Mr. Dwaine Rodgers, Wheeling Park High School Activities Director, Mr. Rick Jones, Ohio County Schools Assistant Superintendent, and Mr. Brian Harto, Ohio County Schools Facilities and Maintenance Director, for their countless hours of work. Enrollment Data: Dr. Miller prepared information for the board that showed all the services and programs that are offered in each of our schools, the number of students at the end of last year compared to the opening this year, and the number of administrators and counselors for each school. She also provided the breakdown of students per grade level compared to September 1 of last year. There were 5,268 total students enrolled across the district on August 31, 2017, compared to 5,332 students on September 1, 2016. Dr. Miller stated Ohio County Schools is down approximately a little under one percent. She said this will be great information as they move forward discussing opportunities for either redistricting or moving things around to help guide their discussion. Dr. Miller noted she will continue to give the board updates as they move forward. She stated she is compiling information on Clubs at all the schools, and will provide the board with a list of what those Clubs are at the next board meeting. Mr. Abraham noted Woodsdale Elementary School had the biggest increase from last year to this year. Ms. Koegler asked with the additional 12 students what would that mean for additional teachers and classes. Dr. Miller stated special permissions are taken into consideration to see where that would impact if they go back, and if that inflates a number somewhere else, or if they are better to stay in the school where they are currently. Ms. Koegler said it would be helpful if the board could also see how many special permissions there were at each school. Dr. Miller stated she will be able to provide the board with information to see where the hot spots are located. VII. CONSENT AGENDA Mr. Abraham requested to pull off the Paid Bills from the Consent Agenda as there were a couple of questions. He inquired about the payment to Brickstreet Mutual Insurance in the amount of $33,979.00 for Workers Compensation Audit. Mr. Abraham asked Mr. Steven Bieniek, Ohio County Schools Business Manager and Treasurer, if that amount was the reconciliation of what was owed versus what was paid. Mr. Bieniek stated yes. Mr. Birch inquired about the payment to CDW Government, Inc., in the amount of $93,862.62 for technology-replacement projectors. He asked how many projectors that was providing, and what we were doing with the old projectors. Dr. Patrick Riddle, Ohio County Schools Technology Director, stated the old projectors were completely finished. He said they are going across the county and replacing projectors as they break due to intelliboards fading out, and the new projectors they are putting in are actually interactive projectors, that is the board and projector all in one. They cost approximately $1,600 a piece, and he bought as many as he could. He said this is a continuous process that they will be working on for the next few years. Mr. Abraham asked if there were any other questions on the Consent Agenda, and there were none. Motion by Ms. Koegler, seconded by Mr. Birch, to approve letters A. through M. as listed on the Consent Agenda (Minutes for August 14, 2017, Regular Meeting, and August 22, 2017, Special Meeting; Budget
Supplements/Transfers; Paid Bills; Approval of Agreement between Ohio County Schools and Bethany College for College Pre-Service and Student Teachers; Approval of 2017-2018 Agreements between Ohio County Schools and Crittenton Services, Inc., for Before & After Care Services for Middle Creek Elementary School, Steenrod Elementary School, and Woodsdale Elementary School; Approval of Annual Renewal of Agreements between Ohio County Schools and Crittenton Services, Inc., for Bethlehem Elementary School Universal Pre-K and Middle Creek Elementary School Universal Pre-K (2); Approval of Agreements between Ohio County Schools Health Occupations Program and the following Agencies for Good Shepherd Nursing Home, LC, Peterson Hospital & Geriatric Center, and Wheeling Hospital; Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between Ohio County Schools and Northern Panhandle Head Start, Inc.; Approval of Memorandum of Understanding between Ohio County Schools and West Virginia s Family Nutrition Program through the West Virginia University Extension Service, Family and Community Development Program Unit; Approval of 2017-2018 Local Educational Agency Title I Parental Involvement Policy; Approval of School Support Organizations; Acceptance and Release of Students; and School Volunteers/Chaperones as presented. Ayes 5 Nays 0 VIII. PERSONNEL Dr. Miller introduced the First Year Professional Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year of Ms. Kelly Wilson as a 200 Day Spanish/French Teacher assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Ms. Wilson addressed the board and administration and thanked them for the opportunity to serve in the position. Dr. Miller announced the Rescission of Professional Reduction in Force for Ms. Alexis Haught and her reassignment as a Leader of Literacy at Steenrod Elementary School effective September 6, 2017. Ms. Haught addressed the board and administration and thanked them for the opportunity to serve in the position. Dr. Miller introduced the First Year Service Personnel Recommendations for the 2017-2018 School Year of Mr. Jay Hercules as a 261 Day Custodian III/Handyman, 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017, and Mr. Eric Parsons as a 261 Day Custodian III/Handyman, 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., with every other weekend, assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Mr. Hercules addressed the board and administration and thanked them for the opportunity to serve in the position. Dr. Miller stated all other personnel items on the agenda were as presented and requested board approval. Motion by Mr. Mallett, seconded by Ms. Carder, to approve all the personnel items listed on the agenda as presented except for the Service Personnel Requesting Transfer for the 2017-2018 School Year of Ms. Sheryl Burris. First Year Professional Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year Kelly Wilson is being recommended as a 200 Day Spanish/French Teacher assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Professionals Requesting Transfer for the 2017-2018 School Year Shelly Cox is requesting a transfer from a position as a 200 Day Title II Mathematics Teacher assigned to Wheeling Park High School to a position as a 200 Day Mathematics Teacher assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Terry Payne is requesting a transfer from a position as a 200 Day English/Language Arts Teacher assigned to Wheeling Park High School to a position as a 200 Day Drivers Education Teacher with the endorsement in Physical Education and Health assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Rescission of Professional Reduction in Force It is being recommended that the action taken at the April 10, 2017, Board of Education meeting placing the following professional on the Reduction in Force list be rescinded and that she be assigned to the following position effective September 6, 2017.
