Board already preparing for the next school year
Morgan County School Board officials approved bids and awarded contracts on May 15 for several school improvements scheduled for this summer.
Officials chose the lowest bid of $37,500 from Allegheny Environmental Services for asbestos removal to be completed at the Arts & Humanities building at Berkeley Springs High School. That work must be done as part of a $268,000 window replacement project at the former junior high building.
Alpine Construction submitted the winning bid of $13,945 for painting jobs at Paw Paw High School gymnasium, Warm Springs Middle School classrooms and Berkeley Springs High School classrooms.
The school board accepted the bid of $112,000 from Bonded Applicators of Maryland for roof replacements at Pleasant View Elementary, the county bus garage and the kitchen and furnace room at Greenwood Elementary. The company submitted the only bid for that project.
A single bid of $17,185 was approved for repair of the ventilation system at the Paw Paw High School gym. The project was awarded to Southern Air, Inc.
A single bid of $14,712 was approved for carpet and tile work at Paw Paw High, Berkeley Springs High and Pleasant View schools. The project was awarded to InnerSpace.
Personnel changes
The school board approved the hiring of four new teachers: Misty Kane as fifth grade teacher at Pleasant View, Raegan Murphy as math teacher for Warm Springs Middle School, Donna Bindernagel as a math teacher for Berkeley Springs High School, and Dusty McClintock as a substitute teacher.
The following substitute aides were approved: Cheryl Irwin, Dawn Harrold, Sally Unger, Marsha Bowers, Darlene Fischer, Kutrina Grover, Mary Hansen, Rebecca Harvey, Linda Bolton, Sarabeth Swope, Deseree Trail and Jamie King.
The school board approved the retirement of Widmyer Elementary teacher Mary Kostka.
School officials also accepted the resignations of extracurricular activities from Jessica Evans as Technology Coordinator and Team Leader at Greenwood Elementary, Vanessa Fox as Cheerleading Coach at Berkeley Springs High School, Meredith Colberg as Varsity Cheerleading Coach at Berkeley Springs High School and Lynn Keenan as the county's Social Studies Fair Coordinator.
New buses
Board members accepted the recommendation of Superintendent David Temple that the school system purchase three new school buses for the coming school year. The 2008 conventional 77-passenger bus costs $76,800, with a total purchase of $230,400 from Mountain International. School officials budgeted $263,495 for bus replacement.
Instructional improvements
In other business, school officials approved the budget and plans for improvement of instructional programs. These specific plans, referred to as "Step 7" in the school budget, provide added staff support for student activities.
The total $395,000 budget for these programs covers a math/science teacher and behavioral disorder teacher at Warm Springs Middle School, plus a drama teacher and accompanist for vocal music programs.
Spending is also earmarked to support the community mentorship PASS program, funding for student services at James Rumsey Technical Institute, textbook purchases, a coordinator for a work-based internship program and the purchase of technology tools like smart boards, interactive learning devices, laptops and projectors.
