This funding allows the pre-K program to increase from four to five days a week. An additional staff member has been hired to facilitate teachers’ prep time. This dual benefit aids both students and teachers, with hopes for further funding to expand the half-day program to five days as well.

In addition to educational funding, safety concerns were a prominent topic. There was a stark discussion on the national rise in school threats, with statistics showing a dramatic increase from 29 threats per month to 785. A particular incident at Huntington High School, which was a false alarm linked to another Huntington in West Virginia, underscored the need for effective communication and swift action. Local police were commended for their prompt response, which minimized panic among students and staff.

The Board also addressed the issue of after-school programming. A $210,000 after-school grant, spanning five years, faces challenges due to participation requirements. The grant stipulates that 40 students must be enrolled in all 400 hours of programming, which is difficult for the rural community to meet due to daily fluctuations in participation driven by sports and family obligations. Efforts are being made to address this with state officials, including meetings with local senators, to seek a more reasonable participation metric. It was noted that rural communities lack local organizations like the Boys and Girls Club or YMCA, exacerbating the challenge.

Student engagement was another important topic. Examples included projects at Chester Elementary involving trail work and initiatives at Littleville focusing on the local dam. This community-oriented approach was praised for its benefits to students, linking classroom literature to real-life experiences. The thematic connection, such as Chester Elementary’s summer reading of “The Nocturnals,” helped students engage with their environment.

There was a notable increase in enrollment in vocational programs, particularly in the Early Childhood Program, which grew from 12 to 28 students, and the welding program, which is now at full capacity. Discussions included the potential hiring of additional staff to accommodate this growing interest. Both vocational teachers are currently handling an additional class, increasing their loads from five to six classes, allowing for expanded programming without immediate new hires. The addition of a new full-time wood shop teacher, following the retirement of part-time instructor Mike Harper, was discussed. The wood shop program is now expanded to middle school students, with a focus on safety as they learn to use power tools.

The meeting also included updates on local projects. Work on NY Brook is nearing completion, with only the guard rail pending. Equipment setup at Old Chester is underway, and a meeting with Beach Bridge emphasized the need for clarity regarding their billing practices. No further payments to Beach Bridge will be authorized until proper explanations are provided. Line painting is set to commence soon, although the budget for winter maintenance supplies is tight, with the account nearly maxed out due to a recent purchase. Additional funds will be needed for outside repair accounts due to extensive maintenance billing.

Discussions also touched on the social media policy updates, with an updated policy submitted to KP Law for review. The delay in feedback was acknowledged as potentially prolonging the process. There was an inquiry regarding the inspection of animals at NY Brook, with no response from the inspector, leaving uncertainty about the status of the animals. A letter regarding existing bylaws from the Board of Health had been sent and acknowledged as received.

The Board discussed a fuel tank at the highway department, debating which account should be used for payments. It was suggested that the general fund should cover this, as it is not a regular monthly bill. Updates from Dave Hopson concerning union matters were also awaited, with an offer made to reach out for communication.