The Tyler County Board of Education met on January 18, 2022 to discuss plans for the Tyler County 4-H, COVID testing, bus surplus requests and more.

Julie Bolin began by updating the Board with upcoming plans for the Tyler County 4-H and Extension Office. They plan on having many activities and enrichment programs soon and are also working with Superintendent Shane Highley for an Energy Express program in the summer.

The Sistersville Library sent a letter to the Board requesting funds to continue providing essential services to the community, including information sources, employment searches and activity centers.

A Resolution for Enhancing Collaboration with Military Organizations and Providing Support to Military Families was presented to the Board, as they will be working with the state to provide any needed services.

Mr. Highley spoke about the COVID testing process that will take place at Tyler County Schools; he informed the Board that administrators at the schools are being trained to help with the testing process.

He also stated that renovations have began for the new Board meeting room and a workout facility for Tyler County employees.

Transportation Director Troy Smith requested that four buses be surplused due to deterioration. The board approved for the following buses to be declared surplus due to deterioration: Bus 4, Bus 15, Bus 18 and Bus 28.

The board then approved the following trip requests: Mr. Jennings requested permission to take students to participate in the WVU Honor Band on February 10-22, 2022 as well as permission to take selected students to the WV All-State Band in Charleston, WV on March 3-5, 2022; Ashley Cunningham requested permission for Briann Templeton to travel to Grand Vue Park in Moundsville for TSA Officer trainings and meetings on January 14-17, 2022; Abram Negie requested permission to take seven students from TCMS/TCHS to the Junior High All-State Choir in Charleston on january 27-29, 2022 as well as permission to take three TCHS students to John Marshall High School on February 7, 2022 to audition for the March WVMEA All State Honor Choir. He requested permission to take them to the WVMEA All State Conference on March 3-5, 2022 upon entry into the Honor Choir. Mr. Negie also requested permission to take two students from TCMS to the WVMEA Children’s All State Choir on March 3-5, 2022; Suzette Miller requested for 28 students to participate at the 2022 Regional Math Field Day Competition on Tuesday, March 15, 2022 at WVU-P with bus transportation.

Other requests approved include Scott Strode with the Silverstar Goup requested permission to use the TCMS/HS gymnasiums for basketball training on January 9, January 16, and February 6, 2022 from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM; Julia Bolin and Taura Tinney requested for the WVU Tyler County Extension/Institute of Water Security and Science to use the TCHS Library on March 5, 2022 for the purpose of the drinkin water testing program.

The Board then approved the following resignations, employments or transfers: Rebecca Thomas resigns as SPED position at SES, effective at the conclusion of the 2021-2022 school year; Wendy Carpenter resigns as TCMS Girls Volleyball Coach, effective immediately; employ Jacob Myer as Robotics Advisor at TCHS, effective immediately; employ Jake Roberts as Bus Operator for Middlebourne after-school activity route, effective immediately; Chris Satterfield as Assistant Girls Softball Coach at TCMS, effective immediately; employ Aaron Heasley as Substitute Teacher, countywide, effective immediately; employ Zach Heasley as Assistant Football Coach at TCHS, effective immediately; employ Marcus Winters as Evening Events Coordinator at TCHS/TCMS, effective immediately.

The Board also approved the personnel matter of employee control number 12-17-21 for Intermittent FMLA (MS) as well as the Payment of the Bills. They then went into Executive Session under Item 2, as per the School Laws of WV 6-9A-4, “The appointment, employment, retirement, promotion, demotion, disciplining, resignation, discharge, dismissal or compensation of any public officer or employee, or other personnel matters, or for the purpose of conducting a hearing on a complaint against a public officer or employee, unless such public officer or employee requests an open meeting,” before the meeting was adjourned.

The next regularly scheduled meeting will be held on Monday, February 7, 2022 at 7:00 PM.