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Gilmer County Board approves minutes, payments, high-school kitchen contract, personnel hires and a 'Celebrate Freedom Week' proclamation
Summary
At its regular meeting the Gilmer County Board of Education approved routine minutes and bills, granted the superintendent out-of-state leave for a national conference, awarded a $326,667 contract to Veritas Contracting for a kitchen walk-in replacement at the high school, approved personnel items (including hiring Susie Kirkpatrick as substitute athletic trainer and pay-step increments), and adopted a proclamation declaring Sept. 9–13, 2024, as Celebrate Freedom Week.
The Gilmer County Board of Education approved routine items and several motions during its meeting, including a contract award for a high-school kitchen replacement and personnel approvals.
What the board approved: A board member moved, and the motion carried, to approve the minutes of the Aug. 26, 2024 regular meeting and to approve the bills for payment as presented. The board then approved an out-of-state professional leave request that Dr. Benning, superintendent, said would allow him to attend the WVASA national conference; Dr. Benning cited early-bird registration of $1,240 and estimated travel costs.
Contract award: The board accepted the low bid from Veritas Contracting for the Gilmer County High School kitchen/walk-in replacement in the amount of $326,667. "The bid that came in the lowest, which was Veritas Contracting, came in at 326,667," Dr. Benning told the board; a board member moved to accept Veritas and the motion carried. Dr. Benning noted the district will be on the hook for 10% of the award and characterized the bidding results as favorable compared with prior years.
Personnel and other actions: The board approved hiring Susie Kirkpatrick as a substitute athletic trainer (to be paid when working games) and approved three-step pay increments for two district teachers (a special education assignment and a seventh-grade math teacher) to align with state increments. The board also adopted a proclamation—citing West Virginia state code 18-2-9—declaring Sept. 9–13, 2024, as Celebrate Freedom Week and encouraging social studies lesson plans.
Votes and procedure: Each motion was made, seconded and carried on voice votes recorded in the meeting; the board indicated unanimous "aye" responses and the chair declared motions carried. The meeting concluded after board members offered comments and closed with an adjournment motion.
Next steps: Dr. Benning said the administration will post attendance-policy updates for public comment to align with recent state and WVBE changes and will bring recommended policy revisions back to the board.
