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Superintendent reports summer program successes, facilities work and staffing shortfalls; board approves consent and personnel items
Summary
Superintendent Stuttler reported 13 students returned from Hope Scholarships, successful ESY/summer programs, facility repairs and training; facilities staff noted a cell-tower inquiry and transportation managers reported a shortage of bus drivers. The board approved the consent agenda and a personnel slate, and entered executive session on a property matter.
Superintendent Stuttler told the Harrison County Board of Education on July 21 that 13 students had returned to the district after receiving Hope Scholarships and that summer programs, including ESY and credit-recovery work, concluded successfully.
"We did, we had 13 students return back to us from Hope Scholarships. So they're back on our roles and enrolled in our schools," Stuttler said, adding that summer programming focused on English language arts and math and that principals had a productive meeting with department heads and WVDE staff.
Stuttler also described operational work under way: the district met a code-required mapping deadline, security-system (Siemens) training is scheduled for secretaries, finance and legal training sessions are planned, and the district will publish a monthly newsletter for staff to share updates including details of the spending freeze.
Facilities and transportation staff reported progress and challenges. Facilities personnel said they responded to a flood in the administration building basement and are completing floor work, new carpet was placed in pre-K classrooms, HVAC preventive maintenance is under way, and the district is planning long-term equipment replacement. Facilities staff also said a cell-tower company inquired about siting towers on the RCV and Liberty campuses and that the company offered a potential payment to the district; board members said the proposal would be discussed further before any decision.
Transportation staff reported driver shortages. "I've got 5 new subs. I had 5 people retired. Just recently, in the last 2 weeks, I've had 2 bus drivers resign. So I'm down 7," a facilities/transportation speaker said, describing short-term plans to manage runs and recruit drivers.
On routine business, the board moved to approve consent items as presented by the superintendent; the motion was seconded and carried with no discussion. The personnel slate was approved following a recusal: board member Doug Ho recused himself in the matter involving Emma Kirkpatrick and the board approved the personnel list with the removal of Martini Jacobs from the substitute list and with Jacobs later reinstated after signing a contract.
The board then discussed a property item and, citing a provision of the West Virginia code, voted to enter executive session to consider matters involving property and commercial competition. The board later returned to open session and reported the item was not actionable.
The meeting concluded with board comments thanking staff, WVDE representatives and administrators and with an adjournment motion that carried.
