By: Jennifer Dearborn
The Tucker County Board of Education met in front of a packed room. Kelly Thompson, TVEMS principal, Neil Kisamore, DTEMS principal , and James Corck, TCHS principal, each gave a presentation and reported on how their schools were doing. All schools are thriving, especially considering the students were not in school full time due to COVID19. Each of the principals and board members praised the excellent job the staff is doing in these uncertain times.
The board spent time discussing the pros and cons of lifting the mask mandate within all three schools. They went back and forth and in the end they voted to have the mask mandate lifted. Alicia Lambert, Superintendent said “we need to show our parents we stick to our word and show good faith by doing what we said we would do.” Although the mask mandate will come back if our COVID19 cases start increasing. The board also agreed to let Lambert make the call to reinstate the mandate if our cases go up.
The following employment was approved for the 2021-2022 school year
-Lindsey Kines, Substitute Teacher
-Dustin Luzier, Substitute Teacher
-Sierra Miller, Substitute Teacher, Substitute Secretary, and Substitute Aide
-Mark Burns, Substitute Bus Operator
-Jessica Abell, Substitute Aide
-Leslie Howell, Substitute Aide
-Tonya Neyman, Substitute Cook, Substitute Custodian
-Sylvia Owens, Substitue Aide
-Steve Frymyer, Substitute Custodian
-Kayla DiBartolomeo, Substitute Aide
-Stephanie Moats, Substitue Aide
-Stephanie Burns, Mentor Teacher, CTE at TCHS
-Kellie Flynn, After-School Elementary Math Teacher at TVEMS
-Elizabeth Fansler, After-School Elementary Reading Teacher at TVEMS
-Kimberly Oldaker, After-School Middle School Math Teacher at TVEMS
-Teresa Betler, After-School Middle School Reading Teacher at TVEMS
-Anita Helmick, After-School High School ELA Teacher at TCHS
-Christina Dotson, After-School Science Teacher at TCHS
-Rachel Ball, After-School Bus Operator
-Christine Ward, Mentor Teacher, Elementary Education at TVEMS
-Kim McCrum, Mentor Teacher, Elementary Education at TVEMS
-Daniel Arnold, Volunteer Assistant Boys Basketball Coach at DTEMS
-Teresa Betler, Mentor Teacher, Elementary Education at TVEMS
-Tracy Harland, Mentor Teacher, Special Education at TVEMS(transfer of position, previously hired for Elementary Education Mentor
-Rose Freeman, Custodian III at TCHS resignation effective October 11, 2021
–April Suesli, Gifted Teacher for Tucker County Schools effective August 30, 2021
-Mary Ellen Brown, Cook at TVEMS, effective October 5, 2021
-Stacie Carter, Cook,long-term substitute, at DTEMS, effective October 26, 2021 for approximately 16 weeks or until the full-time employee is released by physician and returns to duty
-Wanda Knotts, Custodian III at TCHS, effective October 12, 2021
The board went into executive session to discuss an extended leave for “Employee A”. Upon returning they announced that no decision was made. Employee A is currently off work pending an investigation. The board also approved Sydney B. Nestor, Transition/Pre-ETS Coordinator and the Extended Day Transition Specialist. This position is funded fully by a grant through the state of West Virginia.
Mountaintop Public Library got the approval of the site plan and new library construction. They plan on breaking ground in the spring. They encourage everyone to come see them and the advancements they’ve made since getting a new director two years ago.
The next meeting will be held on Monday, October 18, 2021 at 4:30 p.m. at the Tucker County Board of Education Office.