Schools

Board of Ed wraps up 2022

The Braxton County Board of Education conducted their last meeting of 2022 on December 20.

Superintendent Dr. Rhonda Combs gave a brief update on professional learning. She told the Board she has been visiting schools and even attended a couple of the Christmas programs and basketball games. Dr. Combs briefly touched on the issue with getting and retaining personnel.

Head Start Director Christina Bailey provided a policy council report on Head Start and conducted the board orientation on the program. She discussed the monthly meetings for the policy council and what was discussed at those meeting. Director Bailey also discussed meetings she attends concerning changes in legislation pertaining to the Head Start program. She reviewed the number of students in the her program and activities provided. She also discussed issues faced by students in getting to school and learning, including the affects of poverty.

Under regular business the board approved the following consent agenda items on a motion by Dr. Kenna Seal: December 6 meeting minutes; transportation requests; treasurer’s report; payment of bills; and budget transfers and supplements.

Dr. Seal noted a clarification to the minutes. He also spoke about the payment of bills and the purchase of new furniture for the superintendent’s office.

The board approved the following professional and extra-curricular personnel recommendations on a motion by Larry Hardway: the retirement of Teresa Childers, principal, Burnsville Elementary School. the employment for Sheryl Grace Wine, principal, Burnsville ES, James Huffman, $1 wrestling coach, BCMS, and Nathan Smarr, $1 wrestling coach, BCMS.

Board President Evelyn Post questioned the position of the principal at Little Birch and the effect on student learning. Dr. Combs said the position would be posted and hopefully a qualified candidate will be available to step in. She also discussed the need to increase staff at Little Birch Elementary for the student/teacher ratios being short by federal guidelines. She is working on clarification on when that will need to take place and will report back to the Board.

The fundraisers were approved as presented on a motion by Lisa Ratliff.

On a motion by Dr. Seal, the board approved permission to pay bills before the January 10 meeting to avoid late charges. The meeting was adjourned at 6:43 pm. The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 10 at 6:00 pm. As always, members of the Braxton County community are encouraged to attend regular board meetings. Anyone 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.