Huntington High School student Lauryn Coffman and art teacher Marisa Main pose with Cabell County Board of Education Members during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
HUNTINGTON Ƶ The Cabell County Board of Education discussed several recent community collaborations, homecoming and other upcoming events for students during its regular meeting on Tuesday.
Superintendent Tim Hardesty described several ways community partners have interacted with Cabell County Schools in recent weeks Ƶ interactions that he said occur on a regular basis.
Some examples were:
St. MaryƵs Center for Education hosted Huntington HighƵs health sciences course for a clinical class.
The Red Cross supported Cabell Midland High SchoolƵs AFJROTCƵs recent blood drive.
Marshall UniversityƵs Sean McBride associate professor of physics, brought an inflatable planetarium to Meadows Elementary School for students to look at the stars.
Booktenders presented readers in Teresa JacksonƵs seventh grade class at Huntington Middle School with gift cards for reading more than 35,000 pages.
ƵThatƵs just a sampling of the collaborations we have going on, and itƵs like that on any given week of our school year, and we really appreciate the community and the way they support our schools and engage with our students,Ƶ Hardesty said.
The board also discussed some upcoming events for students and parents:
In other business, resident Monty Fowler updated the board on efforts by the ƵYes Parks! Yes Libraries! Yes Levy!Ƶ Facebook group to ensure the passage of the boardƵs roughly $30 million excess levy during the Nov. 5 general election, including purchasing door hangers and fliers.
What was once the boardƵs largest opponent to the excess levy now stands in full support since funding was assured in the levy language for both the Cabell County Public Library and Greater Huntington Park and Recreation District.
The board, parks and libraries collectively stand to lose $30 million in potential funding should the excess levy fail again next month. The entities would not have a chance to propose the excess levy again until the next regular election in 2026.
Fowler asked the board on behalf of county teachers, he said, to clarify if there would be any changes in personnel pay, benefits or compensation should the excess levy pass.
Hardesty told The Herald-Dispatch in an interview Tuesday the majority of the excess levy funds, over $16 million, is dedicated to employee salaries and benefits. Should the excess levy pass, it would go into effect July 1, 2025, and he said salaries, supplements and benefits would continue as normal; however, this would not be the case if it fails.
ƵMoving forward, without the excess levy, our school system would look completely different. All of our employees, every employee, would have to take a pay cut that the excess levy supplements. They would lose benefits. We would lose, most likely, several hundred employees, because the funding just wouldn't be there for them.Ƶ
Hardesty told The Herald-Dispatch the board has not discussed any ƵdoomsdayƵ scenarios for if the excess levy were to fail and is instead trying to focus on the positives before the election and reconnect with the community to ensure they know they are supported.
The board also approved Hardesty's recommendation to ratify the administrative leave of Brittany Bills, who is a cook, according to the Cabell County staff directory, which started on Sept. 9 with pay until a resolution is reached.
Deputy Superintendent Justin Boggs told the board they still need permission from the county commission for the City of Milton to annex the new Milton Elementary School property to ensure a relationship with the Milton Police Department.
Boggs told The Herald-Dispatch the school is still on track to be substantially completed this month, and an official ribbon cutting is expected to be in December.
Huntington High School student Lauryn Coffman's winning poppy poster for the 2024 American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Poster Contest.
Photo courtesy of Ƶhley Stephens
Huntington High School student Lauryn CoffmanƵs entry for the 2024 Federal Duck Stamp Contest is pictured.
Photo courtesy of Ƶhley Stephens
During celebrations, Huntington High student Lauryn Coffman was recognized for her stained glass-inspired poppy poster which won the American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Poster Contest. She was also recognized for entering in the Federal Duck Stamp Contest.
Huntington High School student Lauryn Coffman and art teacher Marisa Main pose with Cabell County Board of Education Members during a regular meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024.
Photo courtesy of Ƶhley Stephens
Retired Cabell County teacher Deborah Chapman was also recognized for her 50 years of service and for receiving the West Virginia Career Technical Education Distinguished Service Award from the Ƶ Department of Education.
The board will meet again for their next regular meeting at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 7. The date and time was changed to account for Election Day and daylight saving time, respectively.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
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