January 23, 2017
The Board of Education of the County of Kanawha met in Special Session on Monday,
January 23, 2017, at Elkview Middle School, Elkview, West Virginia. The meeting was
called to order by Board President Jim J. Crawford at 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT
Jim J. Crawford, President
Ryan White, President Pro Tem
Ric Cavender
Becky J. Jordon
William P. Thaw
Ronald E. Duerring, Secretary
Debra J. Lewis, Recording Secretary
ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
Jane Roberts, Assistant Superintendent, Elementary
Kate Porter, Asst. Superintendent, Special Education & Student Support Services
Bob Calhoun, Executive Director, Elementary Education
Charles Wilson, Executive Director, Facilities, Planning & Management
Briana Warner, Communications Director
PRESENTATION
A. Flood Update
Mr. Crawford-The purpose of this meeting is to give the people of the Elk River
Valley an update on the flood situation as well as the situation with Bridge and
Clendenin.
Dr. Duerring-As Mr. Crawford pointed out, the first part will be about the
portable update at Bridge and Elkview Middle and then from there we will go
into the present and future as we take a look at Bridge and Clendenin
Elementary.
Chuck Wilson-I have a drawing here that you might want to look at that shows
the layout of the portables at Bridge. The contracts have been executed for
Bridge. We have had preconstruction conferences and mobilization is ongoing.
You will probably see some activity going on there. The plans have to be
approved by a number of agencies, including the flood plain manager and the
Fire Marshall. They are scheduled to start on the foundations Wednesday. We
are also working on trying to obtain some parking across the street. Over at
Elkview Middle, where the portables will be for Hoover, along the front we have
secured a lease for a parking lot. We have a walkway that comes from the
parking lot to the school. We have preliminary approval for the portables from
the Flood Plain Manager.
Dr. Duerring-As we take a look at the next part of this, please understand that we
know there are attachments to your schools. We got the go ahead to build two
new schools at two new sites. As we build those schools we are allowed to build
them at their highest capacity. They go back over the years and look at what the
highest capacity was for Clendenin Elementary, so that means the kind of
numbers we had back were much higher than what we have now You could
build a pretty decent elementary school in that area. What we want the Board to
take a look at is the consolidation of Bridge and Clendenin. As you know, the
back of Bridge is in a flood way so we aren’t allowed to put anything back there.
We have looked at several areas. The properties have been suggested. As we
take a look at the consolidation process there are several things that have to
occur. When we bring it to the Board there will be a group from each school that
PRESENTATION (continued)
will be a part of the design team. The second thing is that under new SBA
Guidelines, we will send a survey out to every parent in both of those schools
asking what do you want your school to look like, what do you want to see in
your school? We will take all that information from the survey and we will take a
look at what we have to do. We have to write educational specs. In the end
when we are finished we will have one state-of-the-art school that is brand new.
There will be a lot of technology in it. I know this is hard for you all. I can’t thank
you enough. I know you all have been through tough times. It does makes it
tough when we have to do something like this. I think it will better for both
schools. They will have a new playground and new technology. That’s what we
are recommending at this time. We do have several properties in mind. It’s no
secret that we have one property in particular that we are looking at on Hokie
Lane. We have to go in and do environmental studies. There are so many things
that go into that. There is another piece of property that Chuck is going to take a
look at and talk to FEMA about it. Mr. Calhoun is going to come and talk about
what it will look like when you put two schools together.
Bob Calhoun-The Curriculum will be based on state and county standards. How
that will be taught will be up to the committee as to whether it’s going to be
blended learning, a pod situation or regular classrooms. As of right now, the total
enrollment for both schools will be 425-448 and that includes preschool. Bridge
is the smallest school in the county with 149 and the largest school is Point
Harmony with 634. That should put us somewhere in the middle with the size of
the school. That would equate to approximately three teachers per grade level.
There will be 1:1 technology. You will have several interventionists, a full-time
librarian and a full-time PE teacher. There will be several days of music and art.
The best thing about it is that you will have a brand new building with a lot of
room.
Cindy Cummings-I was asked to talk about the benefits of our schools. We have a
wonderful staff. We have grown with our sister school Clendenin and we are
thrilled to have you with us. We can do this. We are strong. We will persevere
for what’s best for our students. That’s the whole mission and vision of why we
do this. It is exciting times, to have a state-of-the-art school. Yes, it’s an
emotional time, but we will get through this. I asked some students what they
PRESENTATION (continued)
would think about a new school, and they said they thought it would be good.
They said they had made new friends and that their test scores would increase.
For teachers having the opportunity to collaborate with other teachers in the
building has been a benefit as well.
Dr. Duerring-If you want to see what a consolidated looks like as a group of
parents, let us know that and we can take you up to Edgewood and let you see
what that look likes.
