Tyler County Board of Education met Monday evening for a short time with all members present except Jimmy Wyatt, who participated via conference call.

Linda Hoover called the meeting to order and led the pledge of allegiance following a moment of silence. Minutes of the previous meeting were read and a motion to approve was made by Ralph “Doc” Boone and seconded by Larry Thomas.

In the communications report, Hoover remarked to the board that Tyler County had two students place at the regional and state level at the recent Ham and Bacon Show held in Charleston recently. “Our students did very well,” she remarked. “One student won a state championship title.”

The board was also given an update on the Regional Math Field Day results. “The students represented themselves well in both arenas,” added Larry Thomas.

Board member Ralph “Doc” Boone then expressed some concern about disciplinary policies concerning county schools. “Is our county policy dictated by the state?” he inquired. “It seems that there are not many avenues of discipline to choose from.”

School superintendent Robin Daquilante explained that school principals have some discretion in the way matters are handled, which is allowed by state guidelines.

“While there are state policies set in place, the principals have the ability to decide appropriate action compatible with the directives,” she said. The discussion was tabled.

The board approved trips requests for the following upcoming events:

J.C. Kimble, Technology Student Association advisor, to take 40 students to the Spring Conference at Cedar Lakes April 7-9, as well as personal leave for himself: Wayne Smith, TCHS band director, to take the jazz band to Pittsburgh to perform at Kennywood Music Festival May 21; permission to take TCHS marching band to Sistersville to participate in the Alumni Parade May 38; and permission to take the jazz band to Parkersburg South High School to hear the Army Jazz Band Concert, April 4.

Christina Richmond, WVU extension agent, received permission for all Tyler County fifth graders to attend the annual Progressive Agriculture Safety Days at Tyler County fairgrounds with selected 4-H/FFA members to attend as group leaders.

Grace Glover received permission to take the senior class to Cedar Point in Sandusky, Ohio for the annual class trip, May 25.

Darlene Koerber was granted permission to take 19 students to Youth in Government conference in Charleston April 15-17. Professional leave was also granted for Glover.

Other trips requests included a fifth grade trip to TCMS for choir and band recruitment May 26; a trip to “Arts Alive, the Best of West Virginia” exhibits and performances, which twelve National Art Honor Society members will attend; a trip for fourth graders to Morgantown to tour the WVU campus; and a trip to North Huntington, Pa., and Kennywood Park for choir students.

In other requests, the board gave permission to the Middle Island Garden Club to use the TCHS soccer field for an Easter egg hunt, April 23.

Personnel requests were granted to Judi Hamrick and Sherri Travis, and employment transfers/contracts approved for Alana Buchanan, Robert Jones III, Stacy Kidder, Kelli Potoczny, Erica Shriver, Warren Stewart, Jana Thomas, Katrina Thomas, Cindy Fulks, Brian Glover and Tonya Wable.

Contracts were renewed for Central Office administrators Susan Boyles, Amanda Kimble, Melinda Walton, Jeff Davis, Troy Smith, Duane Dober and Debbie Smith, R.N. Re-employment of the individuals with a probationary contract was approved for twenty staff member effective July 1.

The board scheduled a special meeting to consider the budget for April 11, after being informed that information required to complete the budget would not be ready until that time.

The meeting then adjourned. Those present included Robin Daquilante, Larry Thomas, Ralph Boone, Ken Hunt, and Linda Hoover.