Wood BOE talks appointments, selection methods
Brian Raitz, director at Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library, talks to the Wood County Board of Education about the policy for nominations to the school’s library board. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Jessica Rowley reads a passage from the book “Let’s Talk About It” to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday that has sexually explicit dialogue. She claims the book is accessible to children at the public library. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Brian Raitz, director at Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library, talks to the Wood County Board of Education about the policy for nominations to the school’s library board. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
Jessica Rowley reads a passage from the book “Let’s Talk About It” to the Wood County Board of Education Tuesday that has sexually explicit dialogue. She claims the book is accessible to children at the public library. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)
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PARKERSBURG -- The Wood County Board of Education approved the appointments of three assistant superintendent positions and a new principal for VanDevender Middle School, while removing the approval of the Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library recommendation to the Library Board from the consent agenda to come up with a new policy for how they are selected and appointed.
Justin Hartshorn, who has been serving as the Director of Elementary Education since July of last year, will be transferring into the Assistant Superintendent of Academics and Leadership position for a one-year contract beginning July 1.
John Merritt will continue his position as Assistant Superintendent of Human Resources as his contract has been extended another year.
Kaleb Lawrence, assistant principal at Parkersburg High School, will transfer over to the central office where he will begin his role as Assistant Superintendent of Operations starting July 1. This will be a one-year contract.
VanDevender Middle School Assistant Principal Kurt Echard will be taking on the role as principal for the school beginning July 1.
"I'd like to congratulate those that are moving into new positions," Board President Justin Raber said during board comments. "I'm sure you all are excited, a little bit nervous, and that's ok. I'm sure everyone will do great."
The board removed the approval of the Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library recommendation to the Library Board from the consent agenda as members of the public protested the policy on how they are chosen.
"Several months ago I asked a board of education member what the process is for appointing people to the library board. I have it in writing from this board of education member that they basically just take a recommendation from the library and approve it," Chad Conley said during public delegations. "It is the school board's job to make this appointment, by simply rubber stamping who the library hand picks you're being lazy and not doing your jobs."
Brian Raitz, director at Parkersburg and Wood County Public Library, said there is no determined process for how they make their selections.
"Usually it's going through people that we know, that are involved with the library in some way, and interested in working with the library in some way" Raitz said.
Raber moved to have the superintendent develop a process on the appointment of the library board by members of the board of education.
"I have some questions about how our appointments are made," Raber said. "I think we need to have a process that vets that for us to come up with a definite process that's followed each time."
Boardmember Judy Johnson suggested the policy cover all of the appointees the board makes.
"If there's no objection, (I) would amend the motion to state that it be for appointments that the Board of Education makes to outside entities," Raber said.
Boardmember Ron Tice said that would be a good policy and suggested that a member of the board sit in on the selection process.
"It would give a little bit more insight to the board and I think that would help with that," Tice said.
Johnson said this has nothing to do with the candidate the library had selected.
"We appreciate everything you're doing and working toward the construction of the library for us, but it's something that probably needs to be overseen for some time now," Johnson said.
During the consent agenda the board also awarded Advanced Industrial Services an asbestos abatement bid for the total cost of $34,914; approved GraeCon for the bid amount of $204,035 for the Jefferson Elementary Auditorium Renovation Project; and purchase orders to be issued to Wayside Publishing in the amount of $224,156.80 and Carnegie Learning in the amount of $271,045.90, for the purchase of approved textbooks.
The next Wood County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for June 13 at 6 p.m. at the Wood County Schools Central Office at 1210 13th St. in Parkersburg and is open to the public and will be streamed online.