BOARD COMMENTS
Mr. Thaw-I just want you to know that we’ve done everything we can in a bad
situation and we fully understand how you feel. We will do everything we can to
make this as pleasant as we can.
Mr. White-We are in it for the kids and we want to do what’s best for them. You
all have been great.
Mr. Cavender-Thank you for your patience throughout this process. We are doing
the best we can with the situation that’s been handed to us.
Mrs. Jordon-We hope the outcome is going to be something you will be very
proud of down the road.
Mr. Crawford-None of us wanted this to happen and it’s a situation that we have
to deal with. Sometimes it’s unpleasant, but we are trying to make the best out
of this. I commend Dr. Duerring and his staff for the hard work they have put in
on this. I think everyone will be happy when it’s all finished.
Dr. Duerring-I heard there were rumors going around that we were going to put
all three schools on one site and that’s not happening. Elkview Middle will stay
right here.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS
Parent-My first question is that you say behind Bridge is a flood plain. The
Elkview Middle grounds were flooded and Hoover’s fields were flooded and they
continue to be on it. How can they pick and choose? Dr. Duerring-The back of
Bridge is a flood way not a flood plain. We don’t pick and choose. Chuck WilsonWe aren’t allowed to build in a flood way. We can build on a flood plain with
permits. They won’t let us put a playground in the flood way.
Parent-Is there not going to be a playground for these kids for the next few
years? Chuck Wilson-We keep going back to the flood plain manager to try and
work out a way.
Parent-What’s the farthest distance that the children will have to travel on a bus?
Dr. Duerring-We don’t have that exactly right now. By law we have to keep it
within the time limits. We may have to add extra buses.
Parent-What role does FEMA play with the playground? To me not having a
playground is unacceptable. Chuck Wilson-FEMA is strictly reimbursement. It is
my understanding from the flood plain manager that the flood insurance
program for WV requires getting permits in a flood plain. The flood plain
manager doesn’t want any rock put behind bridge or a playground. If we go
ahead and do that we are told that it will jeopardize the flood insurance program.
We have to get permits to do anything in the flood plain. They won’t give us any
permit in a flood way. Parent-Who is the flood plain manager? Chuck WilsonChuck Grishaber.
Parent-What about our staff? If you have one school you will have one principal.
Dr. Duerring-What we hope is, that by law we have to ask for a consolidating
school, that those teachers get first preference for the jobs and both faculty
senates will vote on that. Most of those will go to the new school. There can
only be one Principal and I’m not sure of the exact law on that at this moment.
Parent-Right now Clendenin is boarded up. What’s your plan for that? They took
down the playground equipment that was just put in 2 years ago. They didn’t
give us a chance to clean it up or refurbish it or move it someplace else. That was
$30,000 worth of equipment. Dr. Duerring-Clendenin will eventually be
COMMUNITY COMMENTS (continued)
demolished but the reason why it won’t be immediate is because it has some
historical value and so the FEMA historical people have to come in and determine
what they will take from that school to the new school. That could be an oral
history or a piece of the building.
Parent-What’s taking so long to get those portables started? Dr. Duerring-There
are procedures we must follow by FEMA. If we don’t do this right, there will be
no money and the only people that will suffer in the end will be our children in
this area. We are doing the best we can given the situation. If that money
doesn’t come through, there will not be a new school or a new playground. That
is frustrating, but in order to do this right, we have to do this right period.
Parent-What will the name of the new school be? Dr. Duerring-That’s up to you
all.
Parent-How come the playground equipment was taken down and we didn’t get
a chance to save some of it? Chuck Wilson-That was handled by our response
team who hired Belfor. They said it had to be removed. Parent-The community
had put the money there. Someone should of least had a say. Dr. Duerring-We
were told it all had to be taken down because you couldn’t clean it thoroughly.
Parent-Are portables going to be put in at Bridge? Dr. Duerring-We are hoping by
the end of February. Chuck Wilson-They are starting on the foundations
Wednesday.
Parent-We think the playground needs to be a priority for our kids right now.
Chuck Wilson-We have appealed to the flood plain manager. Parent-There is
entirely too many kids at that school. Why didn’t some go to Pinch Elementary?
Why didn’t they share the responsibility of being a good neighbor? Dr. DuerringIt wasn’t the fact of not being a good neighbor, it was about keeping the kids
together. We heard from a lot of people in your community and they wanted us
to keep these kids together.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS (continued)
Parent-Why did you send them to school with no heat the week before Christmas
Break? Whose decision was that? Us as parents called and requested for kids
not to be sent to school with no heat. Cindy Cummings-Let me clarify about the
heat in the building. We made sure that the heaters that we had were on at
night and turned off during the day, however when it got cool the space heaters
went back in. We were in constant communication with Dr. Duerring about the
heat. The temperatures were between 68-72 degrees.
