PARSONS – Tucker County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Eddie Campbell shared some updated information about legislation that could help free up some flexibility in money for Tucker County Schools during Monday’s BOE meeting. Campbell said a bill for flexibility spending did get passed out of the Education Committee and said the bill proposes flexible spending for up to 50 percent of Step 7 funds.
“My understanding is that bill came before the House Education Committee and that it was passed out of the education committee,” Campbell said. “I am not sure where it will go next. In that bill, there is language that would give us more flexibility in spending items such as our bus money. It also has a different way to calculate Step 6 money for utilities.”
Campbell said he went over the process with Dave Lambert before he left.
“He was not confident we would get a lot of assistance with this particular bill – he said down the road we may get some benefit from it but said it is still relatively strict,” Campbell said. “Delegate Danny Wagner is positive it will benefit us. I believe it will not be the complete solution, but I think it is a step in the right direction.”
“He was not confident we would get a lot of assistance with this particular bill – he said down the road we may get some benefit from it but said it is still relatively strict,” Campbell said. “Delegate Danny Wagner is positive it will benefit us. I believe it will not be the complete solution, but I think it is a step in the right direction.”
Campbell said Wagner has been very receptive to helping where he can. “He calls me at least once a week to get and give feedback on the things he has been working on. I also had some conversation with Delegate Roy Cooper, R-Summers, who is on the Education Committee. He had some questions about our thoughts on homeschooling and CTE participation. He seemed to be very school-minded in his approach to things as well.”
Also during Monday’s meeting, BOE members took the following action:
-Voted to hire Rebecca Moore as a homebound teacher, effective March 7 for the remainder of the 2016 to 2017 school year.
-Voted to hire Karen Linton as a homebound teacher, effective March 7 for the remainder of the 2016 to 2017 school year.
-Voted to hire Scott Lycliter for general maintenance, electrician II, HVAC mechanic II pending background check.
-Voted to hire Craig Hyre, custodian III, long-term substitute at TCHS effective March 7 until the full-time employee returns to work.
-Voted to employee Audrey Stefenson as county wellness coordinator.
-Voted to accept the resignation of Amy Moore as afterschool STEM teacher effective immediately.
-Voted to approve policy development on its second reading.
Tucker County BOE President Tim Turner reported Tucker County High School has had 52.4 percent of students complete the FAFSA form. Turner said the goal for the state and for each high school is 60 percent.
BOE vice president Janet Preston said attorneys went to Tucker County High School and presented the first case information the WV Supreme Court of Appeals will be hearing in Tucker County in April. Students from TCHS will be present during the court proceedings.
DTEMS Principal Alicia Lambert the school is within a few thousand dollars of their goal to replace the gymnasium floor.
“We are very excited about our fundraising efforts to do this so quickly,” Lambert said. “We are coming to you today to put the project out to bid. We are hoping to get something similar to the annex floor. Little League is very happy with how their floor has held up under the 100 games that have been played on it so far.”
Lambert said she is excited for the DTEMS students to have something like this.
“We are at a little more than $39,000 and the original quote was $41,000,” she said. “That has been our goal. It will not need waxed or sanded so it will save us some money. It just needs to be mopped. If you are able to contribute to our project we would appreciate it. If not, we feel we will be able to reach our goal.”
It is the goal of the PTO at DTEMS to next work to raise money to replace the bleachers in the gymnasium which is about $36,000.
The next Tucker County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. March 20 at the Central Office. BOE members also approved a special meeting for RIF and Transfer hearings on March 21, if necessary.
