Crystal Laughlin Mersh had a full day of meetings, beginning with the Calhoun County Commission meeting at 9 a.m. and then closing her evening by being the first to speak at the Calhoun County Board of Education meeting about the same matter she began with. She informed the School Board that she realized there was concern regarding the loss of ball fields at the Wayne Underwood field should her project more forward with a swimming pool and other recreational items in the area. But she assured them that she would work that out, including building new fields at the Calhoun County Park to replace those in Grantsville that would be lost. She also stated that she was continuing to work out the legalities of the two scholarships she had committed to provide for the school.
Next item on the agenda was the resignation of Mitch Morgan as Substitute Bus Operator and then the his taking the Oath of Office to become the newly appointed School Board Member following the resignation of Kevin Cunningham. Calhoun County Clerk Jean Simers administered the Oath of Office before Mr. Morgan took his place with the other Board members.
Kevin Cunningham was then recognized for his six years of service as a school board member by his colleagues.
Six Calhoun Middle High School Cooks were honored for going above and beyond the call of duty when after discovering a 19 year old had been sleeping on the school docks, the cooks brought him into the school and provided him a hot meal and compassion and then phone Superintendent Kelli Whytselll for further instruction on dealing with matter. Those who were honored were Christina Jones, Tiffany Oldham, Vicki Jones, Beth Stull, Brenda Morgan and Darlene Ulderich.
Several students were recognized by the School Board for outstanding achievements in their sport.
When asked to give their advice to the younger wrestlers coming up, their sound advicde for their younger counterparts was for them to “Stick with it, don’t miss practice and wrestle hard!”
Yeager, Ariety Hickman, Ashlynn Boak – Varsity Girls Basketball 2022 Season Accomplishments
The Senior girls advice for what’s hoping to be next years champions was for them to “keep the ball in your hands off seasons too, you have big shoes to fill.”
Wattson Nichols, Wyatt Nichols, Reese Schoolcraft, Charter Cottrell, Eli Bailey, Jacob Boggs, Landon Sampson, Nicolis Butler, Camden Carpenter, Duke Persinger, Haiden Staton, Richard Bush – Middle School Wrestling Accomplishments
Following the student recognitions, Charles R. “Rusty” Webb presented information regarding JUUL Litigation for which the Board needed to determine if they wanted to be a part. JUUL is a smoking alternative also known as an E-cigarette or vape. Mr. Webb stated that just as the State rate of tobacco use began to drop to equal the lower National rate, vapes began to appear in schools and continues to grow in use. The national rate of vape use in schools is 23%. But the state rate for West Virginia is 33% with one county going as high as 47%.
Mr. Webb informed the School Board that unlike cigarettes, where money was sought for damages, the goal of this litigation is abatement: Education, Prevdention and treatment.
Jeanie Bennett Yoak, COO of Student Services shared that the vaping devices were as small and similar in looks to a USB, but came in many different shapes and sizes. The students store the smokeless devices in places other than pockets and socks making them hard to detect. In addition to the danger of the vape, they’re altering the vapes by taking out the cartridges and putting in their own contents. Staff who confiscate the vapes are told to wear gloves to protect them from unknown substances that could be dangerous to the touch.
Bathroom monitors have been placed in many schools, including Calhoun, to detect vape usage.
Gina Cano-Stump, Assistant Prinicipal stated that Jeremy Johnson, Assistant Prinicipal had confiscated 8 vapes in just 2 days. She said it was astonishing the boldness of use with students who vape. She also described the fear in one student who messaged her to be gotten out of class to go to the restroom because he didn’t want to be caught in the bathroom when the vape detectors went off and become associated with those who use. The vape sensors are connected to apps on staff phones so that when teachers are not busy they investigate the alarms.
Reports were given by Hortz Motz for the Calhoun Gilmer Career Center regarding the success of the Career Day which had multiple vendors to show students what jobs are availabe in their chosen fields and the 1st Place Title won by the Culinary Program at the Greenbrier Hotel at a recent event. (See ealier Ridgeview story)
Additional matters on the agenda were voted on and approved as follows:
IX. Finance (Levy) FY2022-2023 (Attachment C)
1. Levy Rates
2. Public Hearing Dates:
a. March 14, 2022 (Determine Levy Rates)
