School Board Meets
Jan 23 2023
Folks,
change is at hand. During the Jan 23rd Board meeting, some of
the changes, thinking, direction, became public. With all five
Boardsters in attendance and bunch of folks in the peanut
gallery, there's much consideration given anything that costs
$$$. There is no room in the budget for gravy on the mash
potatoes.
For instance two items were stricken from the agenda. One was to hand bookkeeper Mike Taylor $5,397.42 to correct a salary error. The other was item #11 which would have increased salaries for transportation aides. Might see those items come back for a later vote but for now, ain't happening.
Each year reps from the Clayberry Public Library show up to request funds from the school system to keep the library afloat. Last year the Pentagon donated $11,338 plus some maintenance supplies. With the likely hood that State library funding will decrease, operation funds are doubly important. The Sch Bd decision will come at a latter meeting.
A new vaping policy is set for passage during the next regular meeting of the Board.
Remember that State investigation of the local school system a few weeks back. Remember that report provided the State Bd of Edumacation and that meeting the investigators had with members of our Board and our Superintendent? You can read our reporting over on the COMMUNICATOR ONLINE newspaper section to refresh your rememory.
Whatever was said in private and whatever was read between the lines of that report, it seems to have sunk in. Efforts are being made to make change, big change and right now. Top that off with fewer students to receive state education funds and the Excess Levy funding shot down, there will be little fat left in the budget even after closing down a school.
Boardster Dave Pierson, "We're going to have to cut big funds out this year..."
Superintendent Joan Haynie, "We can't risk a deficit".
Pierson: We need to get working on next year's budget.
The Board is looking for a replacement Superintendent for that last guy... you know.... ole what's his name. To get things right the first time, they plan to lean on the W Va School Superintendent's Assoc for some expertise in the hiring process. That's another first for County Clay Schools. Sounds like, maybe, the all boy's club selection, or maybe, who ever sucks the most, wins, those days may be over. Good!
We think the State Suits told locals, H E White Elem has to be closed. Since money is so tight, that closure has to happen the sooner rather than latter.
To that end and according to Ms Haynie, instead of taking the normal year long process to close that school, a "waiver" is being requested so H E White can be closed THIS May.
Haynie: We can't afford to keep all schools open.... We will have to make personnel cuts for the first time... It's what we can afford...."
Get it? In our opinion, that "waiver" is a quiet part of that State report. In other words, although it has to be approved by the State leaders, it's practically a done deal.
If the waiver initiative doesn't fly right, the Pentagon has put in the works, the normal year long process for school closure. Haynie, "It's a serious thing."
Let's talk some history...
30 years ago under the leadership of Linkypoo, the Pentagon tried closing H E White. As a matter of fact, they did close the school and had maintenance men pulling out the wiring and removing other equipment and furniture before Judge Charlie King ruled against Linkypoo and his band of misfits. What went wrong did you ask? Back then, Linky didn't followed the state mandates and scheduling requirements. He thought he could do as he pleased and screwed up!
A band of parents, and grandparents got together, formed a Save Our School group, raised $17,000 for attorney Tim Armstead, and sued the Pentagon.
While it was the parents that filed the lawsuit, it was the inadequacy of Linky that forced the Judge to order H E White to reopen. Judge King mandated that everything had to be put back in place and be ready for the start of that new school year.
That 6 month period was one that raised the hackles of almost everyone in the service area (Bomont) of the school. Tempers got hot real quick and stayed hot long after the school reopened.
Here's an example.
Boardsters, like the late O G King made mention that those parents only new how to eat pork rinds. During the next Board meeting, held at H E White, instead of providing a nice meal for those in attendance, the only thing provided was, you guessed it, bowls of pork rinds.
Now back to this meeting...
One feller, made it well known, he was peed big time over the closing of the school talk. Steve Smith, "I have lost my patience!!!"
He felt he had been lied to about the closure being based on the Levy vote and said as much to Dave Pierson's face, close up. He added a part about not letting the people know abut the plan.
We knew things were getting hot when Smith threw his empty, rigid plastic, soda cup at a trash can but missed. The ringing sound of that cup bouncing against the metal trash can and then the wall and then the floor, it made a big noise. All eyes turned to the front of the meeting room where the sound came from.
Now the guy wasn't trying to hit Pierson or anybody for that matter and he apologized for that action but it was loud enough, he was directed out of the building by a red faced Jerrod Fitzwater.
One more note before we leave ya.
There's another problem at H E White that many parents are peeturbed over. Down there, the parents are concerned for the safety of their child because of another child that seems to be out of control with the administration doing little to correct the problem. One parent told us about a child losing a tooth due to that out of control kid while another told of a block of wood being used against another child's head.
