[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,76,88,99],{"_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",6168822,"mediaKeyId","5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d","parentId",5406767,"title","Board approves MOUs, contracts and most personnel items; vote separates proposed assistant‑superintendent position","audioSeconds",151,"startMs",3583270,"endMs",3735000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d&start=3583&end=3735","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d/thumbnail_3583270.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6168822/West-Virginia/Board-approves-MOUs-contracts-and-most-personnel-items-vote-separates-proposed-assistantsuperintendent-position","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168822-865df64e3720687abfb202b180e50d1a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115617&Signature=X~xX43w9fhmo85uj2DDlIkDSGQc2YGo8aXSt4aqcZYLlOQDm7EB9Ur9CJh-tgS-~~-UdEK7WiqS~T5vepbL5D4KBT3aFvntcdiqsN-6lw8S0tQeR6huiuK4TOC9H3D9lrbQpwYnC1z2OTd8sh-sUR-iEIiM0zlcEp6r5dlhsBqSMUlVwnnQMtQJNNHmDgcZ~9SGVW0tpglK6cAJBNg0dSNFNJ-FEbURf9F~v8x2uqqM8-iGBkPx2YGaKDHoK0~5Ch3qnjarFRu3BKaXsR9j5w7omehOck7h3VKurj1i7WuSdPdIqoClGnWu2Zfe0KvUY6FORUem6j5RxzJ527ctEcg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Harrison County Schools","date","2025-07-16T11:21:33Z","article","HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — The Harrison County Board of Education approved a package of memoranda of understanding (MOUs) and contracts under new business at its July 15 meeting and also approved the personnel agenda after removing a proposed assistant‑superintendent position for separate consideration.

Board members voted to approve all MOUs and contracts listed under new business after the superintendent read the items aloud. The listed items included (as read at the meeting): a contract with the City of Bridgeport (pro officers), a health‑and‑family contract, summer paving project, an MOU with Montaguelli County Health Department, PERF and PERC contracts, renewal of after‑hours contracts, multiple MOUs for at‑risk services, an MOU for music therapy, MOUs for operations and maintenance (O&M) services, an MOU with UHC, and an MOU with Best Life Therapy. The board approved the package by voice vote with no recorded roll call.

On personnel matters, a board member moved to approve the personnel agenda but to remove letter F — a proposal to create an assistant‑superintendent position — for separate vote and discussion. The motion to approve the personnel agenda without creating the assistant‑superintendent position passed by voice vote. Board members discussed that one assistant‑superintendent proposal on the agenda had been voted down previously and that another item remained tabled and would require clarification before returning to the board.

There were no recorded roll‑call tallies in the meeting record for these votes; all motions carried by voice vote as reported in the meeting.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","HCS Regular Meeting - July 15, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The board voted to approve all MOUs and contracts listed under new business and approved the personnel agenda with a separate vote removing the proposed assistant‑superintendent creation; the meeting included a roll call approving consent items and authorization to pull any item for separate discussion.","taxTitle","HARRISON COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia","taxId",13058,"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},6168827,"Parent asks board for excused‑absence flexibility for out‑of‑area competitions",262,1462690,1725000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d&start=1462&end=1725","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d/thumbnail_1462690.jpg","/articles/6168827/West-Virginia/Parent-asks-board-for-excusedabsence-flexibility-for-outofarea-competitions","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168827-65909899959f77db9e92583601b673bc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115617&Signature=Gg09vGERAOY8NETMcvjDvp3YorNKXaGpMtQ~J3cGUB1iGFnnffVWpKqK5~TY0cptcrXp1FPAaoB3qwmk2DwM0pRo2dNftJ9x4sKvCYg5eYHwJTKKdELC9QVKN4AXqywnuQFvsUksfFCA5NYIO~gbfSHMRd9P~YomB4Pyhr9KPusTfhJRt7FcecHThksjV4f59e6YcAiFTLK6mXGGEOWslsdkKHWvINjDKF7QoVrnlyJ8mfVunlPKf3X10OypocDn3uBDIZGJSNkaLNsX65oo89gHlJirw8QmjZDAuQop5X2PbINmXu0IPj1GOHnMuUhfDrJ~AEj9NHDFCx5b2g483A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — A grandparent asked the Harrison County Board of Education during public comment July 15 whether the district can provide additional non‑absent days or alternative arrangements for students who travel for sanctioned extracurricular competitions, such as dirt‑bike racing and competitive cheer.

The speaker said her grandson competes through September and that travel sometimes requires leaving on a Friday for races held in other states. She said the family wants to avoid homeschooling and would prefer a process that allows the child to get school assignments and complete them without being marked absent. She also raised a related request for a granddaughter who attends competitive cheer with out‑of‑state events.

