Cabell County Schools reviews transfer, RIF and hearing timelines ahead of personnel season

Cabell County Schools staff outlined the district’s timeline and legal requirements for transfers, reductions in force (RIF) and hearings during a Dec. 1 special work session aimed at preparing the board for personnel season.

Superintendent Hardesty said the discussion and a planned January workshop are meant to “take a look at that process” before spring staffing decisions and budget planning. He said the goal is to avoid the scale of disruptions the district saw last year and to give the board factual budget numbers before January.

Miss Scarberry, a member of the district’s professional personnel staff, told the board the district follows West Virginia Code 18a-2-7 and Cabell County policy 3130.01 on employee transfers. “This policy says that our district must notify in writing an employee who is being placed on transfer on or before April 1, and that they would be considered for a transfer,” she said, adding that employees may request a hearing in writing and that the hearing must be held on or before May 1.

Scarberry walked the board through how the district identifies positions rather than individuals, verifies seniority and certification, and compiles transfer and RIF lists. She said principals received lists to confirm seniority and certifications and that executive directors will submit potential staffing changes in January so the personnel office can analyze instructional impact and budget effects before any formal board notices are generated.

Mister Tackett, from the service personnel office, reviewed practical timing and special rules for service classifications and posted four critical dates the board must observe: April 1 for notices of transfer/termination, May 1 for hearings and board relief, July 1 when displaced employees who were not rehired are placed on a preferred recall list, and August 1 as a limited window to rescind board action if the reason for a transfer or RIF disappears. “By May 1, we have to have an opportunity for those people to ask the board for relief of those letters and transfers,” he said.

Tackett also presented last season’s counts to show the scale of work involved. “Last season, personnel season, we started with a 124, letters of disposition. We had 67 reduction of force letters and 57 transfers,” he said, and added that those calculations require coordination across departments and building-level projections.

On current openings, Tackett said that as of the meeting there were one secretary, two cooks and four aides without contracts; he said the next posting would go live Wednesday so affected employees could bid for positions. He invited board members to visit the service personnel office and review internal tools, including a positions “magnet board,” to better understand classifications and postings.

Board members praised staff for the presentations and emphasized the process’ human effects. The board did not take formal personnel votes at the session; staff said letters are expected to be delivered in person in March and any required board approvals and hearings would be completed on or before May 1. The board plans a January workshop to review updated budget and staffing numbers before making final personnel decisions.

The special work session was adjourned by voice vote at 4:05 p.m.