The first meeting for 2025 for the Braxton County Board of Education was held on January 14 after being postponed from January 7 due to the inclement weather.
The opening of the meeting was delayed due to expulsions hearings that started earlier in the evening. The regular meeting was called to order at 6:45pm.
Superintendent Dr. Donna Burge-Tetrick had no real updates to provide board members. She just spoke about trying to get the schools open and the students back into the classrooms.
Under regular business, the board approved the following consent agenda items on a motion by Larry Hardway: approval of the December 17 regular meeting minutes; budget transfers and supplements; and payment of bills. Dr. Kenna Seal discussed county policies concerning payments that are part of a state mandates, like the $12,000 bill from Mountaineer Challenge Academy for the recent graduation of three students. He also discussed the new funding program, Hope Scholarship, for private schools and the availability for funding for programs like the Mountaineer Challenge Academy.
A motion by Lisa Ratliff led to the approval of the following personnel recommendations: employment of Chris White, substitute teacher, Emily White, fourth grade teacher, Sutton, substitute aides-Jessica White, Harlie Cornwell and Michelle Johnson, and Joshua Ward, head baseball coach, BCHS; resignations of Rebecca Straley, custodian, Burnsville, Adam Smith, assistant football coach, BCMS, and Brandon Gum, head baseball coach, BCMS; administrative transfer of Rebecca Hamrick from second grade ECCAT at Burnsville to kindergarten ECCAT at Sutton; permission to post and hire two mentor principals for new principals; volunteers-Danielle Bennett and Tina Wolverton; and leave request for Vanessa Vaughan, aide, Sutton.
The agenda item “Ratification of the Superintendent’s approval of the contract with Huddle Cam” was postponed to a later meeting as the contract was not yet finalized and available.
The board approved the first reading of proposed revision to Policy 4115-Student Attendance on a motion by Kevin Gregory. Dr. Seal mentioned he would be interested to see if the new charter or micro schools will have to follow the new policies by the state concerning attendance including the percentage of students present during the day as well as hourly and daily attendance.
The second reading of proposed revision to Policy 4114-Resident and Non-Resident Student Transfers was approved on action led by Kevin Gregory.
Proposed Revision to Policy 2326-Virtual School Policy was approved for its third and final reading on a motion by Lisa Ratliff.
The board meeting ended with remarks from the board members. Lisa Ratliff stated she hoped everyone enjoyed their long Christmas break and the recent two hour delays easing them back into school.
Kevin Gregory agreed with her statement and said he hoped everyone was staying safe and warm during the recent inclement weather.
Larry Hardway discussed the adhoc committee meeting held last week for the athletic complex. He stated he was excited and anxious to start the fundraising and see the prep work on the property begin. Dr. Kenna Seal and Board President Evelyn Post concurred with his statements about the meeting. Dr. Seal noted it was quite a positive and encouraging meeting.
Board President Post stated she would like to look into the bus runs come spring. She would also like to see about getting smaller buses for some of the routes that only have a few students on the buses.
The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 pm. The next regular meeting is scheduled for January 21 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.