We haven't verified those accusations but it sure seems like something to be looked into and post haste.
Comments, suggestions, criticism are always appreciated. Email to claycommunicator@hotmail.com.
AW
For instance two items were stricken from the agenda. One was to hand bookkeeper Mike Taylor $5,397.42 to correct a salary error. The other was item #11 which would have increased salaries for transportation aides. Might see those items come back for a later vote but for now, ain't happening.
Each year reps from the Clayberry Public Library show up to request funds from the school system to keep the library afloat. Last year the Pentagon donated $11,338 plus some maintenance supplies. With the likely hood that State library funding will decrease, operation funds are doubly important. The Sch Bd decision will come at a latter meeting.
A new vaping policy is set for passage during the next regular meeting of the Board.
Remember that State investigation of the local school system a few weeks back. Remember that report provided the State Bd of Edumacation and that meeting the investigators had with members of our Board and our Superintendent? You can read our reporting over on the COMMUNICATOR ONLINE newspaper section to refresh your rememory.
Whatever was said in private and whatever was read between the lines of that report, it seems to have sunk in. Efforts are being made to make change, big change and right now. Top that off with fewer students to receive state education funds and the Excess Levy funding shot down, there will be little fat left in the budget even after closing down a school.
Boardster Dave Pierson, "We're going to have to cut big funds out this year..."
Superintendent Joan Haynie, "We can't risk a deficit".
Pierson: We need to get working on next year's budget.
The Board is looking for a replacement Superintendent for that last guy... you know.... ole what's his name. To get things right the first time, they plan to lean on the W Va School Superintendent's Assoc for some expertise in the hiring process. That's another first for County Clay Schools. Sounds like, maybe, the all boy's club selection, or maybe, who ever sucks the most, wins, those days may be over. Good!
We think the State Suits told locals, H E White Elem has to be closed. Since money is so tight, that closure has to happen the sooner rather than latter.
To that end and according to Ms Haynie, instead of taking the normal year long process to close that school, a "waiver" is being requested so H E White can be closed THIS May.
Haynie: We can't afford to keep all schools open.... We will have to make personnel cuts for the first time... It's what we can afford...."
Get it? In our opinion, that "waiver" is a quiet part of that State report. In other words, although it has to be approved by the State leaders, it's practically a done deal.
If the waiver initiative doesn't fly right, the Pentagon has put in the works, the normal year long process for school closure. Haynie, "It's a serious thing."
Let's talk some history...
30 years ago under the leadership of Linkypoo, the Pentagon tried closing H E White. As a matter of fact, they did close the school and had maintenance men pulling out the wiring and removing other equipment and furniture before Judge Charlie King ruled against Linkypoo and his band of misfits. What went wrong did you ask? Back then, Linky didn't followed the state mandates and scheduling requirements. He thought he could do as he pleased and screwed up!
A band of parents, and grandparents got together, formed a Save Our School group, raised $17,000 for attorney Tim Armstead, and sued the Pentagon.
While it was the parents that filed the lawsuit, it was the inadequacy of Linky that forced the Judge to order H E White to reopen. Judge King mandated that everything had to be put back in place and be ready for the start of that new school year.
That 6 month period was one that raised the hackles of almost everyone in the service area (Bomont) of the school. Tempers got hot real quick and stayed hot long after the school reopened.
Here's an example.
Boardsters, like the late O G King made mention that those parents only new how to eat pork rinds. During the next Board meeting, held at H E White, instead of providing a nice meal for those in attendance, the only thing provided was, you guessed it, bowls of pork rinds.
Now back to this meeting...
One feller, made it well known, he was peed big time over the closing of the school talk. Steve Smith, "I have lost my patience!!!"
He felt he had been lied to about the closure being based on the Levy vote and said as much to Dave Pierson's face, close up. He added a part about not letting the people know abut the plan.
We knew things were getting hot when Smith threw his empty, rigid plastic, soda cup at a trash can but missed. The ringing sound of that cup bouncing against the metal trash can and then the wall and then the floor, it made a big noise. All eyes turned to the front of the meeting room where the sound came from.
Now the guy wasn't trying to hit Pierson or anybody for that matter and he apologized for that action but it was loud enough, he was directed out of the building by a red faced Jerrod Fitzwater.
One more note before we leave ya.
There's another problem at H E White that many parents are peeturbed over. Down there, the parents are concerned for the safety of their child because of another child that seems to be out of control with the administration doing little to correct the problem. One parent told us about a child losing a tooth due to that out of control kid while another told of a block of wood being used against another child's head.
We haven't verified those accusations but it sure seems like something to be looked into and post haste.
Comments, suggestions, criticism are always appreciated. Email to claycommunicator@hotmail.com.
AW
School Super Joan Haynie, left
