The Braxton County Board of Education began their January 4 meeting with three expulsion hearings.
The meeting was called to order at 4:30 pm and went into executive session immediately to conduct the hearings. Board members returned from executive session at 5:47 pm. The board approved the recommended 365 days of expulsion with placement in the AEP center and a review at the end of the first nine weeks of the 2022-23 school year for the three students. The board then stood in recess until 6:00 pm for the start of the regular meeting.
Director Linda Sears provided a mid-year student data review to the board. She noted the numbers are not good and have been shared with all of the principals and teachers K-8. She discussed which school met standards in attendance, ELA, and math and which were short. She stated that overall, the ELA scores are better than math. Director Sears noted that it will be a long process but this information gives teachers and principals a starting point.
Superintendent Kathy Hypes briefly discussed revised COVID protocols that were released at the end of December by the state. However, she informed the board that new guidelines would be coming out in a few days.
Superintendent Hypes also invited board members to attend the county spelling bee to be held on January 21 at Days Inn at 6:00 pm. Fourth through eighth grade students will be participating in the countywide event.
The board approved the following consent agenda items: approval of minutes of December 17 special meeting and December 21 regular meeting; approval of transportation requests; payment of bills; and budget transfers and supplements.
The following professional, service, and extra-curricular recommendations were approved on a single motion: employment for J.B. Schiefer, instructional interventionist, Sutton, Mark Rose, substitute bus operator, and Tyler Toler, $1 assistant boys basketball coach, BCMS; leave request for Melissa Dittman, request for paid medical leave; and resignation for Kenneth Young, assistant wrestling coach, BCHS.
The board approved the fundraisers as they were presented.
The following Braxton County educators were approved to attend the Model Schools Conference: Making Waves in a New Era of Learning in Orlando, FL, June 26-30: Stacey Butler, Jennifer Miller, Faith Harper, Sue Ann White, Jessica Rose, Jill Lemon, Alessandra Suesli, Heather Arnold, Jessica Vandernick, Lori Stover, Flora Cox, and Linda Sears.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:47 pm. The next regular meeting is set for January 18 at 6:00 pm. As always, members of the Braxton County community are encouraged to attend regular board meetings. Any parent or concerned community member wishing to speak as a delegate or with public concerns may do so by signing in up to 15 minutes prior to the start of the meeting.
