by Kate Evans
Ann Bell was unanimously appointed Treasurer of the Morgan County Board of Education for the Fiscal Year 2025-2026 at the April 1 school board meeting, pursuant to the Morgan County School Board Policy 1310 and West Virginia Code 18-9-6. Bell has served as Treasurer of Morgan County Schools since July 2014. The appointment of treasurer is now made annually.
Budget
The school board approved Pay Application 11-B in the amount of $10,660 for the Morgan County Schools School Building Authority Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Replacement project for Widmyer Elementary as approved by Williamson Shriver Architects, Inc.
The board also approved Pay Application 12-A totaling $314.90 for the Morgan County Schools School Building Authority Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Replacement project for Berkeley Springs High School as approved by Williamson Shriver Architects, Inc.
Policies
The school board held a first reading of one policy at their April 1 meeting. The policy considered was 5530.02 Career Technical Education and Work Place Simulation Drug Free Policy. (county request)
Policies that had a second reading and that were adopted at the April 1 meeting were 2230 Program of Study Early and Elementary Learning Programs Grades Pre-K-5, 2261.01 Parent and Family Member Participation in Title I Programs, 2452 Extended Learning Opportunities (ELOs), 2623 Student Assessment, 5421 Grading (county specific) and 5460 Graduation Requirements.
The school board also conducted first readings of the following policies at their April 15 meeting:
0142 Orientation and Training, 0143 Election, 0146 Resignation or Removal, 0147 Compensation, 0164 Notice of Meetings, 0165 Meetings, 0175.2 West Virginia School Board Association and the National School Board Association, 1240 Evaluation of the Superintendent, 1613 Student Supervision and Welfare, 1619 Group Health Plans, 2120 District and School Improvements, 2120.01 Local School Improvement Council, 2220 Adoptions of Programs of Study, 2240 Controversial Issues, 2312 Class Size and 2430.02 Participation in Extracurricular Activities.
Additional policies considered for first reading on April 15 were 2600 Educational Program, 3139.01 Suspension, 5113.02 School Choice Options, 5350 Student Suicide, 5511 Dress and Grooming, 5531.01 Self Harm and Eating Disorder Signs-Prevention and Treatment, 5600 Student Discipline, 5611 Discipline-Student Due Process Rights, 7540.01 Technology Privacy, 7540.03 Student Technology Acceptable Use and Safety, 7540.06 District-Issued Student E-mail Account, 7542 Access to District Technology Resources and/or Information Resources from Personal Communications Devices, 7543 Utilization of the District’s Website and Remote Access to the District’s Network, and 9700 Relations with Outside Groups.
First reading policies are posted on the Morgan County Schools website for 30 days for public comment.
The following policies had a second reading and were adopted at the April 15 school board meeting:
1662 Anti-Harassment and Violence, 2411 Guidance and Counseling, 2412 Homebound/Hospital Instruction, 2460 Special Education, 3362 Anti-Harassment and Violence, 4362 Anti-Harassment and Violence, and 5540 The Schools and Community Agencies.
Step 7 personnel plan
At their April 15 meeting, the Morgan County School Board approved the project plan for Step 7 funding of a total of $161,900 for the continued use of employment of personnel for the 2025-2026 school year. Some $75,526 in Step 7 monies along with $24,577 in benefits .will fund a full-time county technology systems specialist position for a total of $100,103.
Some $47,591 of the Step 7 monies will fund the salary of a .70 county technology coach with an additional $14,206 in benefits for a total of $61,797. Step 7 funding is used for the improvement of instructional programs.
Other actions
The school board approved payment of West Virginia School Board Association membership dues for Fiscal Year 2026 in the amount of $3,222.
The board also approved Elementary Education Director Summer McClintock to attend Lexia LETRS Facilitator Certification Training on May 13-16 in Plano, Texas. The funding source is Step 7 D.
The school board okayed Chief Mechanic Bobby Stotler to attend the Thomas Built Institute in Greensboro, North Carolina from June 16-June 20. The county is the funding source.
The board also approved Michael Baker from Maintenance to attend the National Lock Training in Richmond, Virginia from April 28-May 2. The funding source is the county.
The school board also authorized the Superintendent to approve the payment of bills through May 6. The schedule of checks will be provided to the board at the subsequent meeting.
