The Tyler County Board of Education met in regular session on August 21, 2023, at 7:00 p.m. at the Board Office in Middlebourne. Board members present were President Linda Hoover, Vice President Katrina Byers, Curtis Heintzman and Larry Thomas. Superintendent Shane Highley was also present. Scott Strode was unable to attend. The Board approved the minutes of the August 7, 2023 regular meeting.

Under the Superintendent’s Report, Mr. Highley shared with the Board there will be an open house before the September 15, 2023 TCHS home football game. The Bus Garage and new Auditorium will be open for the public to tour. The FFA will be providing meals to the community members attending the ballgame.

Mr. Highley informed the Board that all divisions of Tyler County Schools had a very successful start to the new school year. The new SROs were a positive presence in all the buildings. Teachers, support staff, and students are poised and ready to work together to build a wonderful year.

Mr. Highley explained to the Board that the embargo has been lifted for the test scores, and Mrs. Suzette Miller will be compiling a report to share the results in a future meeting.

The Board then approved the TCMS Golf 2023-24 schedule.

The Board approved the following trip requests. Kyle Ritz requested permission to use bus transportation to take the TCHS Football team to the Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH on August 31, 2023.

Leon Ammons and Annie Erwin, TCHS Agricultural Education Teachers and FFA Advisors, requested permission for their students to participate in the following activities, with some funds requested, for the 2022-23 school year. FFA Back to school cook-out with the Tyler FFA Alumni in September of 2023 at the fairgrounds; Upper Ohio Conservation Practice Forestry Contest in September of 2023; Ohio Farm Science Review, London, OH, in September, 2023; After school at Northwestern Regional Picnic at Grand Vue Park in Moundsville on September 12, 2023; WV State Leadership Conference Cedar Lakes on September 21 & 22, 2023; WV State FFA Fall CDE Judging Contest at WVU in Morgantown on October 5 & 6, 2023, and for this event the students will be going over on the evening of October 4, 2023. Also, they will be using a bus for transportation. Middle Island Harvest Festival making Apple Cider on October 6,7 & 8, 2023; NW Regional Tractor Driving and Quiz Bowl at Ritchie County on October 10, 2023; Tyler FFA Ox-Roast Sunday, October 15, 2023, at TCHS; National FFA Leadership Conference and Convention in Indianapolis, IN on October 31-November 4, 2023; Northwest Regional Thanksgiving Dinner at Doddridge Co High School, November 17, 2023, after school; WV State FFA Winter CDE at WVU in Morgantown on December 7-9, 2023, students will be travelling over on the evening of December 6, 2023. Also, they will be using a bus for transportation. Tyler FFA members make Christmas Cards for the Nursing Home in December 2023; Tyler FFA members annual Christmas party in December 2023; Host a Northwestern Regional Meeting at Tyler County Fairgrounds on December 19, 2023 to make food baskets to give away to needy families; WV FFA Day at the Legislature, Jan/Feb 2024, WV State Capital, Charleston, WV; NW Regional FFA Scholastic Contest at Wood County Technical School on February 23, 2024; Tyler FFA Ham and Bacon Show and sale on March 9, 2024; State FFA Ham and Bacon Show and Sale at Cedar Lakes on March 10-12, 2024; WV Governing Body State meeting and WV Team Ag Ed Summit in April 2024; WV Stockman’s Judging Contest and Grasslands, Jackson Mills in April 2024; WV WHEP (Wildlife Habitat Education Program) Contest at Jackson’s Mill, WV in April 2024; WV Envirothon Contest, Cedar Lakes, Ripley, WV, in April 2024; WV FFA/4-H Equine Judging Contest, WVU Reedsville Farm, in April 2024; Tri CD Practice Land Contest in May 2024; Northcentral Practice Land Judging Contest in 2024 date TBD; Upper Ohio Conservation Practice Land Judging Contest in May 2024; WV FFA State Agri-science Fair, WV State University, Charleston, WV in June 2024; Northwestern Regional FFA Land Judging Contest on June 6, 2024 in Pleasants County, WV State Conservation Camp, Camp Caesar in Webster County, date TBD; State FFA Convention and Leadership conference in July 2024; WV State FFA Dairy Judging contest in August 2024; Tyler County Fair in August 2024; and the WV State Fair in August 2024. The Board approved all requests.

