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Board hears superintendent report on homeschool enrollment, HOPE scholarship and proposed phone rules
Summary
The Upshur County Board of Education on July 22 heard a superintendent update that flagged 242 students currently homeschooled, potential effects from expanded HOPE scholarship eligibility, and community input on a proposed cell‑phone policy (medical exceptions, staff modeling and possible phone‑locker implementation).
The Upshur County Board of Education on July 22 received a detailed superintendent update that highlighted current homeschool figures, concerns about the state HOPE scholarship expansion and community recommendations for a district cell‑phone policy.
The superintendent reported 242 students currently enrolled in homeschool programs, including 37 identified seniors (17‑year‑olds). She said the district is awaiting paperwork to confirm whether some seniors will complete graduation requirements. She added that 115 to 160 homeschooled students appear to be using the HOPE scholarship and that 24 incoming kindergarten applicants have already applied for HOPE. "Eligibility changes are going to come about in school year '27, where all grade levels will be eligible," the superintendent said, noting the district is concerned about the potential impact on declining enrollment.
Board members and the superintendent discussed how the district might respond: adjusting program offerings to better meet community needs and sharing district successes to retain students. The superintendent emphasized that the district will follow state direction on implementation.
On policy, the superintendent said the board is on the second reading of multiple policies, including a proposed definition of "obscene" supplied by vendor Neola: "The material depicts or describes conduct that is patently offensive to prevailing standards in the community." She summarized public input on a proposed restriction of cell phones during instruction: supporters cited distraction, mental‑health concerns and improved classroom focus; commenters raised emergency‑communication and medical‑need exceptions and questioned consistent enforcement.
She also noted recommended implementation options raised by community members, such as classroom pouches or phone lockers and clear guidance for staff. The superintendent reminded the board the district has crisis‑response plans and classroom phones (installed via a 2019 COPS grant) to support emergency communication. "We do provide, of course, our office staff with those extensions so that, you know, they know who to get and when," she said.
The superintendent said policy work will align with state law and state board policy (house bill 2003 and state board policy 43‑73), and she pledged to bring refined language back before a third reading.
The board did not take final action on the policies at the July 22 meeting; the superintendent said additional edits and a technical correction on embedded credits will be made before the next meeting.