Alexis Haught Leader of Literacy Steenrod Elementary School Rescission of Extra Curricular Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year Maryanne McGinley Assistant Band Director Wheeling Park High School Extra Curricular Resignations for the 2017-2018 School Year Joshua Colvin Assistant Wrestling Coach Wheeling Middle School Jessica Cox Wellness Coach Ritchie Elementary School Shannon Marsh Wellness Coach Bethlehem Elementary School Diana Rice Wellness Coach West Liberty Elementary School Bradley Sorge Assistant Boys Basketball Coach Triadelphia Middle School Extra Curricular Recommendations for the 2017-2018 School Year Anastasia Klemm Assistant Volleyball Coach Triadelphia Middle School Maryanne McGinley Assistant Band Director/Dance Coach Wheeling Park High School Substitute Teacher Resignations for the 2017-2018 School Year Anna Lawther Donald McCormick Anne Nist Olivia Tarr Innovation Zone Anchor Recommendations for the 2017-2018 School Year The following personnel are being recommended for the 2017-2018 Project Anchor 21 st Century Learning Center Program. The Anchor Grant Funds all positions. Lisa Armstrong Teacher Madison Elementary School Effie Coles Teacher Madison Elementary School Deborah Davis Substitute Teacher Madison Elementary School Michael Kelly Director Madison Elementary School Kevin Lilley Teacher Madison Elementary School Barbara Randolph Teacher Madison Elementary School Twila Raper Teacher Madison Elementary School Stephanie Sada Teacher Madison Elementary School Hillary Sayre Teacher Madison Elementary School Jeanne Schroeder Teacher Madison Elementary School Erin Triveri Substitute Teacher Madison Elementary School First Year Service Personnel Recommendations for the 2017-2018 School Year Jay Hercules is being recommended for a position as a 261 Day Custodian III/ Handyman, 9:00 p.m. to 5:00 a.m., assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Eric Parsons is being recommended for a position as a 261 Day Custodian III/ Handyman, 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., with every other weekend, assigned to Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017. Service Personnel Requesting Transfers for the 2017-2018 School Year Erik MacFarland is requesting a transfer from a position as a 261 Day Custodian III/Handyman, 4:00 p.m. to 12:00 a.m., assigned to Wheeling Park High School to a position as a 261 Day Custodian III, 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., assigned to Triadelphia Middle School effective September 6, 2017. Tammy Palmer is requesting a transfer from a position a 220 Day Secretary assigned to the Guidance Department at Wheeling Park High School to a 200 Day Secretary assigned to the Attendance Office at Wheeling Park High School effective September 6, 2017.
