Beth Barr

The meeting commenced with attendees signing in and an opening prayer focusing on education in Hardy County and serving God. Following introductions, presentations highlighted achievements across various Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs for CTE Month. Highlights included recognition for a student achieving a perfect score on the Microsoft Office Specialist exam in Word, updates from the Business Enterprise program showing sustainability and growth in entrepreneurship activities, and work-based learning hours logged. DECA accomplishments were shared, including officer training and state certification for the school-based enterprise. FFA representatives detailed progress toward state and American FFA degrees, preparations for the South Ranch Valley Handbake and Egg Show involving livestock sales, and plans for National FFA Week activities such as dress-up days, workshops, and a schoolwide assembly. FCCLA updates covered community service projects, mental health wellness initiatives during National FCCLA Week, and the value of the program for leadership and career success. The Grow Your Own Educators (GYO) program presented its growth since 2022, its partnership with Houston Tech Community College for a fast-track teacher education pathway involving dual enrollment, and the significant classroom observation hours provided by students at local elementary and middle schools. The session concluded with appreciation for the students' accomplishments, instructor dedication, and recognition of Hardy County being awarded two out of five prestigious clinical awards, including 100% certified teacher base status due to real-world learning integration.

The agenda for the meeting includes several key areas for discussion and action. Presentations cover student achievement, including recognition for Young Writers Contest Winners and a West Virginia Rising Star Award Recipient, along with updates on maintenance, transportation, CTE, technology, and the State Aid Funding Formula. New Business focuses on the approval of the 2026-2027 School Calendar. The Personnel section details required actions regarding leaves of absence, days without pay, numerous service and professional personnel hirings, transfers, and terminations, as well as approval of a Letter of Agreement for a teaching assignment change for the following school year.

The meeting commenced with the invocation and the pledge of allegiance. Key agenda items included student achievement and recognition, featuring presentations by winning students from the school's young writers contest across different grade levels. Principal Emily Morris was recognized and honored with the Superintendent's Rising Leader Award for the 2025-2026 academic year due to her exceptional instructional practices and leadership potential. Maintenance and transportation updates detailed the posting of 85 work orders across various facilities, noting that five out of six builders experienced leaks due to weather conditions, requiring roofing repairs. Other updates covered the Fire Marshal inspection results, a school safety assessment by the West Virginia Capital Police, and the repair of the East Hardy High School elevator. Discussions also focused on the SBA bids for MES flooring, including clarification on contract terms like remobilization and storage fees in the Kefir proposal, and financial reconciliation of the total SBA grant funds.

The meeting, called to order on February 2, 2026, included maintenance and transportation updates. Key discussions involved the completion of the indoor air quality survey for Q4 2025 and the status of legislative mapping requirements. Concession stand windows were fixed, and recent maintenance work orders showed a 92% reactive completion rate within 7 days, though older issues like an elevator and roof leak persist. A significant water leak at Morfield High School required system draining by an external contractor. Transportation updates confirmed ridership certification and positive feedback regarding mechanic staffing levels. The board also discussed upcoming bid openings for elevator and flooring projects. Updates on ESG projects showed the building envelope and water conservation measures at 100%, lighting at 85%, and solar panel installation at 30% design, coordinating with security entrance planning at Morfield Middle School. Discussions also covered fencing updates around solar installations and clearing brush that casts shadows on solar arrays. Furthermore, enrollment data for homeschool and HOPE scholarship students was reviewed, noting legislative changes allowing direct transition from homeschool to HOPE eligibility. Attendance issues were addressed, including concerns over students with federal agency presence and tracking chronically absent students, particularly out-of-county transfers.

The meeting began with an invocation and pledge of allegiance. A significant portion of the session was dedicated to a presentation regarding the upcoming Federal Programs Monitoring visit scheduled for March 27th. This monitoring will scrutinize compliance related to federal funding, including Title I, II, III, and IV, focusing heavily on documentation, deadlines, expenditure alignment with the strategic plan, fiscal oversight, and instructional improvement areas such as literacy, numeracy, and social-emotional learning. Specific documentation requested included parent engagement sign-in sheets and professional development evaluations. Separately, there was a discussion clarifying the high year-end utility bills (October through December) associated with East Hardy's Elementary field usage by various local sports leagues, explaining the higher water consumption during that period. The board also moved to approve consent items.