NEW CUMBERLAND — The Hancock County Board of Education, during its meeting Monday, finalized two adjustments to existing policy, while holding off on a decision for a third proposal.

In addition, a new policy is set to go out for public comment this week.

The board agreed to put Policy GEC – listed as “Experience Credit for Critical Trades Employees” – out for a 30-day comment period.

“That’s a new policy,” Superintendent Dan Enich said.

Officials have noted the policy was being developed in an effort to take past experience into account when hiring individuals in areas of high demand service personnel positions.

Approved Monday, following a 30-day comment period, were changes to Policy GCD – Staff Vacation and Holidays, and Policy GCGB – Arrangements for Substitute Professional Staff.

Under Policy GCD, changes were made to the section concerning Outside School Environment Days, making it applicable to the school district’s 240-day employees, stating “OSE days will appear on the employee’s paycheck as vacation leave as a means of tracking. These days must be used within the fiscal year and will not be carried over.”

Officials have stated the change would provide more flexibility to those employees, who previously were restricted to certain times of the school calendar to use their OSE days.

The changes to Policy GCGB removed language which would have penalized substitute professional staff who failed to answer their telephones “between 5:30 a.m. and 8:00 a.m. for more than four times each semester.”

At Enich’s recommendation, proposed changes to the school district’s Dock Days policy – known as Policy GCC – were pulled from the agenda.

“I still have some questions I want answered,” Enich said, explaining he plans to reach out to other West Virginia school districts for input.

Board Vice President Ed Fields noted there is the possibility the policy will have to go back out for comment if additional adjustments are proposed.

“If you change any language, it has to go back out,” Fields said.