The Board approved the following other requests.

Ashley Guiler, with the Wetzel/Tyler Health Department, requested permission to use the TCHS lower parking lot for the Tyler County Drive Thru Flu Vax Clinics on October 5, 12, 19 and 26, 2023. The organization will be completely responsible for clean-up.

Lyn Ann Saxon requested permission for Lakin Kupfner to cross county lines to continue attending Tyler County Schools for the 2023-24 school year.

James Greggary and Margaret Kay Hardbarger requested permission for Zayden Hardbarger to cross county lines to attend Tyler County Schools for the 2023-24 school year.

Veronica Daugherty requested permission for Matthew and Molly Daugherty to cross county lines to continue attending Tyler County Schools for the 2023-24 school year.

Joe Griffith requested permission for the following school employees to drive golf participants to matches, if the need arises: Coach David Tucker, Coach Joe Griffith, Maggie Fisher, Tracy Heintzman, Valerie Northcraft and Ashley Moore.

The Board then approved the following resignations: Noah Smith resigned his position as Substitute Teacher, effective immediately.

The Board approved the following employments, transfers and/or rescissions. Tiffany Michael was hired as Special Education Instructional Aide III at SES, effective August 22, 2023. Merritt Grimes, Lisa Hartman, Teya Henthorn, Jessie Masters, Jacob Myer, Kelly Schultheis, Jennifer Stephens, David Tucker, Jeffrey Wittmer, Amy Yost, Megan Campbell, Julie Cozad, Mary Jane Moss, Melisa LeeAnn Smith, Lindsay Snider, Tanya Wright, Shanna Glover, Brenna Myer and Carla Wells were employed as Homebound Instructors Countywide, effective immediately. Lisa Hartman, Jacob Myer, Kelly Schultheis, Jennifer Stephens, David Tucker, Amy Yost, Tristin Boso, Megan Campbell, Brenda Matthews, Kelly Myers, Stephanie Suter, Angie Watts, Mary Jane Moss, Lindsay Snider, Michelle Beagle, Brenna Myer, Katrina Thomas, Shanna Glover and Carla Wells were hired as After School Tutors at AIB, SES, TCMS or TCHS, effective immediately. Michelle Beagle, Rachel Cain, Natasha Gum, Shawna Hamilton, Jessica Knox, Jill LeMasters, Kayla Morris, Brenna Myer, Katrina Thomas, Tisha Wall, Carla Wells, Julie Cozad, Mary Jane Moss, Bryan Owens, Melisa LeeAnn Smith, Lindsay Snider, and Tanya Wright were employed as Late Bus Duty Teachers at AIB or SES, effective immediately. Tomela Paden was hired as Job Coach for YSS Work Experience Program at TCMS and TCHS, effective immediately. Amy Yost was hired as FBLA Advisor at TCHS, effective immediately. Dave Chapman, Merritt Grimes, Lisa Hartman, Adam Haywood, Zach Heasley, Robert Hensley, Teya Henthorn, Lillian Jones, Ryan Jones, Jessie Masters, Jason Roberts, Connie Stewart, Kelly Schulthies, Jennifer Stephens, David Tucker, Jeffrey Wittmer, Amy Yost, Jerry Zwick, Beth Andexler, Trisitn Boso, Megan Campbell, Brenda Matthews, Ashley Moore, Kelly Myers, Connie Stewart, Stefanie Suter, Ed Underwood, Angie Watts and Christy Wright were hired to cover classes during lunch and/or planning, effective immediately.

And finally, the Board approved the Payment of Bills. Following the payment of the bills the Board Adjourned at 7:25 p.m. The next Regular Meeting will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. at the Tyler County Board of Education Office.