Administrators responding said the parent should meet with the principal and district staff after the meeting to discuss options; staff suggested the principal and Mr. Kirby (district staff who works with impacted students) as contacts. The presenter advised the parent that the principal had previously told her the district currently allows five absences that do not require a doctor’s note; district staff said policies and local attendance rules vary and that an individualized discussion with school staff would be the appropriate next step.

No board vote or policy change occurred. Staff invited the parent to stay after the meeting or to be put in contact with Mr. Kirby for follow up.

","A grandparent asked the board to allow additional non‑absent days for students who travel for competitions (dirt‑bike racing, out‑of‑state cheer competitions); administrators offered to follow up with the parent and the school principal and recommended the parent meet with staff after the meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6168832,"Board debates open enrollment, capacity and class-size limits as transfers win approval",0,2992080,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d&start=2992&end=2992","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d/thumbnail_2992080.jpg","/articles/6168832/West-Virginia/Board-debates-open-enrollment-capacity-and-class-size-limits-as-transfers-win-approval","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168832-794e262ab2c59d1028c8166bf132cc86/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115617&Signature=aqIWRR~cp6MTlecGPqv5ltT8GKE-S5CN0QoxVp59~dMMRsLDoxcOdVZYTMf2TNwecTprJtdBAYPwVj2c4JUAXAWaMfrTII2njFSwERWKeYGAQp7I~nGsUzv7QXsmWLRcm0O63OMDpzn~ciE5qmspMWUPmN30JLFaVd3GA5g3P~nEmkvGHmbRoBh6fiqjMJXN-9HCxOv~PduRls6BJUoGy5uXin~SpoJp2444VzPZjaGzbRKIbmjeIq6yyp~abUgOrh410-caoU7MAI1U7wh48I9E~e37sCNNc33WJHuqQ8QVc9mpheI60ihiVUTQznQl4FdAce1TJIow23Der5gfFg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — Board members debated school capacity, class-size limits and the mechanics of open-enrollment transfers July 15 as the board approved the consent agenda item that included a list of open-enrollment transfers with a parent-requested removal of one transfer.

The board voted to approve the consent items that included meeting minutes, financial transactions and the open-enrollment transfers list. During transfer discussion a parent asked to remove one requested transfer (a high-school transfer from RCV to Lincoln High School) and the board agreed to remove that student from the transfer list before the vote.

Several board members and administrators discussed conflicting capacity figures from state reports, the capital facilities plan (CFP) and local counts. Staff said the state’s published capacity numbers appear higher in some files and that the district is working to reconcile square-footage-based state figures with more recent CFP numbers and local enrollment trends. Staff noted Bridgeport High School ended the year with roughly 788 students and that its assigned capacity in some reports was 860, and suggested that historical peak counts and building layout should inform transfer decisions.

Board members noted that class capacity is not only a headcount question but also an instructional one: speakers pointed to limits in specialized spaces such as chemistry labs (limited lab stations), foreign-language conversation practice and other classes where instructional quality can be affected if seats exceed equipment or station limits. One board member observed that elementary class caps (24 students per class, referenced during discussion) have a different rationale than high-school scheduling and that lawmakers and state officials should consider classroom instructional realities when setting capacity guidance.

Administrators said transfer denials should ultimately be handled by district staff with principal input, especially where capacity limits or safety constraints (including fire-marshal determinations) apply. Board members urged district staff to provide more precise usable-capacity numbers for each school — including middle and high schools — before the district’s October enrollment certification.

The board did not adopt any new written policy changes during the discussion; members indicated they will revisit the transfer approval process and capacity data in upcoming meetings. The motion to approve the consent items, including the transfers with the one removal, carried unanimously.

","Board members discussed building capacity and instructional limits during an approval of open-enrollment transfers; administrators said state capacity figures are inconsistent with local counts and urged more local review before denying transfers based on utilization.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6168837,"Harrison County schools told to pause new contracts as U.S. Education Department reviews FY25 allocations",858,62470,921000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d&start=62&end=921","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5406767-05d0e22d342b0364b082c972a1d3cc1d/thumbnail_62470.jpg","/articles/6168837/West-Virginia/Harrison-County-schools-told-to-pause-new-contracts-as-US-Education-Department-reviews-FY25-allocations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6168837-5f6ad0baf51edad4680c7a3b286cb9d3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771115617&Signature=Itr6KfgMfANmW785Vysf8yrpcFpSpkIyI18flsEMjKNSbM9LhgmhFDGgu-mX8~sA~CkF6T5XfBFTmKATi8lLEerT3Sk67hpCqbxIIp0fDK5sRCyiao81anwf4WQysaPnA8dHnPRWJs0enuoEGZa5QZS8Buut~~orGWgKAnf6ybl3kSuaOd7VWMEpOSsitoHoDL9JKZ2W88BlGGMy6eSGhgmf3JGMZN~nnXkGN081meGcNSoIfmRWW3R3HH3fzRhjFZK4fCEi2ZiwlydVNM~eoWI6XXZkmAAhxELw1L6gXHHoX1qXGALVc2pCOVZcWn9K7QU1rU6wypYigdf6xMCG1w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","HARRISON COUNTY, W.Va. — The U.S. Department of Education has paused several fiscal 2025 federal grant allocations that Harrison County schools normally receive, district staff told the Harrison County Board of Education at its July 15 meeting, and advised districts not to enter new contracts until the department completes a review.

