Roane County Schools

Print these minutes

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

June 13, 2024

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 ChargedFor softball all-conference, first-team nods were awarded to Mahailey Nicholson and Piper Harlan and a second-team nod to Lexi Burdette. For baseball, Cameron Ash and Carter Kinder earned all-LKC second-team and Cam Cumpston earned an honorable mention. For softball all-state, Mahailey Nicholson was named as one of four pitchers on the first-team for Class AA. Piper Harlan was named to the second-team and honorable mention for Lexi Burdette. For baseball, Cam Cumpston was an all-state honorable mention.
    2. Public Participation
    3. Student Achievement
  3. New Business for Consideration and Potential Action
    1. Approval of The Thrasher Group to Provide Architectural and Engineering Services for Safety and Security Upgrades at Roane County High and Spencer Middle SchoolsMotion by James Minney and seconded by Dennis Carpenter to approve. Motion carried. (6:08 pm)
    2. Updates on Continuing Business
      1. Property Matters Involving the Madison Avenue Complex
      2. Property Matters Involving the Capitol Street Complex, Goff Run Complex, and old Spencer High SchoolMotion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by James Minney to go into closed session to discuss property matters, as per WV Code 6-9A-4(b)(9). Motion carried. (6:16 pm)Motion by Eileen Richardson and seconded by Daris Harper to return to open session. Motion carried. No action was taken in closed session. (6:40 pm)
      3. Consideration of an Excess Levy Ballot for November 5, 2024
    3. Review of Homeschooling Regulations and Procedures
    4. Review of Local Policy Revisions Required by Legislative and State Board of Education Action
    5. Superintendent's Evaluation for 2023-24Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by Daris Harper to go into executive session to discuss the Superintendent's Evaluation for 2023-2024 school year as per WV Code section 18-4-6(d). Motion carried. (7:22 pm)Motion by James Minney and seconded by Daris Harper to return to open session. Motion carried. No action was taken in closed session. (10:28 pm)This Summary Statement of Superintendent Evaluation for Dr. Richard Duncan was given on June 13, 2024: In accordance with WV Constitution Article XII, WV Code 126-143, WV Code 18-2, WV Code 18-4-6, WVBE Policy 5309 and RCBOE Policy 121, the members of Roane County Board of Education have completed their evaluation of Dr. Richard Duncan for the SY 2023/2024. Board members were provided a WV State Board of Education approved evaluation tool consisting of mutually agreed goals and objectives for Dr. Duncan, were approved on September 15, 2023. As required by code, the goal was to support the progress of the county strategic plan with one of the goals related directly to student achievement and performance of low performing schools. Additionally, the Roane County Board of Education established a 37 point evaluation across 9 separate categories related to required evaluation areas as set forth in WV State Code and WV State Board of Education Policy. Dr. Duncan provided the narrative response to these goals for all board members. The board collected input from stakeholders from public meetings, LSIC meetings and surveyed them. Each board member independently completed an evaluation document based on those responses. The board president compiled and presented one aggregate report to the whole board for discussion of the Superintendent's strengths and weaknesses, as well as the Board's own performance as the public body ultimately charged with the education responsibility of Roane County. During this formal evaluation, the Roane County Board of Education found Dr. Richard Duncan to have met and/or exceeded the standards set forth in all 9 categories set forth in the evaluation tool. Improvement in the future performance for both the Superintendent and the board were also part of this discussion. In respect to the required goals related to student achievement, the board established a measurable goal to increase by 5%, the proficiency in 3rd through 8th grade mathematics and English language arts. While considerable improvement is still needed to achieve this level of proficiency, solid improvement has been demonstrated as Roane County led the state in combined growth in reading and math in 2023. Additional Star 360 standard based data indicates gains by percentile rank nationally in 3rd through 8th grades with the only exceptions in 6th and 7th grade math. Improvement in future performance for both the Superintendent and the board were also part of the discussion. Changes to terms, benefits or salary were discussed but not finalized as Dr. Duncan's contract remains in effect until June 30th of 2025. This is Jeff Mace, President of Roane County Board of Education on behalf of all members of the board.
  4. Consent Agenda - (Action)Motion by Eileen Richardson and seconded by Daris Harper to approve the following consent agenda as recommended by Richard Duncan, Superintendent. Motion carried. (10:42 pm)
    1. Approval of minutes of the regular board meeting on May 23, 2024, special meeting on May 30, 2024, and special meeting on May 20, 2024, which was reconvened on May 30, 2024
    2. Financial
      1. Transfers/supplements to the budget
      2. Payments of bills as submitted; pre-approval to release checks not to exceed $50,000 prior to the next board meeting
      3. Financial Reports
    3. Policies
      1. Second Reading
        1. Policy 020 - Meetings
        2. Policy 311 - Use of Service Animals
    4. Contract(s) / Bid(s) / Agreement(s)
      1. Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative for coordination and support for the Medicaid reimbursement program
      2. Memorandum of Understanding with Lighthouse Ministries for temporary alternate location as / if needed
    5. Field Trips
      1. Spencer Summer SOLE to COSI in Columbus, OH (July 10, 2024)
      2. Walton Summer SOLE to COSI in Columbus, OH (July 24, 2024)
    6. Volunteers
    7. Student Transfers
  5. Personnel Consent Agenda - (Action)Motion by Dennis Carpenter and seconded by James Minney to approve the following personnel items as recommended by Richard Duncan, Superintendent. Motion carried. (10:44 pm)
    1. Resignation(s)
      1. Woods, William - Substitute custodian (RCS - Substitutes), effective May 22, 2024
      2. Woods, William - Substitute aide (RCS - Substitutes), effective May 22, 2024
      3. Epling, Craig - Principal (Roane County High School), effective June 12, 2024
      4. Ellison, Susan - Teacher / 1st Grade (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective June 13, 2024
      5. Penfold, JuliAnna - Coach, Volleyball (Walton Elementary / Middle School), effective June 30, 2024
    2. New Employment(s)
      1. Kendall, James - ESY Teacher of Severe / Profound Handicap (RCS - Student Support Services), effective June 14, 2024
      2. Tolley, Sarah - ESY Speech Language Pathologist (RCS - Student Support Services), effective June 14, 2024
      3. Casto, Donald - Bus Operator (Bus #53) (RCS - Operations), effective August 15, 2024
      4. Crowder, Johnnee - Teacher / English (Roane County High School), effective August 15, 2024
    3. Extracurricular(s)
      1. Ward, Quinton - Coach, Soccer (Roane County High School), effective June 14, 2024
      2. White, Shandi - Coach, Volleyball (Roane County High School), effective June 14, 2024
      3. Osborne, Kenneth - Assistant Coach, Volleyball (Geary Elementary / Middle School), effective July 1, 2024
      4. Tolley, Kaleena - Coach, Golf (Spencer Middle School), effective July 1, 2024
      5. Penfold, JuliAnna - Coach, Volleyball (Spencer Middle School), effective July 1, 2024
  6. Reports of Committees
  7. Superintendent's RemarksIf the fire marshal does a walk-thru on June 25th, as scheduled, we will be permitted to occupy the new Spencer Middle School as of that date. We will move quickly after tonight's approval of architectural and engineering services for the new MIP project. At our next meeting, I will be asking for the approval for an RFP to pursue a possible energy savings contract to help fund our next set of building improvements.
  8. AdjournmentMotion by Daris Harper and seconded by Eileen Richardson to adjourn until the next regular meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 6:00 pm at the new Spencer Middle School. Motion carried. (10:49 pm)
    1. Adjourn until the next regular meeting on Thursday, June 27, 2024, at 6:00 pm at Roane County High School.