The Braxton Board of Education held their regular meeting on October 3. The meeting began with an executive session requested by individuals who wished to speak to the board with concerns over the resignation of the principal at Frametown Elementary. The executive session was from 6:05 pm to 6:45 pm.
After reconvening, Braxton County High School Principal Lori Stover-Williams provided an update on the high school to board members. She discussed academic achievement, the CTE program, students failing classes and credit recovery, absenteeism, discipline, building a positive school culture, and community involvement.
Superintendent Dr. Donna Burge-Tetrick took the opportunity to reveal which of the BCHS gym floor options received the most votes from the survey while Principal Stover-Williams and members of her staff were present. The overwhelming winner, with 540 votes out of 710, was the green floor accents with the eagle head logo at center court.
The board also discussed concerns with lighting coming down from the football field. The high school electrical class was working on adding lighting on the CTE building, ticket booth and on the walkway.
Under regular business, the board approved the following consent agenda items on a motion by Larry Hardway: the minutes of the September 5 and September 19 regular meetings; budget transfers and supplements; trea-surer’s report; and payment of bills.
The following service and extra-curricular personnel recommendations were approved on a motion by Kevin Gregory: resignation of Tim Harman as Head Start Family Service Worker; employment of Jessica Ward, special education supervisory-instructional-transportation aide, Flatwoods, substitute custodians-Donna Sears and Nolan Freeman, and Wesley Spencer, $1 volleyball coach, BCMS; and Cody Stout, grounds man under student cooperative placement. The superintendent also provided board members with a list of current vacancies in the school system.
On a single motion by Lisa Ratliff, the following working agreements were approved by the board: Community Care of West Virginia and Gassaway Physical Therapy for the Health Occupations Education; and the affiliation agreement with WVU Board of Governors, WVU, WVU Hospitals, Inc., The WV Health Care Cooperative (Summersville Regional Medical Center), Braxton County Memorial Hospital, Fayette Physician Network, Inc, WVUHS Medical Group, and University Health Associates.
Larry Hardway introduced the motion to approve the Clinical Teacher on Record agreement with Concord University for placement of one student in the school system.
Parent volunteers Paula Seal, Sutton, and Sandy Smith, Flatwoods were approved on a motion by Lisa Ratliff.
The board approved to adopt guidelines for the administration of the Clarence Franklin Bosely (Class of 1928 Sutton High School) and Edith Marie Whytsell Bosely (Class of 1936 Sutton High School) Memorial Scholarship Fund on a motion by Dr. Kenna Seal. The scholarship will allow for $1000 to be given to two to ten students annually.
The board discussed the first reading of Amended Policy 3250 Performance Evaluation of Professional Personnel. The amended policy will be compliant with WVDE Policy 5310 and is now out on comment.
The second reading of Policy 5801 Social Media Public Comment moved forward for the third and final reading at the next meeting.
On a motion by Kevin Gregory, the board approved the final reading of Amended Policy 3606 Personal Leave Donation Program.
All board members commented on the recent Homecoming activities for both the high school and middle school. They thanked all of those involved for the hard work on those activities and the community for their support and involvement.
Larry Hardway congratulated the Knights football for being undefeated so far this season and hoped those eight graders will stick with the program at the high school level their freshman year. He also gave a shout out to Sterling Beane on his recent induction to the Glenville State University Hall of Fame. He was a three sport letterman in football, wrestling and track while attending Glenville.
Dr. Kenna Seal discussed the recent special education review of the county’s schools and the importance to the school system and those students.
Board President Evelyn Post noted she had attended eighth grade night for the BCMS football players and provided their dinner for the special occasion. She also stated she had met with representatives of Pierpont and believes the use of their section of the high school building will be moving forward quickly. Hopefully an LPN program will be added soon to the curriculum at the high school to coincide with use of those facilities.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:49 pm. The next regular meeting is set for October 17 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.
