Summers County Board approves $608,273 CTE roof bid, conveys former Hinton High to nonprofit and clears multiple personnel and policy items

Summers County Board of Education members approved a series of motions Dec. 10 that included awarding a $608,273 contract for the Career and Technical Education (CTE) building roof, conveying the former Hinton High School property to a nonprofit, and approving several personnel and policy items.

The board voted 4-0 to accept the Tri-State Roofing and Sheet Metal of West Virginia bid for the CTE roof renovation. Administrators told the board that 93% of the cost would be funded by the School Building Authority and the remaining 7% by county funds, and that the contractor expects to begin work as soon as the project is approved and weather permits with completion targeted by the end of March. The board recorded the motion as carried by voice vote.

In a separate action, the board approved a resolution declaring the former Hinton High School property surplus and authorized the board president to convey the property to the Three Rivers Forever Foundation. The packet and board attorney were reported to be in order; the motion passed with a member recusal noted in the minutes (a recorded recusal by a board member was entered and the motion was noted as passed in the public record).

Other approvals recorded during the meeting included:

Votes at a glance

- Intro to Speech and Oral Communication standards: Approved (4-0). Staff presented standards pulled from West Virginia Virtual/West Virginia Learn resources so a currently enrolled student can receive dual credit through the Level Up program; the board authorized submission for alignment with the postsecondary partner.

- Authorization for employees to serve on national committee: Approved (4-0). Brian Boone and Austin Bowers were approved to serve on the 17th National Congress on School Transportation committee.

- Overnight trips: Approved (4-0). Coach Bowling and Coach Blevens to Ritchie County tournament (Dec. 27-28, 2024); Brian Boone and Austin Bowers to the national transportation event (May 3-7, 2025). Board indicated conference costs will be paid from transportation funds where applicable.

- Policies: Approved (4-0). Annual updates for substitute hiring in critical-need/shortage areas and for alcohol/controlled substances testing were adopted as presented.

- Paid administrative leave: Approved (4-0). The board ratified paid administrative leave for an employee covering Nov. 12-22, 2024 to meet West Virginia procedural requirements for bringing the leave to the board within 30 days.

- Approval to execute federal-interest notice: Approved (4-0). The board authorized the board president or superintendent to execute and record required notice of federal interest in school property where COVID-related federal grants resulted in more than $1 million invested in a facility; staff and legal counsel explained the reporting requirement and said attorney fees for the filings would be minimal and eligible for state reimbursement.

- Personnel recommendations: Approved (4-0). The superintendent's recommended hires, assignments, leaves and substitutes were approved as presented.

Procedural and minutes items

The board approved corrected minutes from prior meetings (Oct. 22 and Nov. 21, 2024), and approved a schedule change to move the first January meeting to Jan. 7 to allow timely bill processing. A vote to pull bills for separate consideration (RT Rogers and Safe and Sound) was recorded and those bills were subsequently approved with a recusal recorded for one member on the separated vote.

What happens next

Project contracts and vendor scheduling for the CTE roof will proceed following the formal award and required paperwork; staff said the contractor is ready to mobilize pending approval and weather. Conveyance paperwork for the former Hinton High property was reported as moving through attorney channels and will be executed per the board's authorization.

The board adjourned at 7:28 p.m.