Cabell County Schools reports staffing shifts; new Milton Middle principal approved

Superintendent Justin Hardesty told the board on July 1 that the district has been working through a challenging personnel season and reported progress on transfers and reductions in force as the district fills positions for the coming year.

"We started at the end of personnel season, we started with 51 transfers and 67 reduction in force. As of right now, we have 1 transfer still out there and 51 reduction in force. In professional, we started out with 84 reduction in force. And after this evening, we are anticipating that number to be 11," Hardesty said, describing the staffing adjustments and commending principals and hiring committees for their work.

Board members approved the consent agenda and then the personnel section. The transcript records a motion to approve the personnel items with noted page corrections; the motion carried by voice vote. The board then recognized and approved the appointment of Miss Pennington as the new Milton Middle School principal; during the recognition Miss Pennington introduced family members present.

The personnel packet included minor corrections noted on the record: a change to a Barbersville Middle School football appointment to assistant coach from head coach, and an addition of a central‑office transfer for Melissa D. Adams effective 07/02/2025. The board also approved student expulsions and various professional and service personnel actions as part of the consent and personnel agendas.

Hardesty said he may request a special board meeting in July if necessary to finalize personnel assignments before the new school year. "I would like to reserve an opportunity if needed for personnel season to possibly have a third meeting towards the August or July before we hit August," he said.

The transcript does not provide a complete roll‑call tally for each personnel motion; recorded votes in the excerpt were voice ayes and no nays were noted in the meeting segment.