Monroe County Schools

News Release                  

For more information, contact Lyn Guy, Superintendent, P. O. Box 330, Union, WV    24983 (Telephone: 304-772-3094/Fax: 304-772-5020)

For immediate release - May 7, 2010

            Monroe County’s Board of Education met May 6, 2010, instead of the regularly scheduled May 4, 2010, at the Board Office in Union.  Following the approval of the minutes, Assistant Superintendent Ron Whetzel provided an update on the development of the Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan; Pam Jackson, JMHS teacher, appeared as a delegation to provide information on the Senior Project, a requirement for graduation for the Class of 2011, and Nick Brookman spoke to appeal his suspension from competitive activities as a result of a positive drug test.

            Sherry Allen spoke in public comments.

            Under the Superintendent’s Report, delivered by the Assistant Superintendent in the Superintendent’s absence, the Board received information on the number of dropouts for the past several years, the current number of students attending out of county, the number of students attending private schools, and the number being home-schooled as requested by the Board.

            Under Policy Development, the Board approved a minor revision to the administrative guidelines for the Graduation Honors program and then approved paying the bills, approved transfers and supplements, and approved making the April Treasurer’s Report part of the record.

            Under Old Business, the Board took no action on the purchase of property for Peterstown Middle School.  The item had been tabled until the SBA made a decision on funding.  The SBA did not fund the project at their April 26 meeting.

            Under New Business, the Board approved the adoption of Globaloria as a new course at the Tech Center; approved an elective course in job skills for James Monroe; approved several student transfer requests for the 2010-11 school year; approved the physical therapy contract for 2010-2011; approved the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Education Facilities Plan, and approved a travel request, including awarding $5,000 toward the Health Occupations team attending the national conference to represent WV in competition in Orlando, FL, this June.

            Several items for discussion included Nova Net, companion material for high school math adoptions, senior project, preamble singing, and the Choice Bus.  The Board voted to endorse the visit of The Choice Bus, a program that addresses making responsible decisions by students.

            Under Personnel, the Board approved the hiring of Jessica Bostic and Sarah Brackenrich as substitute teachers, hired Malory McPherson for 7th/8th grade math for the Critical Needs Summer Program; Gary Crosier for the elementary reading/math for the same program at Peterstown Elementary and Michelle Oates for elementary reading/math at Mountain View.

            The Board approved the resignation of Ed Lilly as JMHS golf coach; recognized Ina Thompson as a volunteer for Peterstown Middle; and approved a leave of absence for the 2010-11 school year for the Pat Boone’s assistant football coaching position.  

            The Board spent over two hours behind closed doors reviewing applications for the superintendent’s position.  Upon return, the motion to hold a special meeting on May 12, 2010, to interview candidates was approved.  That meeting has been scheduled for 2:00 p.m. for a pending expulsion hearing, and at 3:00 p.m. for interviews.

            The next regular meeting is May 18, 2010, 5:00 p.m. at the Board Office in Union.