SCHOOL BOARD ADDRESSES PERSONNEL ISSUES

(07/20/2005)
The Calhoun Board of Education spent much of Monday's meeting on personnel issues.

Gaylen Duskey addressed the board concerning the sport of cross country and Shari Johnson discussed a grant application for a program called "Youth Force" (See earlier Herald Story) Don Harris reported on the June 14 CGCC meeting, Carlene Frederick reported on the July 21 RESA meetings and Gregg Cartwright gave a Strategic Planning update.

The board offered policies for comment, and repealed policies regarding instruction, testing out and issues related to eliminating the Valedictorian/Salutatorian awards.

Director of Curriculum Gregg Cartwright said there is a nationwide movement to eliminate Valedictorian-Salutatorian awards and replace them with top scholastic recognition.

Home-School Requests: Heidi Allen (parent) - Rick Arthur Allen (grade 6) and Noah Andrew Allen (Kindergarten); Alison and Ronzel Haverty (parents) - Isabelle Rose Haverty (1st grade) and Thomas Christopher Haverty (Kindergarten); Christina Miller (parent) - Emma Miller (7th grade); and Lyndsey Miller (5th grade); Betty Sue McCune (parent) - John Henry McCune (8th grade).

Student transfers were approved , 23 to other counties and three to Calhoun County: Jared Blair (Grade 3) - to Wirt County; Kaylea Bennett (Grade 1) - to Roane County; Samuel Brady (Grade 3) - to Roane County; David Bugby (Grade 3) - from Ritchie County; Mackenzie Edwards (Grade K) - to Ritchie County; Ashley Hicks (Grade 4) - to Roane County; Austin Hicks (Grade K) - to Roane County; Brittany Hicks (Grade 2) - to Roane County; Dylan Jarvis (Grade 1) - to Clay County; Jaylen Jarvis (Grade 2) to Clay County; Ashley Miller (Grade 12) - from Roane County; Jessica Moles (Grade 12) - from Braxton County; Mitchell Moore (Grade 2) - to Clay County; Kayla Morris (Grade 12) - to Clay County; Rusty Morris (Grade 10) - to Clay County; Samantha Murphy (Grade 3) - to Clay County; Tosha Neal (Grade 7) - to Clay County; Brandon Neal (Grade 5) - to Clay County; Scott Patterson (Grade 10) - to Clay County; Ashley Tanner (Grade 5) - to Clay County; Tyler Tanner (Grade 3) - to Clay County; Amber Pennington (Grade 11) - to Doddridge County; Katlyn McCracken (Grade 5) and Ashley McCracken (Grade 3) - to Clay County; Talonne Medford (Grade 12 - to Ritchie County.

An out-of-state conference request was approved for Larry Stinn to the National Reading First Conference in New Orleans.

The board entered into a 25 minute executive session to discuss personnel issues.

Retirement/Resignations approved: Jane Lynch - Director of Federal Programs; JoLynn Wilson - Assistant Volleyball Coach; Sandra Rentschler - Music Teacher.

Job postings included: Band Director, Middle School Volleyball Coach, Director of Federal Programs and Music Teacher - Calhoun Middle/High School.

Employment: Trina Beall - Middle School Tutor Coordinator; Timothy Brown - IT Coordinator; Samara Church - Middle School Tutor; Paul Goodrich - Volunteer Varsity Football Coach; Tracy Haught - Volunteer Middle School Football Coach; Joe Hersman - Volunteer Middle School Football Coach; Jason Hickman - Assistant Varsity Boys Basketball; Kelley Houchin - Middle School Volleyball Coach; Jacob McCumbers - Middle School Tutor; Zachary Propst - Volunteer Middle School Football Coach; Kelley Sampson - Middle School Tutor; Brandi Starcher - Middle School Tutor; Ernest Tingler - Assistant Varsity Girls Basketball; Kristie Ritchie - Elementary Teacher - (Pleasant Hill); Kristie Ritchie - High School Cheerleader Advisor; Matt Walker - Volunteer Middle School Football Coach; Becky Williams - Middle School Tutor; Rex Yoak - Volunteer Middle School Football Coach; Tonya Yoak - Middle School Cheerleader Advisor; Gene Rizzo - Principal (Arnoldsburg); Carla Taylor - Assistant Principal (CMHS); Bridgette Bowen - Band Director (CMHS).

Substitute teachers hired: Matthew Ashley; Bonnie Bever; Bridgette Bowen; Gary Buchanan; Matthew Carper; Cathy Craddock; Gaylen Duskey; Melody Downs; Julie Flanagan; Ashley Fox; Leslie Fox; Casey Harris; Amy Jacobs; Melissa Jones; Vernon Kerns; Tracy Meadows; Jean Miller; Seana Miller; Janette Ramezan; Lisa Reip; Jean Simers; Angela Sims; Kristin Smith; Rickey Swearengin; Linda Thomas-LeMaster; Ernest Tingler.

Substitute service personnel hired: Judy Allison - Substitute Custodian; Kevin Boak - Substitute Custodian; Jeffery Carter - Substitute Custodian; Lester Channell - Substitute Bus Operator; Marisha Collins - Substitute Cook and Custodian; Leo Craddock - Substitute Bus Operator; Rhonda Deweese - Substitute Cook; Herald Fulks - Substitute Bus Operator; James Gill - Substitute Bus Operator; Marchise Kay Greathouse - Substitute Bus Operator; Samuel Jarvis - Substitute Bus Operator; Bruce Jett - Substitute Bus Operator; Wilbert Kerby - Substitute Custodian; Margaret Kirby - Substitute Cook; Barry Miller - Substitute Bus Operator; Brenda Morgan - Substitute Cook; Ada Overbaugh - Substitute Cook; James Overbaugh - Substitute Custodian; Elbert Steele - Substitute Custodian; Christopher Stewart - Substitute Bus Operator; Earlene Thomas - Substitute Cook; Richard Trites - Substitute Bus Operator; Judy Uplinger - Substitute Custodian.

The following financial matters were approved: Invoices - $664,810.09; Supplements - $188,388.77; Transfers -$1,226,219; Financial Reports - April and May 2005.

Board member Joy Starcher expressed concerns given to her by some parents regarding the quality of the school lunch program last year. Administrator Donnie Pitts said all menus are being reviewed and he invited any parent to come to the school and eat lunch for $3 to sample the food.

The board discussed a Board Self-Assessment and Carlene Frederick said she was grateful to those who have completed work on the Middle School playground.

A special meeting has been scheduled to deal with personnel issues on August 1, with the next regular meeting scheduled for August 15.

Board members present, Cynthia Dale, Richard Fitzwater, Carlene Frederick, Donald Harris and Joy Starcher. Ronald Blankenship, Secretary.

Others Present: Greg Cartwright, Tim Davis, Gaylen Duskey, Melinda Fitzwater, Linda Jarvis, Shari Johnson, Gloria Jones, Patsy Kisner, Bernard Miller, Dotti Nemitz, Mike Offutt, Donald Pitts, Connie Roberts, Kayla Roberts, Diane Sampson, John Simers, Stephanie Stacy, Bob Weaver, Dianne Weaver.