[{"_1":2,"_112":-5,"_113":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88,100],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6251446,"mediaKeyId","3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a","parentId",3195657,"title","Parents and trustees press board on teacher shortages as personnel actions are approved","audioSeconds",6256,"startMs",3422000,"endMs",9678000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a&start=3422&end=9678","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a/thumbnail_3422000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6251446/West-Virginia/Parents-and-trustees-press-board-on-teacher-shortages-as-personnel-actions-are-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251446-19d84f84c5db87d0e6a583b92e8f0d39/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175246&Signature=OEFNohV-y2pFy4kLvZE9adiZH-eq09UxaEMGfPV521U4qd0I6Lq2EEyH0XgvoB9BmRPULnyy-A6jojbo1ZhkQ8VInW25ZKmzm85xFEVqMkimEikIvvDsJkEbQm3B3NO73MmbCDtT22B3yTe02TNfTbAHqEX9IOGM~DXm2f5NZu4LkNN30VIirFdQ~w1AKoGboR2iZWXui0bqQ~cwljlQSpNUa4TJ7XzcJtCbP2o5rJywofz308TJuo2ZjRn3T3xIZFBjiHh5P74FCet41KKzgaB~mAHjNxcn1T1678~vodMqa7M~3dVvLYmCoGhyF3jhC3WHADl7VU4igUS60gaDMA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Berkeley County Schools","date","2025-05-06T13:27:59Z","article","The Berkeley County Board of Education approved a consent agenda that included more than 100 personnel and substitute appointments, resignations and other personnel actions, while public comment and trustees raised concerns about teacher staffing at Martinsburg High School.

During the public-comment period, parent Michelle Warren told the board that two college-credit instructors at Martinsburg High School recently resigned and that the school currently lacks a qualified instructor to teach a dual-credit English course her son planned to take. \"Currently, my son was set to take the college course from the teacher who's resigned... Currently, there is not anyone in the school age who meets the qualifications to teach the class,\" Warren said, asking the board to do more to address local staffing shortages.

Human-resources staff presented the personnel report covering coaching appointments, professional and service hires, resignations, transfers and substitute listings. The presenter said the packet included 101 actions across professional, service and substitute categories and recommended approval. Board members asked for more systematic exit information and said they would like an exit-survey mechanism capturing reasons employees leave so the district can report trends to the legislature and adjust recruitment and retention strategies.

Chief human-resources and personnel staff told trustees they already keep records and offered to update the board when a specific school needs immediate staffing solutions. Trustees later said principals such as the Martinsburg High principal were actively recruiting and considering international-certified candidates, and the human-resources office said it was identifying near-term fixes and would follow up directly with the concerned parent.

The board approved the personnel actions on the superintendent's recommendation. The personnel report included coaching appointments, several resignations and retirements, transfers, administrative probationary contracts to correct omissions and substitute appointments.

Ending: Trustees directed administration to return with information on exit-survey data and to follow up with the parent who raised the Martinsburg High staffing concern; the district said it will document staffing reasons and present aggregated data in future updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Board of Education Regular Meeting 5-5-25","oneSentenceSummary","The board approved a large package of personnel actions while a parent and trustees raised concerns about teacher resignations and dual-credit course staffing at Martinsburg High School; central office staff said they are pursuing solutions and will provide follow-up.","taxTitle","BERKELEY COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia","taxId",13060,"location","West Virginia","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251451,"Board hears progress on school construction, approves schedule change request for Burke Street renovation",524,6826000,7350000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a&start=6826&end=7350","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a/thumbnail_6826000.jpg","/articles/6251451/West-Virginia/Board-hears-progress-on-school-construction-approves-schedule-change-request-for-Burke-Street-renovation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251451-fb487bfac7fa89bc3f5f13423fd71c27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175246&Signature=KDSP2Rel5JDHXYy50mKfE7Lw89Amm~5QVtCZyxRzqvtDZchfI41SxRtrAyP2dVV0nPxQWC6rUF8yubDD8iUs8A1UaBtpTaiW4fSNvx~3QhgQMftgIcl8c9g0ICdS-u4On2eSIiXZZe6IkBkrsXYCLnRhLeuPdV~WvRRsLwgFQUjblXGBG4v8dFf7dq9nzr6rfl2IQ1SChCxcO855UmPVeVG9C83AnkMUkSZ8DP32QcE3rv0-LaAewNty6z9onFNX0lM9H~8kiYM8~2JNpQWvKlikn-VF1vBeObPm775yGvqqrYGk3hPgEhdT~bTvrpZ7-P3yAFJ3OQASLOTkYcV8zQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","School district staff updated trustees on construction and maintenance milestones at several Berkeley County sites and sought permission to adjust the Burke Street Elementary school calendar for construction needs.

