The Calhoun County Board of Education Meeting was held at the Board Office on Monday, September 12th at 5:30 p.m. Board Members present were Hortz Motz, Tammy Yoak, Jenna Jett, Jimmy Gregory and Mitchell Morgan as well as the Superintendent of Schools, Kelly Whytsell.
Hortz Motz reported on the Calhoun Gilmer Career Center and the continued success of it’s programs. He wanted the community to be aware that the Career Center is open for the community to stop in and look at what the Career Center can offer both youth and adults through their programs. The Community can also make use of the Automotive department by having the students do oil changes and repairs.
Kelli Whytsell, Superintendent of Schools gave her report on the recent Statewide ranking of students in Math, Reading, Science and Average % of Proficiency. Mrs. Whytsell told the board and audience “We have room to improve but we’re very happy with the progress the students have made. We want to provide our teachers the support they need to make them successful.”
- Calhoun ranked 8th in the state out of the 55 counties over all in 3-4th Grade
- Calhoun ranked 34th in the state out of 55 counties over all in 5-8th Grade.
- Calhoun ranked 26th out of the 55 counties over all in 3-8th Grade.
- Calhoun ranked 50th out of the 55 counties over all in 11th Grade.
Informative brochures were provided to the School Board to assist in answering community questions and concerns regarding the upcoming School levy on the November 8th ballot.
An additional report given by Mrs. Whytsell was the decrease in student enrollment. There was a 2020 decline of 58 students in WVEIS for funding, and a decrease of 25 in 2021. She noted that if it were not for the additional funding that had recently been provided by ESSER the school would have likely had a staff reduction but with the funding were able to keep all staff employed.
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Levy cost proposed additional rate of levy per $100 in value:
- Class I – 4.97 cents
- Class II – 9.94 cents
- Class III – 19.88 cents
- Class IV – 19.88 cents
Instructional $168,349: This levy will provide funds to support student learning. Each school will receive funds for supplemental materials for classrooms as voted on by each faculty senate. The funds will also be used to support Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs. Funds will be used to support coaches’ salaries and afterschool / summer programs.
Maintenance of Buildings $200,000: This levy will provide funds to be used to maintain AES, PHR and CMHS. To provide repairs and maintain the facilities. To start the renovations to the HVAC systems. The funds will be used to make improvements to the lighting and sound at CMHS Auditorium.
Facilities $300,000: This levy will provide funds to upgrade the sports complex at CMHS. These will be multi-year projects; synthetic turf, lights on the softball and baseball fields, refinishing floors of the gymnasium.
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The Board of Education has requested that the WV Department of Highways install a caution light at Pleasant Hill Elementary School due to a continued issue with traffic failing to slow down and the close proximity of children to the highway.
As a part of her report, Mrs. Whytsell expressed her concern and need for raising awareness of the upcoming request on the November 8 ballot for Amendment 2 and Amendment 4.
“Amendment 2” proposes taking 27% of personal property taxes and giving the state legislature control over those funds. The Ethics Commission indicates that a ”significant portion of the funding upon which the county BOE’s depend for operation of the school system is derived from such taxes. This constitutional amendment could potentially reduce a source of funding for county BOE’s and therefore could impact the salaries of school personnel or the availability of jobs in the school systems.”
”Amendment 4”: The purpose of this amendment is to clarify that the rules and policies promulgated by the State Board of Education, are subject to legislative review, approval, amendment, or rejection.” This means that any rules created by the West Virginia Board of Education could be overruled or changed by the state legislature.
The Ethics Commission indicates that “the rules and policies of the Board of Education in large part govern the ways and means by which the county BOEs conduct the education programs in their county and are binding upon county BOEs. The rules and policies of the State Board of Education do not, however, directly establish or impact salaries of BOE employees.
Volunteer Requests were made by 46 people for Calhoun County Schools. This number is up from the previous years of COVID issues that all but stopped volunteerism.
