Roane County Schools

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

August 5, 2025

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

  1. This meeting can be joined remotely. The public could join by calling 1-304-553-7794 and entering the provided conference ID or on Microsoft Teams using the provided link.
  2. Presentations
    1. Superintendent Spotlight
      1. RCHS FFA - John WorkmanRCHS FFA Advisors, John Workman and Ben Hays took the RCHS FFA Chapter to the 97th Annual WV FFA State Convention at Cedar Lakes Conference Center in Ripley. Lexi Mitchell, Anna Hays, Lilly Smith, Tyson Watson, Tanner Saunders, Dakota Dever and Nathaniel Webb presented on the their experiences there. They competed for two days. All of our teams made it past the preliminary competition and went on to the finals. Lexi Mitchell received the WV FFA State Proficiency Award in Ag Communications and was named the State Champion when she presented on "Solar Panels and the Impact it has on the Future of Farming and Production." The Preliminary Procedures Team placed first in the state. Tyson Watson also won the Outstanding Presiding Officer and Brianna Blackwell won the Outstanding Debater. The land team placed 4th overall on the home side competition and then 6th overall in both of the competitions combined. Seven members received state degrees and 2 were recognized for receiving their American degrees, the highest degree they can earn and will be received at the National Convention in October. Congratulations for all your achievements.
    2. Public Participation
    3. Student Achievement
      1. Student Technology UpdateTechnology Coordinator, Brenda Brown, presented on our technology updates for the 2025-26 school year. We are implementing Canvas, a modern, K-12 learning management system, to enhance student achievement through a streamlined instruction, stronger family engagement, and consistent learning experience across all grade levels. The transition to this platform provided less than a $5,000 savings. Also, as we are starting our deployment of devices to high schoolers in the summer, members of our student government came to help. Morgan Spencer, Josie Cox, Emma Sloan, Thomas McIntyre and Garrett Shanks were recognized for their assistance with the deployment of devices. RCHS students will now be able to start the school year with their devices ready to go.
    4. Discussion of School Closure and Consolidation ProceduresHoward Seufer from Bowles Rice presented on the overview of the closure and consolidation process. Unless the State Board of Education approves a waiver, a county board wishing to close or consolidate schools must complete all the following procedures on or before December 31 of the calendar year prior to the calendar year in which a school closing or consolidation is to take effect: 1) prepare impact statement and supporting data with WVDE input 2) make the statement and data available for 30-day inspection 3) conduct a public hearing at each affected school 4) vote on the proposed realignments 5) request State Board approval of the realignment and any CEFP amendment 6) State Board vote
  3. New Business for Consideration and Potential Action
    1. Roane County Universal Pre-K Calendar for 2025-26Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by Eileen Richardson to approve. Motion carried. (7:07 pm)
    2. Update on Roane County Schools State of EmergencyAs requested, we are investigating the anticipated enrollment drop as a result of the closures and consolidations. Mr. Cummings from WVDE has provided us with a basic spreadsheet and talked us through some of the complexities when you drop below an enrollment of 1400 and then further to 1100. We are also looking at a comparable county that has already gone through closures and consolidations to give us an idea of what we may go through. Mr. Garner has also completed the transportation portion of the proposal, which will include the runtimes of bus routes and the total time that students would be on the bus. I have a meeting with WVDE on Friday to help prepare us for the State Board meeting next Wednesday. We hope to have a special meeting on Monday, August 11th, and then another one on Thursday, August 14th for personnel.
    3. Restore Cynthia Jett to Teacher / English, Roane County High School, effective for the 2025-26 school year (reason for transfer is no longer necessary)Motion by Daris Harper and seconded by James Minney to approve. Motion carried. (7:22 pm)
    4. Create Accountant II / Secretary II, Roane County High School (51%)/ Spencer Middle School (49%), 240 daysMotion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by Daris Harper to approve. Motion carried. James Minney opposed.(7:33 pm)
    5. Create Lead Counselor, Roane County Schools, effective 8/6/25 (grant funded)Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by James Minney to approve. Motion carried. (7:36 pm)
    6. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Geary Elementary Middle School, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by Eileen Richardson and seconded by Daris Harper to approve. Motion carried. (7:39 pm)
    7. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Walton Elementary Middle School, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by Daris Harper and seconded by Dennis Carpenter to approve. Motion carried. (7:39 pm)
