Roane County Schools

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Minutes of the Regular Meeting of the
Board of Education of the County of Roane

July 8, 2021

6:00 pm @ Roane County High School, Spencer, WV

  1. This meeting could be joined remotely. The public could join by calling 1-304-553-7794 and entering the provided conference ID or by joining on Microsoft Teams using the provided link.
  2. Presentations
    1. Positively ChargedApptegy has launched our new website and mobile app. With Apptegy, we can now manage the information that is being sent out more efficiently through Facebook, Twitter, SMS, web, phone, etc.
    2. Public Participation
    3. Student AchievementNAEP testing allows us to compare our scores at a national level. According to NAEP testing scores for 4th grade Math and Reading between 2011-2017, WV scores were generally below the national average, but were steady. In 2019, Math scores dropped drastically, doubling the gap from the national average despite all the added efforts in Math at that time, which is concerning. We had NAEP testing again in 2021, and results should be ready soon. Curriculum Associates presented some national data to us at the Superintendent's Conference recently. Their national data shows that students assessed at home improved more than those assessed at school and they account some of this improvement to the demographics. Interestingly, our data shows the same conclusion, but our demographics are not as diverse, which suggests that demographics may be only just partially responsible for that improvement. Their data also shows that 25% of third graders were placing two or more grade levels below in reading, which is increased by 6% from three years previous. What's alarming is that 19% of third graders were placing two grade levels below already and should have been addressed at that time. Now that we have this extra funding, it is the time to address this and work on bringing up these scores with smaller class sizes and new technology.
  3. New Business for Consideration and Potential Action
    1. Positions to be abolishedMotion by James Minney and seconded by Gregory Boggs to approve. Motion carried. (6:39 pm)
      1. Technology Systems Specialist, Roane County Schools (1 position)
      2. Student Support Specialist, Roane County Schools (1 position)
    2. Position to be replacedMotion by Gregory Boggs and seconded by Eileen Richardson to approve. Motion carried. (6:48 pm)
      1. Abolish Accountant III / Executive Secretary / Payroll Supervisor, Roane County Schools (1 position)
      2. Create Professional Accountant / Benefits Coordinator, Roane County Schools (1 position)
    3. Report on Annual Review of Service Personnel Classifications per WV Code 18A-4-8 (l)
    4. Update on ARP ESSER plan and preparations for 2021-22 school year
    5. Discussion of staff compensation and benefits
  4. Consent Agenda - (Action)Motion by Gregory Boggs and seconded by James Minney to approve the following consent agenda as recommended by Richard Duncan, Superintendent. Motion carried. (8:24 pm)
    1. Approval of minutes of Regular Board Meeting on June 21, 2021
    2. Financial
      1. Transfers/supplements to the budget
      2. Payments of bills as submitted; pre-approval to release checks not to exceed $20,000 prior to the next board meeting
      3. Financial Reports
    3. Policies
      1. 1st Reading
        1. Policy 524 - Transfers and Reductions-in-Force (revised)
    4. Contract(s) / Bid(s)
      1. Integrated Speech Solutions for Speech Therapy Services
      2. Bid for motor oil, bio-diesel, and gasoline for the 2021-22 school year: Harris Oil Company
      3. Knotts Consulting for High School Equivalency Assessment
    5. 2021 Roane Couty Schools Bus Auction, May 28, 2021
    6. Field Trips
    7. Volunteers
    8. Student Transfers
      1. 1 student transfer from Calhoun County Schools
  5. Personnel Consent Agenda - (Action)Motion by Gregory Boggs and seconded by to approve the following personnel items as recommended by Richard Duncan, Superintendent. Motion carried. (8:26 pm)
    1. Resignation(s)
      1. Nutter, Phyllis - Athletic Director (Spencer Middle School), effective June 24, 2021
      2. Nutter, Phyllis - Coach, Volleyball (Spencer Middle School), effective June 24, 2021
