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By Bob Weaver
At least two Calhoun school employees who are losing their jobs,
appealed to the
school board Monday night. The Board went into executive session to
listen to cooks
Joan Gordon and Susan Metheney. Both were represented by service
personnel
attorney John Roush. The minutes of the meeting show board members
Carlene
Frederick abstained on the firings and Burl Simers voted no. The
minutes indicate
both women will loose their jobs.
Calhoun School Superintendent Ron Blankenship did not respond to a Hur
Herald
inquiry regarding the reduction in force, but told The Parkersburg
News that funding
has been lost for 8.5 teachers and four service personnel. Blankenship
said a large
drop in student population is threatening to the Calhoun school
system.
Five names were listed on the agenda for dismissal, Renita Benson,
Sherry Butt, Judy
Prusack, Joan Gordon and Susan Metheney. A source at Monday night's
meeting said
it was likely the 8.5 teachers would "not actually loose their jobs"
but be transferred
or assume multiple duties.
Blankenship is seriously concerned about the loss of funding which is
linked to loss of
students. He says rural counties like Calhoun may be placed in a
crisis situation.
The Parkersburg News, after interviewing Blankenship said "Three
professionals,
such as teachers and administrators, and four service workers,
including secretaries
and cooks, will receive their pink slips." This could not be
confirmed.
No mention was made at the Board meeting regarding an ongoing water
leak at the
Mt. Zion complex. Sources say the monthly water bill has risen several
hundred
percent since early last fall. An unconfirmed amount was over
$3000.
Sue Roberts, a Millstone resident, said she went to the meeting to
make a public
statement regarding her concern about kids with drug problems at
Calhoun
Middle/High School. Mrs. Roberts said she called the office earlier
advising them she
wanted to make a public statement. She became angry because she was
"forced to
go into an executive session." She asked her comments be printed in
The Hur Herald.
She said her statement had nothing to to with personnel, nor was she
objecting to a
school decision regarding an expulsion. (SEE February 6 News
Article)
The Board approved these people for employment:
- Pam Bartlett, after school tutoring and math field day coach, CHS
- Gary Knight, Distance Learning supervisor/mentor
- Daniel K. Smith, student tutor
- Norma Wagoner, substitute teacher
- Marie Webb, substitute teacher
- Phillip Perkins, student tutor
Finances approved:
Invoices $617,817.19
Supplements $38,873.44
Transfers $45,417.87
School board members congratulated the wrestling team for finishing
second in the
LKC Tournament. The next regular Board meeting will be on March 5.
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