    8. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Spencer Elementary School, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by James Minney and seconded by Eileen Richardson to approve. Motion carried. (7:39 pm)
    9. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Roane County High School, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by Eileen Richardson to approve. Motion carried. (7:40 pm)
    10. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Spencer Middle School, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by Daris Harper and seconded by James Minney to approve. Motion carried. (7:40 pm)
    11. Create Extra-Duty Assignment, District Digital Family Engagement Coordinator, Roane County Schools, effective 8/6/25 (federally funded)Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by Daris Harper to approve. Motion carried. (7:41 pm)
    12. Review Coaching Salary Schedule
  4. Consent Agenda - (Action) Motion carried. (8:15 pm)
    1. Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting on July 21, 2025 and special board meeting on July 31, 2025
    2. Financial
      1. Financial Reports
      2. Transfers/supplements to the budget
      3. Payments of bills as submitted; pre-approval to release checks not to exceed $20,000 prior to the next board meeting
    3. Policies
      1. First reading
        1. Policy 020 - Meetings
    4. Contract(s) / Bid(s) / Agreement(s)
      1. Service Agreement with Cinderella Code Company
    5. Field Trips
    6. Volunteers
    7. Student Transfers
      1. 6 student transfers from Calhoun County Schools
      2. 4 student transfers from Kanawha County Schools
      3. 2 student transfers from Wirt County Schools
      4. 1 student transfer from Wood County Schools
  5. Personnel Consent Agenda - (Action)Motion by Eileen Richardson and seconded by Daris Harper to approve the following personnel items as recommended by Michelle Stellato, Superintendent. Motion carried. (8:22 pm)
    1. Abolish Position(s)
      1. Teacher / Wellness (SMS), effective August 5, 2025
    2. Resignation(s)
      1. Greathouse, Richard - Bus Operator (Bus #49) (RCS - Operations), effective July 25, 2025
      2. Crowder, Johnnee - Teacher / Wellness (Roane County High School), effective August 1, 2025
      3. Salisbury, Shannon - Aide / ECCAT (Spencer Elementary School), effective August 4, 2025
      4. Simmons, Justin - Assistant Coach, Baseball (Spencer Middle School), effective August 4, 2025
      5. Richards, Stacy - School Psychologist (RCS - Student Support Services), effective August 5, 2025
      6. Jarvis, Amber - Teacher / Interventionist (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 5, 2025
    3. New Employment(s)
      1. Carr, Kevin - Principal (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 6, 2025
      2. Goffreda, Tessa - LPN / Aide (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 12, 2025, pending passage of appropriate service personnel classification exams and CIB clearance
    4. Transfer(s)
      1. Boatright, Ivory - Teacher / Wellness (Spencer Middle School) to Teacher / Wellness (Roane County High School), effective August 6, 2025, Due to SMS enrollment, reassign through mutual consent.
      2. McGuire, Sumer - Aide V / Special Education Assistant Teacher (Walton Elementary / Middle School) to Aide/ECCAT (Geary Elementary / Middle School), effective August 12, 2025
      3. Starcher, Kristina - Teacher / Pre-K (Walton Elementary / Middle School) to Communities in Schools Coordinator (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 12, 2025
    5. Extracurricular(s)
      1. Blosser, Anthony - Assistant Coach, Football (Auxiliary) (Roane County High School), effective August 6, 2025
      2. Craft, Brian - Assistant Coach, Football (Auxiliary) (Roane County High School), effective August 6, 2025
      3. White, Shandi - Coach, Cross Country (Roane County High School), effective August 6, 2025
      4. _______________________ - Coach, Cheer (Spencer Middle School), effective August 6, 2025Item 5d was not filled.
      5. Karickhoff, Misty - Game Manager(s) (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 6, 2025
      6. Rector, Joseph - Game Manager(s) (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective August 6, 2025
  6. Reports of Committees
  7. Superintendent's RemarksWVSSAC courtesy cards were distributed to board members. Next, I would like to address an issue that was presented to our office today. I had a PK parent visit the board office today and I was glad to receive her. She was concerned that we were closing Walton right now, but I was able to assure her that we were definitely not closing, or consolidating this year.
  8. Adjournment
    1. Adjourn until the next regular meeting will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High SchoolMotion by Daris Harper and seconded by Eileen Richardson to adjourn until the special meeting on Monday, August 11, 2025, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High School. There will also be a special meeting on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High School and the next regular meeting will be on Thursday, August 21, 2025, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High School. Motion carried. (8:28 pm)

The next regular meeting is scheduled for 6:00 pm on August 21, 2025 at Roane County High School.