Facilities director Mister Tyson told the board that Tomahawk Intermediate and Edsville Early Learning Academy are advancing on schedule. \"Tomahawk Intermediate ... this project very much on schedule and will complete on July 30,\" Tyson said. He reported brickwork and interior framing are complete on several projects and that Spring Mills' press box stairs and related items have been installed in time for regional athletic events.

The district requested a temporary schedule change for Burke Street Elementary so contractors can remove drop ceilings, replace HVAC piping and perform restroom and window work. Administration proposed making Friday, May 23 the last student day at Burke Street (three instructional days earlier than the district calendar) to give teachers time to box materials and allow maintenance crews and contractors to move in on June 2. The superintendent said staff would compensate teachers for packing time and use a mix of on-site storage and locked containers for classroom materials.

Trustees asked whether reducing the Burke Street calendar would affect the district's required 180 instructional days and whether state permission would be necessary; staff said they would verify accrued instructional-time counts with the Department of Education and confirm compliance before finalizing the plan.

On a separate maintenance action, the board approved resurfacing Spring Mills High School's track at a cost of $255,000 using a cooperative purchasing contract with AG Sports Services. Administration said the general-maintenance fund budgeted $1.5 million for maintenance projects; the resurfacing work is not a bond project and will come from that fund. The facilities presenter said the Spring Mills track uses a heavy-duty system designed for a 30-year base and resurfacing is typically required every 10 years; the district is in year 13 on that track.

Ending: Trustees approved the track resurfacing and asked staff to return with a detailed accounting of general-maintenance fund balances and with written confirmation that the Burke Street schedule adjustment will not reduce required instructional time or violate state rules.","Administrators reported progress on multiple construction projects and asked the board to allow an early last day for students at Burke Street Elementary so contractors can begin extensive HVAC renovations; trustees directed staff to verify instructional-day rules and plan storage/moving logistics.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251458,"Berkeley County highlights growth in CTE programs and student industry credentials",313,3664000,3977000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a&start=3664&end=3977","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a/thumbnail_3664000.jpg","/articles/6251458/West-Virginia/Berkeley-County-highlights-growth-in-CTE-programs-and-student-industry-credentials","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251458-7f0c186f4e2677d28521fa41c7042180/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175246&Signature=cPeLGm97ycOzWyJuhxksBEh6lIPWKDd~3fyWYgZRLN3R0xlow31F~t0J792TG5cvSWDpV5kgvcVwnBWaovicYBWd4GVMGYoSYUOpii7~9DM09mIn-e8N3EyBk8oNzNpPDhaU4V3uAG7zzsA1ZDTC8b6-MW-GgEjpWeDJOiGz9uofXhbjRs8AGUsTNsl2ts6sMeWxRXJWAqsmn2YUzaDcOpMGJlHjKPqRmmygFbPNnkHl3iaGEaQJZy1swcP~tAW-SIxHkySB5BfLaVCjw3QVIXwtmAJePT3kZhAVVy2N2Bsgcdsxs6OmBCjwuqo7tTw7bhJUsSWjtiAxQfYW-ETY2A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Berkeley County Schools presented a broad update on career and technical education (CTE), outlining new courses, partnerships and hands-on opportunities that administrators said will expand students' job-ready skills.

Mister Pack, the district CTE presenter, told the Board that the system now offers \"almost 100 CTE courses in our high school\" and described new concentrations introduced this year including tourism, social journalism and a building-and-maintenance-operations program at Musselman High School.

Pack said the district will add multimedia publishing, building maintenance operations and therapeutic services next year. He described a partnership with WVU Hospital that selected 10 students at Martinsburg High School and Spring Mills High School for a two-year therapeutic-services concentration; \"At all of the students' completion of this concentration, the student will be employed at WVU hospital here in Martinsburg,\" Pack said.

The presenter also described middle-school CTE pilots: Mountain Ridge Middle and South Middle will have year-round greenhouses and future chicken coops with laying hens. Pack said those programs will count toward CTE accountability indicators and provide hands-on lessons in plant and animal science.

Accountability figures presented to the board included: 69% of middle-school students enrolled in at least one middle-school CTE course and 62% of high-school students enrolled in at least one CTE course this year; about 24% of high-school students were taking at least two CTE courses. Pack said 11% of high-school students engaged in official work-based learning opportunities and that roughly 74% of students who took the national technical assessment (NOCTI) met the performance standard.

Board members and the superintendent praised student speakers and program staff who joined the meeting: students from baking and pastry, broadcasting, robotics (VEX), and Hedgesville FFA described real-world projects, simulated workplaces and community service. Students described ServSafe and forklift and OSHA 10 certificates and a bakery that supplies events and staff breakfasts as examples of applied learning.