      3. Nutter, Phyllis - Teacher / Wellness (Spencer Middle School), effective June 24, 2021
      4. Salisbury, Breanne - Academic Recovery Facilitator (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective June 30, 2021
      5. Salisbury, Breanne - Speech Language Pathologist (RCS - Student Support (75%), Walton EMS (25%)), effective June 30, 2021
      6. Roush, Rachel - Counselor (Spencer Elementary School), effective June 30, 2021
    2. New Employment(s)
      1. Casto, Donald - Bus Operator (Bus #13) (RCS - Operations), effective August 9, 2021, from the substitute list
      2. _______________________ - Teacher / Special Education (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      3. _______________________ - Teacher / Special Education (Spencer Elementary School), effective August 9, 2021
      4. _______________________ - Teacher / Special Education (Spencer Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      5. _______________________ - Teacher / Art (Spencer Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      6. _______________________ - Teacher / 6th Grade (Spencer Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      7. _______________________ - Teacher / 6th Grade (Spencer Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      8. _______________________ - Teacher / Wellness (Spencer Middle School), effective August 9, 2021
      9. Elliott, Christina - Substitute teacher (RCS - Substitutes), effective August 18, 2021
      10. Updegrave, Nancy - Substitute teacher (RCS - Substitutes), effective August 18, 2021, pending CIB clearance
      11. McCune, Morgan - Substitute teacher (RCS - Substitutes), effective August 18, 2021
    3. Transfer(s)
      1. Spencer, Britney - Teacher / Art (Geary Elementary / Middle School) to Teacher / Art (Roane County High School), effective July 1, 2021
      2. Jones, Kelly - Teacher / 1st Grade (Spencer Elementary School) to Teacher / 3rd Grade (Spencer Elementary School), effective July 1, 2021
      3. Parkins, Melinda - Counselor (Walton Elementary / Middle School) to Counselor (Spencer Elementary School), effective July 1, 2021
      4. Taylor, Amber - Teacher / 3rd Grade (Spencer Elementary School) to Teacher / Title I (Spencer Elementary School), effective July 1, 2021
      5. Cain, Pamela - Speech Language Pathologist (RCS - Student Support (75%), Spencer Elementary (25%)) to Speech Language Pathologist (RCS - Student Support (75%), Walton EMS (25%)), effective July 1, 2021
      6. Marks, Frankie - Bus Operator (Bus #53) (RCS - Operations) to Bus Operator (Bus #58) (RCS - Operations), effective July 1, 2021
      7. Hardman, Ann - Accountant III / Executive Secretary / Payroll Supervisor (RCS - Central Office) to Project & Grant Accountant (RCS - Central Office), effective August 2, 2021
  6. Reports of Committees
  7. Superintendent's RemarksSafe Schools entrances at GEMS and WEMS start work on Monday and the paving project at GEMS should take about 4 days and finish by the end of the month. The latest estimate for our dumpster enclosure shows an $80,000 price. With increased prices on building materials, it may be beneficial to wait. So expect a change order to remove this portion of the bid and continue with the rest of the work. At the SMS Planning Committee, we went over the schematic designs put together by the architecture firm and discussed some of the wants and needs. They will return to our next meeting with an updated schematic and take that discussion to the staff at SMS and RCHS to get their feedback. Looking at parking stalls, we do have enough stalls for teachers and students, but we may try to make some stalls up front more accessible and possibly add more parking at a further lot with a circulating shuttle for events. Summer SOLE program went to the Farm today and has gone to other fieldtrips this Summer to the City Pool, Clay Center, French Creek Farm, Robey Theater and Heritage Park. They have had an average of 88% attendance this week.
  8. Adjournment
    1. Adjourn until the next regular meeting, Thursday, July 22, 2021, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High SchoolMotion by Eileen Richardson and seconded by Gregory Boggs to approve. Motion carried. (8:49 pm)