Valarie Cross

The agenda for the upcoming regular board meeting includes several key business and finance items, such as approving the payment of bills for the period ending June 7, 2016, authorizing future payroll and utility payments, and approving the final totals for previous payroll and utility expenditures. The Board will also review and confirm fundraising activity requests, including those for Philip Barbour High School Complex and Philippi Middle School activities. Curriculum and Instruction items involve approving several curricular trips for Kasson Elementary/Middle School, Philip Barbour High School Complex (FBLA, FFA, TSA), and Philippi Middle School, along with approving chaperones for specific trips. Facilities and Maintenance discussions cover approving the use of buildings and grounds for various events and approving building modifications like installing a smart board at Belington Elementary School and painting at Philip Barbour High School. The Food Service agenda includes accepting bids for bread and snack items for the upcoming school year. Personnel matters address accepting a resignation for the Head Swim coach position, approving supplemental employment days for custodians, authorizing extra pay for two individuals, and rescinding previous termination actions for five employees. Finally, the Board will review school newsletters and discuss school closure documents and hearing dates.

The agenda for the Barbour County Board of Education's regular session includes a hearing regarding the 2026-2027 School Calendar and reports on school performance and academics. Business and Finance items cover recommendations to approve budget adjustments, payroll in the amount of $408,809.08, and various payments totaling $77,872.31. Fundraising activity requests and curricular trips for multiple schools require approval. Personnel actions include accepting two resignations/retirements and adjusting stipend rates for staff development and PLC work effective February 1, 2026. The Board will also address employment, transfer, and assignment of regular, extra-curricular/duty, and substitute personnel for the 2025-2026 school year. Tabled items include authorizing the high school prom to be held off-site. Addendum items involve approving additional fundraising requests, a curricular trip, approval for building use, awarding the Mountaineer Highland Cooperative RFP for Food Service to HPS/Gordon Food Service, and employing personnel for the 2026-2027 school year.

The regular session meeting included recognition of band concerts and Christmas performances. Delegations addressed the board regarding the potential purchase of Junior Elementary School by the Weaver Church of the Nazarene, and participation in graduation ceremonies. Reports covered the CTE Center Budget Update and the November 2025 Financial Report. Superintendent recommendations involved approving budget adjustments, regular payroll, and numerous payments of bills. Further approvals included utility/copier bills, travel reimbursements, fundraising activities, a contract with ArbiterSports, LLC, curricular trips, and building/grounds usage requests for soccer training and retraining sessions. The board also accepted resignations for a 2nd Grade Aide and a Behavioral Intervention Specialist, approved the creation of Extra-Curricular Coaching positions for the next school year, and addressed several personnel employment/transfer assignments. Agenda item 10, authorizing the high school prom to be held off-site, was tabled for later discussion.

The agenda for the regular session of the Barbour County Board of Education included several key areas. In Business & Finance, recommendations covered the approval of bills for a specific period, authorization for payroll and utility bill payments, approval of final payroll totals, and approval/confirmation of various fundraising activities for several schools. Additionally, there was a recommendation to approve proposed levy rates for the upcoming fiscal year. Curriculum & Instruction included recommendations to approve/confirm various curricular trips for multiple schools. Under Facilities & Maintenance, recommendations involved approving the use of school buildings/grounds for events and approving an agreement with Cincinnati Floor Company to refinish the Philip Barbour High School main gym floor. The Personnel agenda involved recommendations regarding leaves of absence, accepting several resignations/retirements, approving employment for new personnel, approving individuals for bus operator training, and recommendations concerning reductions in force, elimination of positions, and creation of new positions for the following school year. A discussion item related to the Kasson Elementary/Middle School Newsletter was also listed. An addendum included a recommendation to approve a District by Design Agreement for Capturing Kids' Hearts.

The agenda for the special session included several recommendations for action. In Business & Finance, the Board was asked to approve/confirm various fundraising activity requests from Belington Elementary School and Philip Barbour High School, and to approve a Memorandum of Understanding with Harrison County Schools for WVEIS Specialist Services. The Facilities & Maintenance section sought approval for building/grounds use, specifically for a Basketball Skill Development Camp at Philip Barbour High School. Personnel items included recommendations to eliminate a Title I Reading/Mathematics Instructor position and to create a new Title I Reading/Mathematics Instructor position split between JES and KEMS. The Board was also set to approve the employment of regular, substitute, and extra-curricular personnel for the 2024-2025 school year and approve individuals for the bus operator training program. An addendum included additional fundraising approvals and approval for a Volleyball Skill Development Clinic, as well as a modification to an electrical outlet box at Philippi Elementary School. The meeting also reserved time for an Executive Session and other discussions.