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Lincoln County Board ratifies student expulsion, pauses levy action and approves routine consent items
Summary
At its March 25 meeting the Lincoln County Board of Education voted unanimously to ratify a student expulsion, approved consent items including a 4‑H MOA in the levy, authorized payment of invoices and voted to suspend further action on FY25‑26 levy rates until April 17, 2025.
The Lincoln County Board of Education voted 4-0 Tuesday to ratify a student expulsion and to suspend further action on the proposed fiscal year 2025‑26 levy rates until April 17, 2025, while also approving routine consent items and payments.
The vote to ratify an expulsion was made under West Virginia code and Department of Education policy cited by board members during the meeting. Board members voted 4-0 to confirm the expulsion after returning from an executive session held under state law. Board member Cartwright moved to ratify the expulsion; the motion was seconded by Mosteller and carried unanimously.
Why it matters: the expulsion is a formal disciplinary action recorded in the minutes and is governed by state statute and Department of Education policy, which the board cited during its executive-session motion. The board also took actions that affect local tax procedures: it first approved a motion to present the FY25‑26 levy rates for public inspection, then voted to suspend further action on that levy until the statutory meeting on April 17, 2025.
Key votes and motions - Present levy rates for public inspection (motion): Passed 4-0. Motion language: “present for public inspection for the year of 2025, 2026 levy rates for general current expense fund, regular levy, and excess levy in compliance with statutory requirements 11‑8‑9 and 11‑8‑12, subject to approval of the state board of education as a state tax commissioner and publication made per state as attached.” Mover: Burns. Second: Cartwright. - Suspend further action regarding the FY25‑26 levy rates until 04/17/2025 (motion): Passed 4-0. Mover: Cartwright. Second: Mosteller. - Approve consent agenda items (includes MOA for 4‑H in levy): Passed 4-0. Mover: Cartwright. Second: Burns. Board discussion noted the MOA for 4‑H is for $15,000 (renewed yearly in the levy) and board members requested more information about how many 4‑H clubs operate in county schools. - Approve payment of invoices / unauthorized payments of bills: Passed 4-0. Mover: Cartwright. Second: Burns. - Enter executive session to consider possible expulsion under West Virginia law: Passed 4-0. Mover: Wilson. Second: Burns. - Ratify student expulsion (motion): Passed 4-0. Mover: Cartwright. Second: Mosteller.
Authorities cited during motions and discussion included West Virginia Code 11‑8‑9 and 11‑8‑12 (levy publication/statutory requirements), West Virginia Code 18‑5‑22 (appointment timing for vacancies), West Virginia Code 18‑A‑5‑1a and related student-discipline statutes and WVDE policy 43‑73 (expulsion procedures). The transcript records the board referencing these authorities when framing motions and the executive-session basis.
Context and next steps: The board indicated the suspension of levy action will remain in place until the statutory meeting on April 17, 2025. For the board vacancy created by a recent resignation, the board encouraged letters of intent to be submitted to the board office; state law allows the state superintendent to appoint if the board does not fill the vacancy within the statutory timeline.
The board adjourned to its next regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 6 p.m. at the Central Office in Hamlin.
