POINT PLEASANT — At Thursday evening’s meeting of the Mason County Board of Education, board members approved policies regarding staff leaving school grounds and communications between board members and staff.

The policies discussed were the following: Policy 3251-Teacher Work Load/Schedules, Policy 4255-Duty Free Lunch, Policy 3112-Board Staff Communications, and Policy 4112-Board Staff Communications.

Board members amended Policy 3251 so it clearly stated that staff members may leave during their specified lunch time without signing out and without permission from the principal. Board members continued, stating staff members must have permission, and must also sign out, when leaving during their planning period or any other specified break.

As previously reported, this policy became a concern when some staff members had left school grounds during times that were not their lunch time. When discussing why this might be an issue, it was stated there may be times, like a fire or another emergency situation, where the employee needs to be located and cannot be found.

Concerning Policies 3112 and 4112, the board previously addressed concerns among staff members that they could not approach and talk to the board members. At an earlier meeting, these policies were reviewed and the board stated they did not interpret anything written in the policy which stated employees could not talk to the board members. The policies were then placed on a review period before the approval at Thursday’s meeting.

Also at the meeting, board members approved the following agenda and personnel items:

Approved Minutes, Agenda #12-10, September 11, 2012. Approved the placement of the following Marshall University Students to do their Student Teaching: Kayla Hatfield, to be placed at Beale Elementary and Francis Elvins, to be placed at Point Pleasant Intermediate School. Approved volunteers from Beale Elementary, Hannan Jr/Sr High, MCCC, New Haven Elementary, and Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High for the 2012-13 school year. Approved Amilda Noll-Thompson, as an approved driver for the 2012-13 school year. Her driving record has been checked by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Approved Becky’s Beauty Box, Hannan Public Library, Shoney’s, and Turd Busters, as work based learning businesses, effective immediately through September 30, 2013.

Approved Family Medical Leave for Beatrice Hagley, Teacher, Hannan Jr/Sr High, for a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid leave. Accepted the resignation of William Cox, Substitute Teacher, effective September 5, 2012. Approved the transfer of Jessie Farley, Grade 2 Teacher, Leon Elementary, to Kindergarten Teacher, Beale Elementary, Job #201-281-P, effective 2013-14 school year. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Erin Northup, Kindergarten Teacher, Leon Elementary, Job #206-319-P, effective September 24, 2012. County will be the funding source.

Approved the employment of John Hughes, Welding/Industrial Maintenance (pending certification), Mason County Career Center, Job #701-017-V, effective 2012-13 school year. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Jo Ann Chaney, Grade Five Teacher, Ashton Elementary, Job #206-222-P, effective September 24, 2012. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of the following as Mentor Teachers for the 2012-13 school year: Laura Anderson, Laura Cullen, Judith Browning, Andrea Henderson, Tracie Price, Sherry Pullin, Marybeth Pyles, Letha Rice, Lei Shawn Sergent, and Helen Young. County will be the funding source.

Approved the employment of Carolyn Hesson, Title I Interventionist, New Haven Elementary, Job #001-039-I, effective September 24, 2012. Title I will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Sherry Pullin, Title I Interventionist, Ashton Elementary, Job #001-039-I, effective September 24, 2012. Title I will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Dennis Craig, Stephanie Killingsworth, and Savannah Ward, as Substitute Teachers for the 2012/13 school year. County will be the funding source.

Approved to delete the position of Aide, Special Education, Central Office Itinerant, Job #001-055-C, effective 2012-13 school year. Approved to post the position of Extra Duty Assignment Bus Aide, Central Office Itinerant, effective 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Approved the transfer of Valerie Freeman, Custodian, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, to Custodian (200 days) Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, Job #502-824-C, effective September 24, 2012. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Craig Collins and Jimmy Workman as Substitute Mechanics, effective 2012-13 school year. County will be the funding source.

Accepted the resignation of Dan Morhardt, Girls Jr High Basketball Coach, Wahama Jr/Sr High, effective September 6, 2012. Accepted the resignation of Kathy Rollins, Academic Coach, Future Business Leaders of America, Mason County Career Center, effective September 13, 2012. Approved the employment of Stacey Walton, Eighth Grade Girls Basketball Coach, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, Job #502-119-S, for the 2012-13 school year. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Derrick Layton, Site Based Manager, Leon Elementary, Job #001-112-E, for the 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source.

Approved the employment of Marjorie Moran, Site Based Manager, Ashton Elementary, Job #001-110-E, for the 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Approved the placement of Ricky Kearns, Athletic Assistant (pending WVSSAC and WVDE Certification), Wahama Jr/Sr High, Job #503-239-S, for the 2012-13 school year. This is an unpaid position. Approved the placement of Lisa Leport, Athletic Assistant (pending WVSSAC and WVDE certification), Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, Job #502-161-S, for the 2012-13 school year. This is an unpaid position.

In addition to Superintendent Dickens, board members present were Thomas Nunnery, Randy Searls, Greg Fowler, Paul Sayre, and Dale Shobe.

The Mason County Board of Education will meet again for a regular business meeting at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 25, at the Mason County Career Center.