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POINT PLEASANT — At the most recent meeting of the Mason County Board of Education (BOE), board members approved Superintendent Suzanne Dickens’ action to suspend a counselor with Mason County Schools without pay.

According to the meeting’s agenda, the employee was suspended from Jan. 31 to Feb. 4, on grounds contained in a letter from Dickens. Dickens noted the employee’s offense was not violent, and children were not involved. The employee’s name will be released with the meeting’s minutes on the BOE website following the board’s approval, a period of two to three weeks.

As previously reported, an open meetings advisory opinion from the West Virginia Ethics Commission Committee on Open Governmental Meetings states the employee’s offenses can be withheld, but the name of the employee cannot once a disciplinary decision is made. According to another open meetings advisory opinion, the BOE does have the ability to not publicly release the employee’s name until the posting of the minutes.

Other approved agenda and personnel items from this meeting are as follows:

Approved minutes, Agenda 12-23, Jan. 29, 2013. Approved minutes, Agenda 12-24, Feb. 5, 2013. Approve Feb. 16 through 23, 2013 as National FFA Week in recognition and support of Career and Technical Education. Proclaimed Feb. 1 through Feb. 28, 2013, as National Career and Technical Education Month in recognition and support of Career and Technical Education. Approved Phoenix Construction, as a work based learning business, effective immediately through Sept. 30, 2013.

Accepted the resignation of Timothy Reed, as Vocational Agriculture Teacher, Hannan Jr/Sr High, effective Feb. 15, 2013. Accepted the resignation of Helen Randolph, Librarian/Media Specialist, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, due to retirement, effective at the end of the 2012-13 school year. Approved Family Medical Leave for Bridget White, Teacher, Hannan Jr/Sr High School, for a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid leave.

Granted Family Medical Leave for Mary Ann Neal, Teacher, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High School, for a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid leave. Approved Parental Leave for Aimee Stein, Teacher, Ashton Elementary for a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid leave. Approved the employment of the following as Substitute Teachers (pending CIB Clearance), for the 2012-13 school year: Leslie Pauley, Jennifer Starkey, Melinda Tennant, Charles Tyree, Jared Shull, Maurice Alouf.

Accepted the resignation of Samuel Juniper, Substitute Custodian, effective January 28, 2013. Approved Family Medical Leave for John Casey, Bus Operator, for a maximum of 12 weeks unpaid leave. Approved to delete the position of Custodian, Point Pleasant Primary, (210 days), Job 217-466-C, effective 2012-13 school year. Approved to post the position of Custodian, (220 days-2:00-10:00), Point Pleasant Primary School, effective 2012-13 school year. County will be the funding source.

Approved to delete the position of Aide, Central Office Itinerant (200 days), Job 001-052-I, effective 2012-13 school year. Approved to post the position of Aide, (200 days), 8-Hour Shift, Central Office Itinerant, for the 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Ruth Fisher-Billings, Homebound Instructor, on an as needed basis, Job 001-045-E, effective for the 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source.

Approved to provide the Prevention Resource Officers Program with an additional $50,000.00 per year, prorated on a monthly basis until June 30, 2013. Excess levy funds will be the funding source. Approved the ratification of orders issued, transfers, and supplements. Check Numbers 82771 through 82940, totaling $742,453.25.

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

The Mason County Board of Education will meet again for a Special Reduction in Force Hearings Meeting at 6 p.m. on Feb. 19, and then again at 3 p.m. on Feb. 21 for a Policy/Regular Business Meeting. Both meetings will be at the Mason County Career Center.