On March 13 the Wetzel County Board of Education convened both a Statutory and Regular meeting. After the Pledge of Allegiance and invocation: the meeting began with Mr. Lancaster giving a report and asking for approval of 2023-2024 Levey Estimates and General Expensive Funds. He explained that the accessed property values have increased. He requested that the Statutory Session be recessed until the third Tuesday in April to give final approval of assed Property values. He reported a 5.7 million increase in value. Board approved and moved to recess the session until April 18, 2023.

Next item on the agenda was the recognition for members of the All-State Choir: Shaelah Preston Long Drain School, Kai Stoneking Long Drain School, Kennedy Foster New Martinsville School, Ava Goddard New Martinsville School, Sky Goddard Hundred High School, Jolie Hayes Hundred High School, Roxie Huggins Hundred High School, Aubrey Warder Magnolia High School, Tyler Stevens Magnolia High School.

Follow the choirs recognition the State Solo and Ensemble Honor Recital was presented to Jordon Christener of Paden City was recognized.

And employee personnel hearing was heard: Conduct of an Employee Personnel Hearing concerning the Superintendentás recommendation of an extracurricular employee’s: (1) unpaid suspension; and (2) termination of contract of employment. At that point the board went into a closed door session to discuss the personnel issue. Upon return to an open meeting, Joe Rinehart, coach and his contract were terminated. Board approved those actions.

Presentation: WCCTEC Electrical Technology, Mr. Ricard Hear: Braden Fortney ­ Magnolia, Chris Kennedy- Valley and Camden Bordenkircher- Paden City, Devon Sloes- Valley. Not in attendance Rayan Watson ­ Valley and Anthony Derby ­ Valley.

Two Delegates spoke on an issue of concern: One spoke on the present bus garage and its condition after service since 1973.

At that point Mrs. Wells read a Proclamation for “Music in Our School Month”. Followed by a recommendation to approve the regular month’s minutes from the February 27 and March 7th meetings. Minutes were approved by full board.

Personnel Matters:

Resignation: Shawn Coen Acceptance of resignation from position as Assistant Principal at New Martinsville School, effective March 7, 2023. John D. Kocher Acceptance of resignation from position as Head Boys’ Basketball Coach at Valley High School, effective March 3, 2023. Shannon Trader Acceptance of resignation from position as Cook at Paden City Elementary, effective February 24, 2023. Professional Personnel: Diana L. Aston Approval for employment as MI/LD/BD with Autism Teacher at Paden City, effective March 14, 2023. Lindsay Rustemeyer Approval for change in assignment from Third Grade Teacher at Long Drain School to Reading Intervention Teacher at Paden City Elementary, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year.

Service Personnel: Brandi Derby Approval for change in assignment from countywide substitute Teacher Aide to countywide itinerant Supervisory Teacher Aide ­ Special Education, based at Paden City Elementary, effective March 14, 2023. Chad M. Flowers Approval for change in assignment from Bus Operator, Bus #17-1, N. St. Rt.2/Proctor/St. Joseph/Villas, to Bus Operator, Bus #18-2, Huff/Schupbach/American Ridges, effective March 14, 2023. Crystal Guthrie Approval for change in assignment from countywide substitute Teacher Aide to countywide itinerant Supervisory Teacher Aide ­ Special Education, based at Magnolia High School, effective March 14, 2023. Jeremy S. Huggins Approval for change in assignment from Bus Operator, Bus #19-1, Carney Run/Wileyville/Rt. 7/Burlington/N. Main St., to Bus Operator, Bus #21-1, Hundred Special Needs (countywide), effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Sheila Nelson Approval for change in assignment from countywide Supervisory Teacher Aide/Sign Language Interpreter/Sign Support Specialist, based at Magnolia High School, to countywide itinerant Supervisory Teacher Aide/Sign Support Specialist, based at New Martinsville School, effective date to be determined by Special Education Director. Zoa Postlethwait Approval for change in assignment from countywide substitute Teacher Aide to countywide itinerant Supervisory Teacher Aide ­ Special Education, based at New Martinsville School, effective March 14, 2023. Jeremy M. Shepherd Approval for change in assignment from Bus Operator, Bus #15-7, Silver Hill, to Bus Operator, Bus #21-4, Route 180/St. Rt. 2, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year. Extracurricular: Mitchell L. Cooper Approval for employment as 7/8 Boysá Track Coach at Paden City High School, effective the beginning of the 2022-2023 WVSSAC Season. Mitchell L. Cooper Approval for employment as 7/8 Girls’ Track Coach at Paden City High School, effective the beginning of the 2022-2023 WVSSAC Season. Mitchell L. Cooper Approval for employment as Golf Coach at Paden City High School, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 WVSSAC Season. Shawna Kendle Approval for employment as Spring Events Coordinator at Magnolia High School, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 WVSSAC spring sports season. Craig Mason Approval for employment as Head Football Coach at Magnolia High School, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 WVSSAC Season.