The guidance affects Title II, Part A (supporting effective instruction); Title III, Part A (language instruction for English learners); Title IV, Part A (student support and academic enrichment); and Title IV, Part B (21st Century Community Learning Centers). District staff said Title I, Part A preliminary and July final allocations were released and remain available; Title I, Part C (migrant education) is not allocated to the county. The U.S. Department of Education told the state there is no statutory deadline for releasing the paused funds.

District staff said the Department recommended reviewing immediately planned expenditures — such as salaries — and warned that even if funds are released they “may not be released in time” for planned spending. The presenter urged the board to assume the paused funds may not arrive and to avoid entering new vendor contracts tied to those grants.

District staff described a set of budget adjustments already made or planned to cover essential positions if the paused grants are not available. Those steps include moving portions of federally funded salaries into title carryover accounts and reserving a small charter-school contingency until October enrollment is final. The presenter also said the district intends to notify private schools served through equitable-share allocations not to enter contracts tied to federal titles until further notice.

District staff reported the following figures as the district’s current working estimates (district staff attributed these amounts during the meeting): a $94,515.36 reduction in the district’s July final Title I, Part A FY26 allocation compared with earlier estimates; an estimated Title I carryover of $514,293.27; a reserved charter contingency of $22,031.81; private-school equitable-share totals for Title I of about $44,367; a projected 20% reduction scenario for Title II that would lower that budget by about $85,000; Title III projected reduction of $5,291.50 (private-school portion $1,512.95); and Title IV projected reduction to about $263,759.81 (a decrease of $11,768.77 and private-school portions totaling $15,347.73). The presenter summarized that, if Title II, III and IV funding were not received at all, the combined impact could be in the range of roughly $625,000.

The district also described a new or renewed Title I, Part D (neglected and delinquent) allocation: about $85,203.04 was generated last year and an estimated $126,801.92 for the coming cycle. Staff said they have consulted with school principals and a local crisis center to identify how that funding could be used; the district is considering a grant-funded position to support students identified in the neglected and delinquent report, rather than a county-funded position.

Discussion at the meeting separated options from formal decisions: staff said they have already shifted portions of some curriculum specialist and administrative salaries into carryover funds and will continue reviewing staffing and licenses in spring budget planning; the board did not vote on any new permanent hires tied to the paused funds. Staff asked the board to recognize that title funds are “supplemental” and therefore must be used only for allowable activities under each title if released.

Board members asked about the length and risk of funding gaps. Staff noted that federal grant awards typically carry a two-year spending window and that the pause and uncertain timing of release were “alarming,” because delayed release could affect the district’s ability to spend within typical timeframes. Staff reiterated the Department’s explicit recommendation: do not enter new contracts tied to paused federal titles.

The district said it will notify private schools of the paused federal pots and recommended they not enter into contracts until the county confirms funding availability. District staff also said they would continue to consult with principals and Mr. Kirby (district staff who works with the impacted students) to finalize a job description and placement should the Title I, Part D funds be used for a grant-funded liaison or social-work–type position.

Board members did not take formal action on staffing tied to the paused funds; consent and personnel items later in the meeting were handled separately and are reported elsewhere.

Local officials will revisit budgets in the spring and when the Department issues further guidance or releases funds.

","District staff told the school board July 15 that the U.S. Department of Education has paused several FY25 federal grant allocations (Titles II, III, IV and IV-B), and advised districts to avoid entering new contracts until the review concludes; the pause is forcing local budget adjustments, use of carryover funds and temporary staffing plans.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Board approves MOUs, contracts and most personnel items; vote separates proposed assistant‑superintendent position

Parent asks board for excused‑absence flexibility for out‑of‑area competitions

Board debates open enrollment, capacity and class-size limits as transfers win approval

Harrison County schools told to pause new contracts as U.S. Education Department reviews FY25 allocations