Pack said additional facility and equipment investments are planned, and he highlighted two instructors who are retiring after long service to CTE. He also reiterated the district's longer-term goal of a dedicated CTE center to expand offerings \"beyond what we can do within high schools.\"

Ending: The board applauded students and staff; trustees asked administration to return periodic CTE updates and to include budgetary detail for planned facility expansions and credentialing support.","The district's CTE director reported nearly 100 course offerings, new programs for next year and partnerships—highlighting middle-school greenhouses, a therapeutic-services pathway with WVU Hospital, and expanded credentialing opportunities for students.",{"_33":101,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":102,"_41":103,"_43":104,"_45":105,"_47":106,"_49":107,"_51":108,"_53":109,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":110,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":111,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6251462,"Berkeley County board delays vote on equity-and-inclusion policy amid heated debate",155,755000,910000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a&start=755&end=910","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3195657-c90a954b86dfcbb3c47b553c1c2b152a/thumbnail_755000.jpg","/articles/6251462/West-Virginia/Berkeley-County-board-delays-vote-on-equity-and-inclusion-policy-amid-heated-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6251462-0c1b7f5e9a0914ba9b5a184ddd0a891d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175246&Signature=jjFijYFCf~wD5Da4vYVp2l7FioW~wmCbmJkiWjhvl3IlobNjuJ51VsnRii5~vz6ySUYs5wWN8gS0girxMC5idunczy-lkqHM81lvPmpj4H8~dsM0vWB2uuGAM5lsI917Bw-nxEIv7mI66j4U2NIbIdgdnW9FjSCi5r5hcsjm3cBh3vf~pK3Rf0grOA~~0uaj7pKZrtx0lGejd-0DxOjiId9JuP0yonYEnrINh7wo7pTFCsYtzSP1oUhV1rcpNZUUICEk68HKfQkMp7Xz3I3ZExQHgF8HuxuQmLxooGc7u6Hl90Oqy~dFwGhIZc~fShm-21KTCHlDU8XAOXyEfANMrg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Berkeley County Board of Education voted on Monday to table action on a proposed change to the district's equity-and-inclusion policy (agenda item 7.1) and set a follow-up date of June 16 while staff reviews legal and implementation questions.

Board member Murphy, who spoke at length against eliminating the policy, said the move would \"whitewash our student population and not acknowledge the existence of children with a diverse background.\" He described the county as \"the most diverse county in West Virginia\" and argued the policy protects fairness and recognition for minority students.

Other board members and staff urged caution about rushing to implement a repeal without precise guidance. Superintendent Dr. Sacks and central-office staff said they need time to confirm how state and federal directives intersect with district policy and to prepare concrete guidance for teachers and staff. Trustees asked for a written implementation plan and legal analysis before the matter returns.

Board members debated procedure as much as policy. Multiple trustees said they wanted clear, actionable language so principals, teachers and support staff are not left uncertain about what is permitted in classrooms and professional development. One board member said the goal was \"something concrete that our staff, teachers, service personnel\" could use to know what they can and cannot do.

The tabling motion was seconded and the board voted to delay consideration until the board meeting set for June 16 so staff can gather legal opinions and draft recommended revisions or explanatory guidance. When the board first discussed motion timing, members referenced an external deadline (July 11) and federal guidance, but ultimately settled on the June 16 meeting to provide time for staff review and possible public follow-up. The board chair put the motion to a voice vote; the motion carried.

Supporters and opponents of the policy offered contrasting views during discussion. Board member Murphy warned of \"creating wedges\" and of broader cultural consequences; others on the board said existing civil-rights and special-education laws already require equitable treatment and that the district can craft policy language to avoid ambiguity. Administration staff said they will prepare a written summary of legal risks and operational steps for the trustees and the public before the June 16 meeting.

The board did not amend or adopt any replacement wording at the meeting. The postponement keeps the current policy in place until the board reconvenes on June 16 or adopts an alternate timetable.

The decision to delay drew requests from trustees and staff for targeted work sessions and for the central office to consult counsel and relevant federal guidance before returning the item to the consent or action calendar.

Ending: The board's tabling leaves the district's current policy intact for now and schedules more detailed staff work and legal review; the school system will report back to the board and public at the next scheduled meeting on June 16.","Berkeley County Board of Education members debated a proposed repeal of the district's equity-and-inclusion policy and voted to table consideration until June 16 as staff and trustees sought legal and implementation clarity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parents and trustees press board on teacher shortages as personnel actions are approved

Board hears progress on school construction, approves schedule change request for Burke Street renovation

Berkeley County highlights growth in CTE programs and student industry credentials

Berkeley County board delays vote on equity-and-inclusion policy amid heated debate