Parent-are you going to redraw the lines and will the times change? Dr.
Duerring-That’s hard to answer, we will probably stay in the defined boundaries
for these two areas and as far as times it could look a little different.
Brandy Mullins-You said earlier that the teachers would get first priority at the
new school. You didn’t mention service personnel. Will we get first preference
for the new school? Dr. Duerring-I am going to have to look into that. I don’t
want to answer that. I’ll give you a call.
Parent-Did you all even talk to the landowners about the property? Chuck
Wilson-Yes. Parent-That’s funny because I didn’t hear anything and I’m one of
them. Chuck Wilson-There were a number of sites proposed. We haven’t
excluded too many sites. Currently we are ranking them. Hokie Lane is number
one for Clendenin. As we get permission to enter these sites, If we run into road
blocks we will move to the next site. If you are the owner of one of the sites that
hasn’t been contacted, we have only contacted the owners of the top two sites.
Parent-Does the owner have a say in their property? Chuck Wilson-They do have
a say. There is a process to determine fair market value. We will give them a fair
market appraisal. If you don’t like it you can appeal it.
Tracy Kinder-When will the consolidation start? Dr. Duerring-There is a process
we have to go through. The Board will make a final decision. It will probably
start in the fall.
Parent-What happens next year with staffing? Dr. Duerring-It will remain the
same for the most part.
COMMUNITY COMMENTS (continued)
Parent-I don’t have a question. I have a statement. How many people on that
panel have a degree? We are failing our kids. We are creating a group of
laborers. I have kids in this school whose grades going down. You are passing
them through this building. For me to set here and worry about a cafeteria lady
working ten years from now means nothing to me. What worries me is that ten
years from now the labor force that we are creating from the Elk River Area will
not have degrees, they are going to be a labor force. We can only have so many
McDonald’s workers. This is a preparation period. If my kids aren’t prepared to
go to college then I have failed them by not looking at everyone one of you and
saying you are failing us right now. Do you understand Duerring? Dr. DuerringYes I do. Parent-Do you agree we are failing the kids? Dr. Duerring-No I don’t.
Parent-Do you think a half day is enough time to get them ready for college? Dr.
Duerring-We are doing the best we can with what has been given here. There
were people that wanted us to break all these students up and put them in two
or three different high schools. We could have done that but the community
wanted these kids to stay together and that’s exactly what we did. It’s
temporary. The portables are coming in and they will go back to a full day.
Parent-When is the date that they will have a full day? Chuck Wilson-Currently
that will be in March. When is the date? Chuck Wilson-I believe its March 17th.
What happens is in a contract with construction, if the number of rainy days
exceed what is normal for that time of year, the contractors give them a day per
day. Parent-What is the date the kids can walk into the school? Chuck WilsonI’m thinking the first part of April.
Parent-Everyone is doing the best they can with what they have got. Twenty
eight years and I don’t have a piece of paper that says I’m smart. Does that make
me any less of a person than Mike Kelley who has a piece of paper?
Kay Summers-Our teachers and staff are doing a fantastic job. It’s up the parent
to monitor that. I think a half day is working out really well. They are so focused
on their studies. We as a community should be proud of our staff at all the
schools. We need to thank the Board of Education.
Mr. Crawford-I want to thank you all for being here tonight.
ESTABLISHMENT OF MEETING DATES
A. Monday, January 23, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Special Session
B. Monday, February 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m.-Special Session
C. Thursday, February 16, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Regular Session
D. Monday, March 6, 2017, 4:00 p.m.-Special Session
E. Tuesday, March 7, 2017, 3:00 & 3:15 p.m.-Budget Workshop-Statutory
Session (Presentation of Schedule of Proposed Levy Rates)(Budget Workshop
to Follow)
F. Thursday, March 9, 2017, 12:00 Noon-Statutory Session (Approval of the
Schedule of Proposed Levy Rates)
G. Thursday, March 16, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Regular Session
H. Monday, April 3, 2017, 4:00 p.m.-Special Session
I. Tuesday, April 18, 2017, 12:00 Noon-Statutory Session (Reconvening of March
9, 2017, Meeting to Enter all Levies)
J. Thursday, April 20, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Regular Session
K. Monday, April 24, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Statutory Session (Public Hearing on
Proposed Budget)
L. Monday, May 1, 2017, 4:00 p.m.-Special Session
M. Thursday, May 11, 2017, 6:00 p.m.-Regular Session
N. Tuesday, May 23, 2017, 12:00 Noon-Statutory Session (Approval of the
Proposed Budget)
ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Ryan White moved: That the Special Session of the Board be adjourned.
Motion was seconded by Mr. Ric Cavender and carried. The Special Session was
declared adjourned by Board President Jim J. Crawford at 7:00 p.m.
_____________________________
President
djl
1/30/2017
______________________
Secretary