Faculty Resignations were entered by:
- Lori Taylor, AES Elementary Teacher (TBD)
- Jennifer Hunt, Principal AES (TBD)
- Tracy Keaton, Community in Schools Facilitator, effective August 9, 2022
- John Persinger, Head Varsity Football Coach, effective August 24, 2022
- Sherry Butt, Substitute Paraprofessional
Employment:
- Anita Stephenson, After School Site Coordinator, PHE
- Angie Sims, Substitute After School Tutor Teachers – County
- Charlotte Squires, Substitute After School Tutor Teachers – County
- Amy Cottrell, Substitute After School Tutor Teachers – County
- Kelley O’Harrow, Substitute After School Tutor Teachers – County
- Melba J. Miller, Substitute Teacher
- David Gibson, Substitute Teacher
- Amanda Morris, New Teacher Mentor PHE
- Talonne Gungle, New Teacher Mentor CMHS
- Leah J. Westfall, Long Term Substitute Pre-School teacher, AES
- Monica Bush, Long Term Substitute Pre-School teacher, PHE
- Rick Kinder, Lunch Tutor, CMHS
- Kelsey Jett-Fisher, Lunch Tutor, CMHS
- Holly Burch Secretary III – Accountant II CMHS
- Jasmine McGlothin – Substitute Cook
- Brandi Starcher – Substitute Cook
- Barbara Greathouse – Substitute Cook
- Brandi Starcher – Substitute Custodian
- Jasmine McGlothlin – Substitute Bus Operator
- Whitley Cottrell – Sectretary III, CMHS
- Nancy Taylor, Long term substitute Paraprofessional ECCAT AES
- Kevin Boak, Community in Schools Facilitator
- Jeffrey Good Richard II, Assistant Varsity School Football Coach
- Melissa Jarvis, Assistant Girls Basketball Coach
- Michael Stump, Head Varsity Football Coach
Job Postings:
- After School Tutor Teachers – AES
- After School Tutor Teachers – PHE
- After School Tutor Site Coordinator – PHE
- Substitute After School Tutor Teachers – County
- Substitute Teacher
- Substitute School Nurse
- School Counselor, County wide itinerant
- Lunch Tutors, CMHS
- Long Term Substitute Pre School Teacher, AES Headstart Classroom
- Long Term Substitute Pre School techer, PHE Headstart Classroom
- Elementary Teacher, AES
- Mentor for New Teachers, AES
- Mentor for New Teachers, PHE
- Mentor for New Teachers, CMHS
- Substitute After School Tutor/Teachers, County
- After School Tutor Teachers, County Itinerant
- Principal, AES
- After School Tutor Teachers, AES
- After School Tutor Teachers, PHE
- Substitute Bus Operator
- Substitute Cook
- Substitute Custodian
- Substitute Multi Classified Aide II/Supervisory Aide/Bus Aide/Specialized Heath Care Procedures
- After School Cook, AES
- Secretary III/Accountant II, CMHS
- Long term Substitute Paraprofessional ECCAT AES
- Secretary III CMHS
- After School Tutor Teachers, Service Personnel AES
- After School Tutor Teachers, Service Personnel PHE
- Community in School Facilitator, CMHS
- $1 Assistant Varsity Cheerleading Coach
- $1 Assistant Middle School Cheerleading Coach
- $1 Assistant Middle School Wrestling Coach
- Middle School Head Wrestling Coach
- $1 Assistant Varsity Girls Basketball Coach
- Assistant Varsity Football Coach
- Head Varsity Football Coach
- $1 Assistant Varsity Football Coach
- $1 Assistant Varsity Football Coach
Future Board meeting Dates:
- October 10, 2022, 4:30 pm (Work session) Arnoldsburg Elementary
- October 10, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular LSIC) Arnoldsburg Elementary
- November 15, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular LSIC) Pleasant Hill Elementary
- December 13, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular LSIC) Calhoun Middle High School
