Cabell County Board advances CMAR policy reading, approves purchases and ratifies administrative leave
November 19, 2025 | CABELL COUNTY SCHOOLS, School Districts, West Virginia
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At its Nov. 18 meeting the Cabell County Board of Education took a first reading of a new Construction Manager at Risk (CMAR) policy and approved routine consent, financial and personnel matters.
Mr. Boggs presented Policy 7101, describing Construction Management at Risk as an option created by Senate Bill 587 that would allow a construction manager to join a project in design to help manage budget and schedule. "This brings in the builders early," he said, and explained the process includes a qualifications phase, a proposals phase, and negotiation of a guaranteed maximum price intended to protect the district financially.
Board members and staff clarified that the School Building Authority (SBA) treats CMAR as an allowable option and that the district's procurement practices require doing business only with entities registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office; one board member noted that the vendor‑registration requirement stems from an audit of Department of Education practices.
On the consent agenda the board approved purchases that Mr. Boggs had previewed earlier, including waste receptacles for the Woody Williams Center (on an OMNIA contract) at $23,765.90, and a partial roof replacement for Milton Pre‑K at $216,640.80 (lowest bidder on the public solicitation). The meeting packet also included a purchase of welding equipment for the Woody Williams Center; Mr. Boggs noted bid documentation and vendor registration checks were completed.
The board approved the October treasurer's report, vouchers and budget supplements; the treasurer reported the bond construction account balance of just under $4.8 million and said staff will file an arbitrage rebate report within 60 days after Dec. 29, as required five years after the bonds were sold in December 2020.
The personnel section included approval of items 6.01 and 6.02 by voice vote. Item 6.03 prompted an executive session for a personnel matter; after returning to open session Superintendent Hardesty recommended the board ratify administrative leave with pay for Travis Sowards beginning Oct. 8, 2025 "until our resolution is reached." The board moved, seconded and approved the superintendent's recommendation by voice vote.
The board also voted to approve the Woody Williams Center logo as a special board item.
The CMAR presentation was a first reading only; no policy adoption was recorded at this meeting. Several items were approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript.
Mr. Boggs presented Policy 7101, describing Construction Management at Risk as an option created by Senate Bill 587 that would allow a construction manager to join a project in design to help manage budget and schedule. "This brings in the builders early," he said, and explained the process includes a qualifications phase, a proposals phase, and negotiation of a guaranteed maximum price intended to protect the district financially.
Board members and staff clarified that the School Building Authority (SBA) treats CMAR as an allowable option and that the district's procurement practices require doing business only with entities registered with the West Virginia Secretary of State's office; one board member noted that the vendor‑registration requirement stems from an audit of Department of Education practices.
On the consent agenda the board approved purchases that Mr. Boggs had previewed earlier, including waste receptacles for the Woody Williams Center (on an OMNIA contract) at $23,765.90, and a partial roof replacement for Milton Pre‑K at $216,640.80 (lowest bidder on the public solicitation). The meeting packet also included a purchase of welding equipment for the Woody Williams Center; Mr. Boggs noted bid documentation and vendor registration checks were completed.
The board approved the October treasurer's report, vouchers and budget supplements; the treasurer reported the bond construction account balance of just under $4.8 million and said staff will file an arbitrage rebate report within 60 days after Dec. 29, as required five years after the bonds were sold in December 2020.
The personnel section included approval of items 6.01 and 6.02 by voice vote. Item 6.03 prompted an executive session for a personnel matter; after returning to open session Superintendent Hardesty recommended the board ratify administrative leave with pay for Travis Sowards beginning Oct. 8, 2025 "until our resolution is reached." The board moved, seconded and approved the superintendent's recommendation by voice vote.
The board also voted to approve the Woody Williams Center logo as a special board item.
The CMAR presentation was a first reading only; no policy adoption was recorded at this meeting. Several items were approved by voice vote with no roll‑call tallies recorded in the transcript.
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