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Hancock Co. school board addresses mold reports

NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Board of Education addressed reports of mold in the district’s schools during Monday’s meeting.

Superintendent Dawn Petrovich announced there had been reports of mold in the district, but the district has been diligent in finding and fixing the mold issues.

“We take these things very seriously. I would never have employees or students or anybody in the school if the air quality or if there were mold issues. I would not do that, so when I say all the issues are corrected, they are,” said Petrovich.

During July and August mold was reported in New Manchester Elementary and Oak Glen Middle School. The Hancock County Health Department confirmed the mold sightings. The mold was cleaned up and the health department did a follow up inspection confirming the mold was taken care of.

In late September, mold was found in Oak Glen High School. Petrovich said the mold was caused by a chilled water pipe that had condensation that dripped onto ceiling tiles. The affected ceiling tiles were replaced and the inadequate insulation was repaired.

Petrovich reported there was extensive cleaning in the affected areas and all of the schools were disinfected. She said there have been no new mold issues.

Petrovich also said they’ve consulted with the West Virginia Department of Education Office of School Facilities. A representative from the department will be doing an on-site visit this week to check the indoor air quality. A part of the check is monitoring the moisture levels in the schools. Keeping the air moisture levels in check is one way the school district can make sure mold does not return.

No mold was found in Allison Elementary. School health inspection reports can be found at the Hancock County Health Department website under the inspection report tab and selecting the school inspection option.

In other business the board:

¯ Petrovich announced SchoolDigger.com has ranked Hancock County as the top school district in the state of West Virginia. The board extended congratulations and thanks to teachers, administrators, service personnel, parents, students and the community for their hard work and involvement with the school system.

¯ Discussed setting consistent standards for senior passes for sporting events. They also discussed creating a family pass and including the middle schools into the passes.

¯ Announced they received a thank you from the Tomlinson Run State Park Foundation thanking the board for allowing the use of two school buses during the recent trunk or treat in the park.

¯ Approved a memorandum of understanding with the West Virginia University Board of Governors on behalf of the West Virginia University and its School of Medicine, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences to help students with visual impairments in the district.

¯ Approved an increase granted by the West Virginia Department of Education for the three year step in math and special education.

¯ Approved unpaid days for Brandy Smith and Roseanna Finney.

¯ Approved the resignations of county wide substitute teachers: Yolanda Blake, Mary Kay DeGarmo, John Ranhart and Ethan Sole.

¯ Approved the resignations of Catherine Gruda, supervisory aide II-IV transportation department and Carey Cutright, bus operator 162 transportation department.

¯ Approved the administrative release for Cari Horne, county wide substitute teacher.

¯ Approved the resignations for Rick Brown, wrestling assistant at Oak Glen Middle School and Alex Shuman, wrestling assistant at Oak Glen High School.

¯ Approved Kyna Maradei as the county wide board certified behavior analyst.

¯ Approved the following coaching assignments for Oak Glen Middle School: Scott Gittings head boys’ basketball; Jarrett Gittings assistant boys basketball; Garrett Railing wrestling head and Robert Bozek wrestling assistant.

¯ Approved the coaching assignments of Josh Cornell as assistant wrestling at Oak Glen High School and Eric Pipo assistant wrestling at Weir High School.

¯ Approved James Truax as the class of 2023 advisor at Weir High School; Sherri Lengthorn as the GAA at Weir High School; and Jeff Hardy as the Skills USA sponsor at Oak Glen High School.

¯ Approved Tina Viakley as a volunteer for Future Business Leaders of America.

¯ Approved the following for substitute positions: Kendra Marte, LPN/AM; Alfred Powell, custodian; William Niesslein, bus operator; Stephen Finney, bus operator; Diane Greco, aide; Leslie Angelo, aide; Brooke Ash, aide; Cynthia Richards, secretary; Betsy Anderson, secretary; Catherine Colabrese, secretary; Catherine Gruda, aide; and Penny Lahr, secretary.

¯ Approved resignation of Linda Monte county wide substitute cook.

¯ Approved the transfers of Kristen Palavis from county wide substitute cook to county wide substitute secretary and Rachael Taylor form county wide substitute aide to supervisory aide II/III/IV transportation department initial placement bus 134 for 200 days seven hours per day.

¯ Approved the transfers of Jeffrey Plimpton from bus operator 141 transportation department 200 days seven hours per day to bus operator 105 transportation department 200 days seven hours per day; and Jessica Adams from ECCAT/ AM Pre-K at Weirton Elementary to ECCAT/AM at Allison Elementary 200 days seven hours per day.

The next meeting will be at 5 p.m. on Oct. 28.

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