Menu

Harrison County Schools board meeting, Sep 15, 2026

1 h 03 min · 2 public speakers

This board doesn’t post agenda times. Click a board member to jump to where they first speak; we list only members whose voice our check named. Video length 1 h 03 min.

  1. Who spoke · first speaks at
What happened

What happened at this meeting

Harrison County board approves $58,444.07 change order for Robert C. Byrd High renovation 56:00

  • A district staff member presented the 2026 financial statements, reporting that property tax collections decreased by $11.9 million from FY 2025 and that the general fund finished with a deficit of about $5.4 million. 10:03
  • The board heard two delegations, and the speakers raised concerns about the unused virtual lab class and lost course offerings at South Harrison High School. 21:17
  • A motion on the change order carried after a staff member said the cost comes out of contingency and does not add to the contract sum. 57:00

Until Nov 4, lines where a board member takes a side don't name the member. Why →

Item by item (14)
  1. Opening 9:18
    • The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance. 9:18
  2. 2026 financial statements 10:03
    • A district staff member said property tax collections decreased by $11.9 million from FY 2025 and that the general fund finished with a deficit of about $5.4 million. 11:47
    • The staff member said the unrestricted fund balance is $15.8 million, which is 13% of annual expenditures, below a recommended 16.67%. 12:39
    • The staff member said the district had 16 construction projects during the year and only 6 remained in progress as of June 30th, and that inventory totals about $1.1 million. 17:21
  3. Delegations on course offerings 21:17
    • A speaker said no student has been scheduled into or allowed to choose the virtual lab class at South Harrison High School, leaving Spanish as the only foreign language option. 21:56
    • A second speaker said the school lost Italian and French, advanced science classes and several electives, and that teachers shared with the middle school restrict the schedule. 27:25
  4. Superintendent update 32:32
    • The superintendent said there were no additional abolishments and that the district will be getting its October enrollment. 32:35
    • The superintendent said the district received a meets requirements letter from the West Virginia Department of Ed for special education. 33:27
    • A speaker said that as of 6 PM, 19 people were watching the Heightfield auction. 35:03
  5. Transportation and facilities report 35:36
    • A speaker said the district is working on a physical count of transportation inventory and expects 6 or 7 more substitute bus drivers soon, and that one bus route was taken off the road that day. 35:36
    • The speaker said weight room flooring after the Bridgeport High School flood is above $86,000, with $22,000 to $24,000 possibly saved using in-house crews, and that the school itself is at about $62,000. 36:44
    • A speaker asked about poured floor products, and staff said epoxy floors have been used at other district sites. 41:47
  6. Facilities funding and career center report 43:04
    • A staff member said the district brought in over $20 million in the last 4 years with School Building Authority support for secure entrances and playgrounds. 43:04
    • Douglas Hogue reported that career center enrollment is 348, down probably 60 or more students, and that a new policy will bar students from driving other students. 44:47
    • Douglas Hogue said 10 students have signed up for athletic training. 46:52
  7. State superintendent approved items 49:13
    • A staff member said the state superintendent approved items included an employment, an external contract, personnel matters and the financial statements. 49:13
    • A speaker asked why the external contract was placed under state items, and the staff member said the reasoning was not known. 50:35
  8. Consent items 51:22
    • A speaker said a submitted correction would have to wait for a later meeting because of a 10-day period. 51:36
    • The chair announced the motion carried. 52:19
  9. Out-of-state travel requests 52:19
    • The board considered a motion to approve out-of-state travel study requests as presented by the superintendent. 52:19
    • The chair announced the motion carried. 52:41
  10. Partnership agreements 52:41
    • The board considered memorandums with WVU Parkersburg for the '26-'27 school year and with Milestones in Music LLC for music therapy. 52:41
    • One board member asked why the district would work with another county's health department when Harrison County has one. 54:33
    • A staff member said that health department offers a dental program for schools that the local health department does not offer. 54:44
    • The chair announced each motion carried. 53:10
  11. High school renovation change order 55:41
    • The motion was to approve change order number 1 for a total cost of $58,444.07, leaving a remaining contingency balance of $91,555.93. 55:41
    • A staff member said the changes include ductwork, a food service faucet and cafeteria foundation modifications, and that a spring was found under the site. 56:40
    • A staff member said the cost comes out of contingency and does not add to the contract sum. 57:47
    • The chair announced the motion carried. 57:52
  12. Policy updates 57:52
    • The board considered updates to policies 3120.12, 3120.13 and 4120.12 on substitute bus operators and teachers. 57:52
    • A proposed update to Policy 5410 adds wording on the Third Grade Success Act and will be placed out on a 2-week comment period. 58:36
  13. Personnel recommendations 59:13
    • The board considered the personnel recommendations as presented by the superintendent. 59:13
    • The chair announced the motion carried. 59:44
  14. Board member comments 59:44
    • Board member Tucker thanked those attending and watching. 59:55
    • Dr. Jenny Santilli thanked those who came and the students who spoke. 1:01:21
    • The board adjourned. ~1:02:30

Written by software from the meeting's transcript and checked sentence by sentence against it.

Other meetings

Other meetings of this board

Video: posted by the district as “HCS Regular Meeting - September 15, 2026”