Kanawha County board approves $29.9 million in bills, $150,000 PD purchase and contracts for sewer work and behavioral staffing

The Kanawha County Board of Education on Dec. 18 approved a series of routine and emergency expenditures, including payment of November bills totaling $29,891,640.94 and a set of related fund payments, and authorized several contracts and professional development purchases.

In the consent agenda the board approved payment of: $29,891,640.94 for current expense and special revenue funds; $141,485.19 for the KCS Public Library excess levy fund; $2,777,194.71 for the permanent improvement fund; and $392,568.88 for the public library fund. Missus White moved approval; the motion passed on a 5–0 roll call.

The board also approved a $150,000 purchase of Carnegie Learning professional development (quote Q‑65161). Miss Crawford, describing the program, said the academy is a five‑day training that has run for several years and now includes additional secondary ELA professional development to give teachers more targeted instruction strategies. "It's a week of learning about math and how kids think through it," she said, noting spots fill quickly.

For facilities work the board approved an emergency contract with Orders Construction Company to complete sewer treatment plant improvements at Allen Creek Elementary for $229,947. The motion stated the work qualified as an emergency and therefore was awarded without additional bids; the motion carried 5–0.

On staffing, the board authorized continued services with Emergis Healthcare Staffing, not to exceed $300,000, to provide individual student behavioral supports where short‑ and long‑term vacancies exist. Board members and staff discussed how the company supplies candidates with required background checks and credentials; staff said the company pays fringe benefits for contracted workers and that the district pays an hourly rate drawn from existing staffing allocations. A staff member reported roughly 23 contracted individuals were currently filling vacancies. The motion passed 5–0.

Each of the above measures was taken by recorded roll call with five ayes and no nays. The board did not report additional contingencies tied to these approvals at the time of the vote.

What comes next: Staff will implement the awarded contracts and process the professional development purchase. Board members asked staff to provide follow‑up material on program logistics and funding sources at future meetings.