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Ohio County Board of Education Discusses Superintendent’s Performance, Plans For Students During the Summer

WHEELING - The Ohio County Board of Education met virtually Monday night as they evaluated the superintendent's performance and also discussed the district's summer plans for students.

The board held a closed-door session that lasted about an hour to discuss the evaluation of Superintendent Kimberly Miller. At the board's last meeting on May 26, board members approved a four-year contract for Miller.

Following their private discussion Monday, member Sarah Koegler, serving as board president, said the board has found Miller "exceeded her goals" as superintendent, and "was poised to do great things" in the future. They approved the evaluation, which is to next be sent on to the West Virginia Department of Education.

The appointment of a fourth board member to fill the seat vacated by former board president Zach Abraham was on the agenda to be discussed, but wasn't addressed by members.

"To put somebody on now is ridiculous," member Christine Carder said. "The election is Tuesday."

An earlier closed-door session, which lasted about a half-hour, involved a discussion about property and the former Regional Education Services Agency 6 building. No action or discussion took place following the executive session.

The building, located at 30 GC&P Road in Wheeling, is no longer used for RESA offices as the state began transitioning away from RESA services in 2017. It consists of about 7,000 square feet of space. Past discussions have included the potential of selling or leasing out the property, or using it as a centralized "maker space" center where middle school students could use technology equipment to work on school projects.

Meanwhile, the school district's first online Summer Enrichment Program began Monday, and Miller couldn't contain her excitement when discussing it with board members.

"How amazingly awesome it is," Miller said. "I tried to be a kindergartener today and participate. Then I jumped on with the fifth graders to see what it looked like.

"Our teachers have done outstanding things for our kids. I can't stand it."

Innovation coordinator JoJo Shay said 13 teachers have worked to design "some amazing curriculum."

Online professional development for teachers will be the next offering this summer.

Assistant Superintendent Rick Jones talked about the school district's re-entry plan for athletics.

Conditioning programs for athletes begin this week at Wheeling Island Stadium, and he said these were important as students weren't able to participate in spring and summer sports this year, and may not be ready at this time for athletics.

School officials would like the students to participate in at least seven of the 11 conditioning sessions that have been scheduled, but some parents have expressed transportation problems and conflicts with vacation.

Carder suggested an activity bus be utilized to pick student athletes up at each middle school and bring them to the stadium. Jones said he would look into her suggestion.

The next meeting of the board of the is set for 6 p.m. on June 22, and will be the last with the current board members.