Chad Stanford is requesting a transfer from a position as a 261 Day Custodian III/Handyman, 3:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m., assigned the Wheeling Park High School to a position as Long Term Substitute Custodian, 2:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., assigned to Wheeling Middle School effective September 6, 2017, until the regular employee returns. Charlene Walter is requesting a transfer from a position as a 200 Day Countywide Supervisory Aide/Paraprofessional assigned to Triadelphia Middle School to a position as a 200 Day Countywide Supervisory Aide/Paraprofessional/ECCAT assigned to Middle Creek Elementary School effective September 6, 2017. Service Personnel Extra Curricular Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year Linda Wickham is being recommended for a position as an Extra-Curricular Cook III/Server, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., assigned to Woodsdale Elementary School effective September 6, 2017. Substitute Service Personnel Resignations for the 2017-2018 School Year Brenda Estel Cook Richard Horn Custodian Judith Swerens Cook Project Anchor Child Nutrition Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year The following personnel is being recommended for the 2017-2018 Innovation Zone Anchor Program Beverly Taylor Cook III/Server Madison Elementary School Long Term Substitute Service Personnel Recommendation for the 2017-2018 School Year Cathy Kepreos is being recommended for a position as a Long Term Substitute Countywide Supervisory Aide/Paraprofessional assigned to Madison Elementary School effective September 6, 2017, until the regular employee returns. Ayes 5 Nays 0 Mr. Birch recused himself and left the room. Mr. Abraham called for a motion to approve the Service Personnel Requesting Transfer for the 2017-2018 School Year of Ms. Sheryl Burris as presented. Motion by Ms. Koegler, seconded by Ms. Carder, to approve the Service Personnel Requesting Transfer for the 2017-2018 School Year of Ms. Sheryl Burris as presented. Service Personnel Requesting Transfer for the 2017-2018 School Year Sheryl Burris is requesting a transfer from a position as a 200 Day Countywide Supervisory Aide/Paraprofessional assigned to Wheeling Park High School to a position as a 200 Day Countywide Supervisory Aide/Paraprofessional assigned to the Transportation Department effective September 6, 2017. Ayes 4 Nays 0 Recusal 1 (Birch) IX. DISCUSSION/ACTION Introduction of Regulation 3007.01: Attendance and Excuses: Dr. Miller introduced Mr. Jeff Laird, Ohio County Schools Attendance Director, for policy changes and updates to Regulation 3007.01: Attendance and Excuses. Mr. Laird provided board members with a couple of handouts, and reviewed the Average Daily Attendance by Percentage report that is prepared monthly by the Student Services office. He also reviewed the Attendance Codes which are the reasons for absences that are modified by the State Department. Mr. Laird stated changes made to the policy are to align our policy with the state policy. Dr. Miller noted the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) indicates that we want to be greater than 90% for our average daily attendance. She said all of our schools were above 90% attendance for the month of August, and Woodsdale Elementary School had 99.06%. She stated Mr. Laird works very closely with the attendance of all of our students, and spends a lot of time making sure our students are going to school.
In other business, Ms. Carder inquired about the Middle Creek Elementary School roof project. Mr. Harto stated the project is approximately 80% done, and they still have the gymnasium to do. With school now in session, they cannot work during the day, so Kalkreuth Roofing and Sheet Metal is working only on weekends. Mr. Harto said we have had rain on the weekends which has slowed progress. He stated the project was supposed to be completed before the start of school, and he has been back and forth with them. Mr. Abraham asked if the project was still within budget. Mr. Harto stated the project remains on budget. X. BOARD MEMBER COMMENTS Ms. Koegler: Thanked Dr. Miller and Mr. Jones for all the great information at the meeting Also thanked Mr. Birch for his idea to celebrate staff who go above and beyond Inquired about taking the board meetings out to the schools this fall. Dr. Miller stated they are going to do their MAP meetings a little differently this year, and she will get the information to the board members as soon as she gets the schedule made. Stated she will send an email to Dr. Miller about topics from the Board Retreat that they were not able to finish, and schedule out the next few months Mr. Mallett: Commended Dr. Miller and her staff for a great opening of the school year, and to all of our athletic programs that are doing very well right now Mr. Abraham: Commended Mrs. Schultz and Bridge Street Middle School for all their grants Also commended Ms. Crow for the fourth grade video, and the Student Life Coordinators for the great things they are doing at Wheeling Park High School Thanked Dr. Miller, Mr. Jones, and Mr. Harto for all their work at the Wheeling Island Stadium Also thanked Mr. Harto for all the maintenance projects he has had so far this school year Stated they will need to discuss with Mr. Harto and Mr. Dave Ziegler, Ohio County Schools Transportation Director, all the West Virginia Department of Highways construction projects that will be coming up Ms. Carder: Thanked Dr. Miller for providing the notes from the Ohio County Education Association (OCEA) meeting and the service personnel meetings Noted the school year is going along smoothly and hopes it will stay that way Mr. Birch: Stated the first month of school has gone great Appreciated the staff at Bridge Street Middle School Also appreciated Mr. Laird and all the work on the Attendance Report Stated he is greatly appreciative of all the work from the maintenance department, transportation department, and teachers XI. FUTURE MEETINGS A. Tuesday, September 12, 2017 Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. Board Office B. Tuesday, September 26, 2017 Regular Meeting 6:00 p.m. Board Office XII. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before the Board, the meeting was adjourned by Mr. Abraham at 6:56 p.m.