BY BILL ABRAHAM, Staff Writer

West Virginia teachers intending to retire will have to give notice by Dec. 1 of the preceding year if they want to remain eligible for a $500 retirement bonus from the state legislature.

That date now is Feb. 1 of the year of retirement.

The change in policy, mandated by Charleston, was approved on first reading Sept. 21 by the Wetzel County Board of Education, which also made Dec. 1 the date by which service workers must give notice to be eligible for a $500 retirement bonus from the local school system.

The board also passed on first reading a policy revision giving band directors 40 “discretionary” days in a school year to schedule band activities.

Present policy limits that period to 30 days before the opening of school and 10 days after school closes.

Those revisions move to a second and final reading at the board’s next scheduled meeting.

Final approval was given Sept. 21 to a revision in the county’s compulsory attendance policy, that neither extended nor shortened the number of days students must attend classes. That revision also brought county policy into compliance with state board policy.

Efforts to intervene in behalf of struggling students are monitored every two weeks, according to a report submitted to the board by Title I Director Dee Myers.

Myers said that a “response to intervention” framework helps organize instruction for all students, especially those at risk, before making a decision to move them into the special education category.

Students are monitored using a system of Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills, or DIBELS, to benchmark their progress. Data derived from DIBELS also drives research-based instruction.

Among a number of staffing and personnel changes approved by the board was the retirement Dec. 23 of Edward V. Amos Jr. as supervisory teacher aide at Paden City Elementary School.

A change in assignment was approved for Stephen E. Rogalski, from fourth grade teacher at New Martinsville School to the same position at PCES, effective with the 2010-11 school year. The approval is contingent on that position still exists at PCES and that Rogalski remains eligible for it.

Danielle M. Standiford was taken from the Reduction-in-Force/Preferred Recall List and assigned as kindergarten teacher at PCES, while Mary M. Melott was reassigned to that position at NMS. Melott had been countywide halftime gifted teacher for kindergarten.

Angelle M. Copeland was reassigned from general music teacher at Short Line School to instrumental/general music teacher at NMS and Kelly D. Taylor was reassigned as supervisory teacher aide, special education, to the same position for kindergarten. Taylor moves up from Pay Grade D to Pay Grade C.

The board approved a change in Rebecca A. Winters’ assignment from temporary countywide supervisory teacher aide, special education, based at Long Drain School to the same permanent assignment at NMS.

Contracted services were approved for Angela M. Barcus as K-1 academic coach at NMS and for Alison M. Fluharty as co-mentor teacher, Spanish, ESL. Fluharty also was approved as 7/8 grade academic coach.

Shannan P. Palmer also was approved for a contracted services position at the school as academic coach for grades two through four, while JoEllen Snider and Carol L. Tallman were approved for contracted services as co-academic coaches for grades five and six.

At SLS, Judith R. Haughan was employed as language arts teacher, while a change in assignment for Philip B. Hulsey was approved for next school year. Assuming the position exists and Hulsey remains eligible for it, he will move from sixth grade teacher to kindergarten. Contracted services were approved for Abram S. Highley as the school’s athletic director.

Long Drain School second grade teacher Janet M. Tennant was reassigned to the school’s first grade for next school year, assuming that position exists at that time and Tennant is eligible for it. Meanwhile Tempa L. Steele was reassigned from supervisory teacher aide, Autism mentor, to kindergarten supervisory teacher aide. Steele moves from Pay Grade F to Pay Grade C.

Amy Cisar was employed as countywide substitute teacher and contracted services were approved for Deborah K. Rothacher as co-mentor teacher, Spanish, ESL, at Magnolia High School.

The board authorized Anita Howell, Mike Daugherty, and Julie Ledergerber to take a group of special needs students to the Pittsburgh Zoo Sept. 30. That trip will be paid by special education funds.

Jeanine K. Watson also was approved to take Hundred High School students to Rome and Florence, Italy, and to Paris, France, for an eight-day trip over spring break beginning April 1. That trip will be paid through student fees and fund raisers.

The board also authorized MHS senior Shantel Sizemore to attend school on a half-day basis, providing she has sufficient credits to meet graduation requirements. That request was endorsed by MHS Principal Kathi Schmalz.

The board added three organizations to those authorized to raise funds in their schools’ names: Hundred High School Travel Club, Valley High School Boys’ Basketball Club, and Valley High School Girls’ Basketball Club.

Before adjourning, the board approved the following chaperones/volunteers at Paden City High School for the 2009-10 school year: Karen Clements, Jean Cooper, Scott Cooper, Beverly Craft, Andrea Crawford, Nicholas Crawford, Brad Croasmun, Marsha Croasmun, Andrea Dawson, James Drain, Kimberly Drain, Carol Durig, Anna Efaw, Anita Estel, Denita Frye, Bruce Frye, Kelly Goddard, James Goddard II, Krissy Heasley, Ronald Heasley, Kim Hizer, Rhonda Howell, Scott Howell, Marsha Kline, Kathy Loub, Carol Loy, Carol Loy, Christine Loy, Stephanie McKay, Barbara Meadows, Shawn Meadows, Neven Moffitt, John Myers, Vicki Myers, Chris Neff, Denise Neff, Larry Shepherd, Lisa Shreves, and Sherry Stanley.