The Hardy County Board of Education met on Monday, February 17, 2025 at the central office. Present were Dixie Bean, President; Melvin Shook, Vice-president; board members Roy Harper, Douglas Hines, and Janet Rose; Dr. Sheena VanMeter, Superintendent; Jennifer Strawderman, Assistant Superintendent; Shawn Cullers, Executive Secretary to the Superintendent; Beth Barr, Director of Student Support Services; teachers Bonnie Crites, Alicen Adkins; Alexandria Smith, and Liz Mathey, WVU Extension Office.
The meeting opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Presentations
Moorefield Elementary art teacher Kristian Yeager presented the drawings by several students that have been chosen for display in the Board of Education offices. The children started with oil-based paint followed by water-color to give a three-dimensional look to the work. One student on hand to show her art to board members was Moorefield Elementary (MES) second grader Bria Vetter. Others students whose drawings were chosen include Aaron Crouser, Ketterman, Priscilla Robinson, Claire Rouser, and Kate Sherman.
Benchmark Data Report
Bonnie Crites announced that every grade level in the county has made overall improvement in reaching or exceeding benchmarks for learning. Math outcomes as usual were higher than reading results. Scores include those for students in special education programs. Intervention plans are in place to help those children improve. The study also factors in mental health, emotional, and social data. Crites said that fewer behavioral incidents have been reported in the current school year. The cause(s) for this improvement are not immediately known.
WVU Extension and 4-H Program
County Extension Director Alexandria Smith provided a report of agency achievement in 2024. Hardy County won first place in senior and junior divisions at horse judging events. The county has 108 projects at the Tri- County Fair. Also at the fair, 255 animals were sold for $536,125, an increase from 2023. Among the numerous Extension Service accomplishments, highlights include organizing youth day for the West Virginia Poultry Association and setting up a sheep and goat judging contest for 50 youth from West Virgina, Maryland, and Virgina; two classes taught by Ms. Smith on suicide prevention and stress management for farmers and ranchers at the West Virginia Small Farm Conference and Wardensville Summer Field Day; the Women in Agriculture Team addressed business risk, farm safety, and increased profitability. Smith asked the board to approve a request of $2,500 in financial assistance.
Liz Matheny is the assistant Extension Service director and manager of the 4-H program. She reported that 317 Hardy County students now participate in the program up from 211 in the 2021-22 school year. These young people contributed 1,1335 service hours in various event during 2024. They completed 208 projects last year, a 8.5 percent increase. The 4-H program also saw a 26 percent increase in camping activities. Adult volunteers donated over 5,000 hours in helping with the camping program, up 62 percent from 2023. Hardy County student had 206 exhibits at the Tri-County Fair and 108 livestock projects.
Robotics Team
Teachers Bonnie Crites and Alicen Adkins along with MSH students Adam Sherman, Ralph Wojtowicz, and William Wojtowicz gave board members an update on the activities of the Robotics Team. The program now consists of 21 teams throughout the county with just under 100 students that regularly participate across twelve grades. Ms. Adkins said they plan to include the entire first grade at MES next year and add another team at the Moorefield Middle School (MMS). The Moorefield High School (MHS) team recently competed in a national competition with the opportunity to participate in the international tournament. Adam Sherman said that based on feedback, it appears that the MHS team has a very good chance to advance as a representative of the Chesapeake District.
MMS boys and girls teams both won at the West Virginia state tournament to move onto the national finals at Jersey City, New Jersey in May. Successfully participating on an international and national level is an impressive feat by the young people in the Hardy County school system. The accomplishments of teams from both schools are a testament of the skill and hard work by Ms. Crites and Ms. Adkins, and of course the talent and dedication of the students themselves.
Consent Items
The following items were unanimously approved: minutes of the February 3, 2025 meeting, bank reconciliation of January 31, 2025, treasurer’s report of January 31, 2025, budget journal entries, and invoices.
Board Members/Superintendent Discussion
School board members will make plans to stop at each school. Doug Hines suggested that this be completed over a two day period. The visits are not a meeting but more of an opportunity for informal discussion and open communication with principals and teachers. Two bills introduced in the current legislative session have caused concern. SB 284 proposes to reduce the number of training hours for board members. HB 2480 would replace county school boards with regional boards. Hardy County board members believe this would be a great disservice to students and faculty everywhere.
Janet Rose asked about the protocol when board members receive complaints from the public. The person issuing the concern should be asked if they have spoken to the principal about the problem. If not, the complainant should be directed to do so. If the principal has been contacted, and the person isn’t satisfied with the outcome, then the board member notifies the superintendent.
Mission Statements
Doug Hines commended Adam Sherman and Ralph Wojtowicz for being awarded scholarships to the Rose Hulman School of Engineering in Indianapolis, Indiana. The institution has been recognized as the top engineering school in the nation for the past 21 years, being rated ahead of other colleges such as the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, better known as MIT. The grants are worth $100,000. Fellow MHS student and robotic club member William Wojotowicz has received six Congressional nominations for entry into a service academy. Congratulation to all three young men for their stellar accomplishments.
With all business being addressed the board moved and approved adjournment. The n next Board of Education meeting is set for Monday evening, March 3, 2025 at the central office starting at 5:00.
