Wetzel County School Superintendent Bill Jones was present at the Wetzel County Commission meeting held Tuesday to follow up on a grant from the Division of Criminal Justice Services. The grant is to fund the salary for Valley High School’s Prevention Resource Officer (PRO) for this coming school year. For the past two years VHS has had a full-time PRO, Deputy Donald Bordenkircher, on the school grounds. Other than Bordenkircher, there is no law enforcement in town.

Jones stressed how helpful Bordenkircher has been to the school and its students, not only providing safety but also acting as a valuable resource for the school and a strong mentor to the students. Jones also commented he could not be more pleased with Deputy Bordenkircher’s work and presence at VHS. He additionally credited the PRO program by noting the high school had zero expulsions last year.

The commission told Jones that while the grant contract hasn’t been sent to them yet, they do have verbal confirmation of a grant award in the amount of $28,500 to go toward the PRO’s salary. The commission had applied for $44,196. The commission moved to fund 50 percent of the salary not covered by the grant, and additionally provide the PRO with a car, maintenance for the car, and uniforms. The Wetzel County Board of Education is responsible for funding the other half of the salary not covered by the grant. The commission noted they would keep in touch with the grant provider daily to ensure the contract is sent. The grant awarded is a one-year grant renewable for up to five years.