b. April 19, 2022 (Statutory Meeting-Lay the Levy
X. Recess Until April 19, 2022 Statutory Meeting, 5:30 p.m.
CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
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March 14, 2022
XI. Reconvene March 14, 2022 Regular Board Meeting
XII. Discussion and Reports (Attachment D):
Discussions:
Reports:
A. Calhoun-Gilmer Career Center Report (02/15/22) – Horst Motz
Superintendent
B. Superintendent Reports
1. Director and School Reports
2. Innovation in Education – Recognition for CMHS Middle School Empowerment
3. Academic Awards Presentations
4. State Approved FY 22-23 Calendar Discussion
XIII. Board Acknowledgements
Superintendent Recommendations:
XIV. Old Business (Attachment E)
A. Polices for Approval
1. CHAPTER: Finance TITLE: Management of School Funds
2. CHAPTER: Students TITLE: Use and Possession of Electronic Communication Devices
3. Virtual School Policy
XV. New Business (Attachment F):
A. Finance FY2021-2022
1. General Fund Invoices - $500,964.17
2. Supplements – $507,835.93
3. Transfers - $1,013,944.20
4. March 2022 Financial Statement
B. Calhoun County Schools to Enter into Litigation for JUUL Lawsuit
C. Contracts
1. Beverly Kingery, Educational Consultant
2. E-Rate Data Transmission/Internet Transmission Contract
D. Homeschool Requests
1. Debra Elliott – Grade 11
2. Angela Brown – Grade 7
E. Transportation Requests
1. Kennywood, West Mifflin PA, May 13, 2022; Jackie Allen–Sponsor; 4th Grade Trip; 1 Charter Bus
2. Kennywood, West Mifflin PA, May 13, 2022; Katelyn Hardway–Sponsor; 4th Grade Trip; 1 Charter Bus
XVI. Personnel (Attachment G):
B. Resignations
Professional
1. M. Loretta Smith, Communities in Schools Coordinator (eff. 03-25-22)
Service
1.
Extracurricular
1. Doyle Hupp Jr., $1 Varsity Assistant Football Coach
C. Employment
Professional (FY2021-2022)
1. Lori Parsons, After School Tutor/Teacher (PHE)
2. Julia Bettis , Long Term Substitute Teacher Multi-Cat Special Education Gifted/Ell, CMHS
Service
1. Stephen Sams , Custodian III CMHS
2. Russell Richards_, Maintenance/Custodian III/Sanitation Plant Operator- Central Office
3. Chris Lacy , Bus Operator After School North Route
4. Jeffrey Brannon___, Bus Operator After School South Route
Service FY22-23
1. Christina Dawson , Custodian III, CMHS 2pm-10pm (repl. D. Hall) FY23
Extracurricular (FY 2021-2022)
1. _______________,$1 Assistant Middle School Baseball Coach
Summer School (FY 2021-2022)
1. ________________, Summer School Guidance Counselor
2. ________________, Summer School Substitute Cooks
3. Terri Allen ____ , Substitute Bus Operators_Multi-class(2)(County)
4. Jessica McCumbers, Summer School Special Ed - ESY 6-12 Teacher
5. Jennifer Helmick , CMHS Art Camp 6-12 Instructor
6. Jennifer Helmick , Summer School Substitute Tutor Teacher K-5
7. Tina Marks , Summer School Substitute Cook
D. Job Postings
Professional (12/28/21-05/27/22)
1. Multi-Categorical Special Ed. Teacher/Gifted/ELL, CMHS
2. Multi-Categorical Special Ed. Teacher, PHE
3. Elementary Teacher, AES
4. Elementary Teacher, AES
Professional (01/11/22-05/27/22)
1. Social Studies Teacher, CMHS
Professional (03/08/22-03/14/22)
1. Long Term Substitute Teacher Multi Cat Special Education Gifted/ELL CMHS
2. Substitute Teacher County
CALHOUN COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION
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March 14, 2022
Professional (03/08-04/12/2022)
1. Social Studies Teacher, CMHS
Service (03/08/22-03/14/22)
1. Substitute Secretary
2. Bus Operator, After School South Route
3. Long Term Substitute for Save the Children Paraprofessional/Supervisory Aide/Bus Aide
Summer School (03/08/22-03/14/22) (FY 2021-2022)
1. Summer KinderBoost Teacher (PHE)
2. Summer School Guidance Counselor
3. Summer School Substitute Bus Operators
4. Summer School Substitute Cooks
Service (03/08/22-03/14/22) FY 2022-2023
1. Save The Children Paraprofessional/Supervisory Aide/Bus Aide PHE
2. Save The Children Paraprofessional/Supervisory Aide/Bus Aide AES
Service (03/09/22-03/15/22) FY 2022-2023
1. Custodian III, PHE
2. Cook III, PHE
XVII. Expulsion Reviews:
1. 2020-21-01
2. 2021-22-01
XVIII. Adjournment
Future Board Meeting Dates:
• April 19, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular/Statutory) Board of Education
• May 16, 2022, 4:30 p.m. (Work Session) Board of Education
• May 16, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular) Board of Education
• June 13, 2022, 5:30 p.m. (Regular) Board of Educatio
