Summers County Board approves Hinton sewage plant easement, corrects levy dates and adopts calendar changes

The Summers County Board of Education at a special meeting on March 16, 2026, approved an easement with the Hinton sewage treatment plant to allow replacement of an access bridge, amended a previously approved levy order to correct approval dates, adopted changes to the 2025–26 school calendar, accepted the superintendent’s personnel recommendations and adjourned at 8:26 a.m.

The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance led at the board’s request by Mrs. Farley. The board quickly approved the meeting agenda; Mrs. Farley moved to approve the agenda and Mrs. Harvey seconded. The motion carried by a 4–0 vote.

Under old business the board discussed a planned removal and replacement of the access bridge at the Hinton sewage treatment plant and an accompanying easement on district property. Board members said the new bridge will be positioned beside the existing structure; district staff reported that the contract documents circulated between design and construction firms (Ziggler and BS Rice) have been reconciled. The board voted to approve the easement with the Hinton sewage treatment plant; the motion passed unanimously.

The board then addressed a technical correction to the district’s levy order. Members explained that the levy order packet showed February 10 in two places on the proof returned by district staff (Lyn Reed), but the board had formally approved the levy order at its Feb. 23 meeting. To avoid future confusion the board voted to amend the two incorrect dates in the proof from Feb. 10 to Feb. 23 to reflect the actual approval date on the board’s minutes.

Board members next considered recommended changes to the 2025–26 school calendar. The board approved moving the final student day to May 29 and setting June 3 as the last day for staff. The board also reverted April 3 to a staff professional development day (no student attendance) to restore a student day elsewhere in the calendar. Members discussed state waiver rules that limited which nontraditional instructional days could be credited; board members noted neighboring counties recovered more snow days because their calendars allowed it. The calendar changes passed by a unanimous vote.

On personnel matters the superintendent presented recommendations that included one professional resignation, the hiring of two auxiliary coaches and the certification and employment of a substitute (Mr. Pips). A board motion to accept the superintendent’s personnel recommendations carried.

Votes at a glance - Agenda approval — Motion by Mrs. Farley; seconded by Mrs. Harvey; outcome: approved, 4–0. - Easement with Hinton sewage treatment plant (bridge access) — Motion by Mrs. Harvey; outcome: approved, 4–0. - Amendment to levy order (correct two approval dates from Feb. 10 to Feb. 23) — Motion carried; outcome: approved, 4–0. - 2025–26 calendar changes (student last day May 29; staff last day June 3; April 3 reverted to staff PD day) — Motion by Mrs. Harvey; seconded by Mrs. Farley; outcome: approved, 4–0. - Personnel approvals (accept superintendent recommendations including substitute and auxiliary coaches) — Motion by Mrs. Harvey; seconded by Mr. McBride; outcome: approved, 4–0. - Adjournment (8:26 a.m.) — Motion to adjourn carried.

The board concluded the special meeting and recorded that four board members were present and one member, Mr. Broen, was unable to attend. No formal litigation, statutes, or external funding sources were referenced during the meeting. The meeting record indicates follow-up will be recordkeeping and implementation of the approved easement and calendar changes.