HUNTINGTON Ƶ The Cabell County Board of Education appointed Huntington native Amanda Kinder to the Cabell County Public Library board of directors during a regular meeting on Tuesday.
The board also heard updates about the countyƵs alternative school, Crossroads Academy, and a construction change order to support a possible barbering program.
Kinder, who has no former employment or official affiliation with either entity, has been a long-time supporter and volunteer, as well as a service coordinator for West Virginia Birth to Three, she said, and will now be a voice for the two entities.
ƵI think that itƵs really important that we remember that education happens in a lot of places and in a lot of ways on a daily basis,Ƶ Kinder said after the meeting.
Kinder said she remembers nearly six years ago when the board voted to remove paid librarian positions from elementary schools in the county, and local librarians were asked to help fill in gaps. Then, last year, the board proposed an excess levy which would have cut funding to the library branches if passed, possibly resulting in lost services or positions.
Although a new excess levy proposal has been created for the general election in November with increased funding amounts for the library, she said the past situation was ƵdishearteningƵ and Ƶsent a mixed message to the community about how much we value our library system and the extent that we realize the libraries play a role in educating our students.Ƶ
During TuesdayƵs meeting, Superintendent Tim Hardesty read a letter to the community addressing the situation and looking forward to the new levy proposal supporting the schools, libraries and the Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District.
ƵƵ a long time member of the community, IƵm from here. I grew up here. I graduated from Huntington High. IƵm a parent. I have children that are in the Cabell County school system,Ƶ Kinder said. ƵI hope that I am able to help bring a voice and a perspective to that board, both with making decisions with the library system moving forward, but also in serving at the behest of the Board of Education and being able to help repair some of those relationships moving forward.Ƶ
Kinder said another goal she has moving forward would be to find out how the library board could come up with solutions to better serve issues the community may be facing.
ƵWe hear on the daily about substance use disorder and about homelessness, and we also have to acknowledge that thereƵs no one entity thatƵs going to be able to fix those problems, but it is going to have to take a concentrated collaborative effort, and certainly public spaces, free spaces, have a role in that discussion,Ƶ she said.
Library Director Breana Bowen told The Herald-Dispatch in a message that Kinder will bring Ƶgreat energy to the library boardƵ and she Ƶtruly loves the library and our community and wants to be a part of making our community stronger through this position.Ƶ
During the meeting, board member Reed Byers called Kinder a Ƶtireless advocate for not just Cabell County, but especially our youth.Ƶ
Kinder is filling an unexpired term for the position previously held by former board member Alyssa Bond. It ends June 30, 2027.
In other business, Curtis Mann, executive director of middle schools, shared an update with the board on Crossroads Academy.
Crossroads was originally put in a position earlier in the year to transition many of its students to online learning, with nine out of the 10 professional personnel being transferred from the school. Since then, among concerns from the community, board members reconsidered the decision and several teachers were repositioned at the school for a ƵblendedƵ learning environment.
Mann told the board that as of Tuesday 42 students were enrolled at Crossroads in total.
He said the youth reporting center program with the West Virginia Schools of Diversion and Transition has two teachers who work with students and monitor them while they take online courses. He said that program alone has 13 students who have been placed through Cabell County Probation.
The traditional alternative school program, he said, has 19 students ranging from middle to high school, and the rest are in the dropout prevention and pregnancy program or were placed out-of-state by the court system. So far this year, he said, high school students at Crossroads have recovered credits for 20 courses through Edgenuity online credit recovery courses.
Deputy Superintendent Justin Boggs also noted the change order to construction at the Woody Williams Center for Advanced Learning and Careers to add funding for plumbing would allow for adding sinks. He said this would make way for a new barbering course down the road that would allow for adult students in the cosmetology program to earn a full certification.
During special celebrations, 11 students from Cabell Midland and Huntington high schools were recognized as National Merit Scholarship semifinalists.
The board also approved the full consent and personnel agendas.
The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. Oct. 15, for its regular meeting.