Leave of Absence: Approval of request from Angel Holladay for a maternity leave of absence from her position as Special Education Teacher at Long Drain School, effective the beginning of the 2023-2024 school year through October 16, 2023. Approval of request from Kandi Loy-Kay for a leave of absence from her position as third grade Teacher at Paden City Elementary, effective March 6, 2023 through May 31, 2023. Approval of request from Cameron Phillips for a family medical leave of absence from his position as Math Teacher at Hundred High School, effective April 17, 2023 through May 19, 2023. MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENTáS RECOMMENDATIONS AS OUTLINED UNDER PERSONNEL MATTERS: were approved by full board.

Routine Matters: a) Release from Wetzel County Schools: Approval of request for release from Wetzel County Schools for the 2023-2024 school year, as submitted. b) Request to Attend Wetzel County Schools: Approval of request to attend Wetzel County Schools for the 2023-2024 school year, as submitted. c) Request to Use School Facilities: Approval of request from Ray Rateno, Principal, for the West Virginia Country Roads Festival to use the auditorium/stage and classrooms at Magnolia High School for the Country Roads Pageant and set-up on March 24/25, 2023. Approval of request from Ray Rateno, Principal, for The Refuge Church to use the auditorium at Magnolia High School for their Youth Rally/Service on March 31, 2023. Approval of request from Jane Beckett, Principal, for Shortline Sports to use the Valley High School baseball field, concession stand, restrooms, and parking lot for the 13-14 boys baseball league from March 2023 through July 2023. Approval of request from Laura McLaughlin, Principal, for Hundred Youth Baseball League to use the Long Drain School baseball field, concession stand, and batting cage for the youth baseball league from March 2023 through August 2023. d) Chaperones/Volunteers: Approval of request from the School Principal for the following Chaperones/Volunteers for the 2022-2023 school year.

Magnolia High School: Bobby Dawson Long Drain School: Tammy Gales

Valley High School: Angela Postlethwait, April Dulaney

Hundred High School: Kristi Conaway Ashley Frye Jessica Hayhurst Christina Hostutler Bonnie McGlumphy Stacie Morgan Jason Morgan Shannon Michael Justina Merrill Cynthia Parson Tracy Peters Melissa Rush Robert Sigley Tasha Simpson Sharon Wright MOTION FOR APPROVAL OF SUPERINTENDENT’S RECOMMENDATIONS AS OUTLINED UNDER ROUTINE MATTERS: were approved by full board.

Approval to lay Tabled issue (item àcá from Routine Matters: Contract for Optimal Bus Routing and Time and Attendance Package; February 27, 2023 Board Agenda) back on the table for discussion and approval: Issue tabled

Contract for Optimal Bus Routing and Time and Attendance Package: Approval to enter into contract with Edulog for GPS hardware, software, and professional services for optimal bus routing and time and attendance package, in the amount of $130,202.00. Contract received full approval of the motion.

TREASURER’S REPORT: a) Approval for Payment of Bills for the Month of February, 2023 (invoices approved at this meeting are available for review at the Wetzel County Schools’ Financial Office); and b) Approval for Transfers and Increases in the Budget;

SECOND READING OF REVISED WETZEL COUNTY POLICIES: FIRST READING SECOND READING NEW POLICY REVISED POLICY DELETE POLICY NAME OF POLICY ORIGINATOR: Code of Conduct for Adult Supervisors of Extra and/or Co-Curricular Activities Policy Committee: Employee Contracts and Compensation Plans Policy Committee Approval of Second Reading of Revised Policies as listed above. …also located for public view.

Other items: Mrs. Linda Fonner who was not present but was present by phone request that at the next meeting an item to be added to the agenda: discussion on building a new bus garage.

It was also reported that later this month interview will be held for a new superintendent’s position. Those name submitted: Walter Sanders, Casandra Porter, Eric Emch, Michael Johnson and George Russel Collet.

Dates and time of the next meetings: Special meeting, March 16 at 8:00 a.m., March 25 Special Meeting at 8:00 a.m. and the regular meeting March 27 at 6:30 p.m.

Meeting adjourned.