photo by: Emma Delk

Marshall County Schools 2025 retirees were honored during the Board of Education meeting on Tuesday. Back row from left, Susan Kelch, Tammy Durrah, Lois Myers, Shelly Gump, Yaunette Dunn, Chester Nadolski and Denise Phillips. Front row from left, Russell Applegarth, Darla Minor, Lorna Hall and Karen Sue Lewicki.

The 22 Marshall County Schools staff members retiring this year were honored during the board of education meeting on Tuesday.

The retirees collectively worked hundreds of years in the school system. Eleven attended the board meeting to receive certificates recognizing their service and enjoy a brief reception with cupcakes.

The 2025 MCS retirees are Lee Anderson, Russell Applegarth, Yaunetta Dunn, Tammy Durrah, Tom Gorby, Shelly Gump, Lorna Hall, Erin Holmes, Brad Howard, Susan Kelch, Susan Lewicki, Susan Martin, Doug McCombs, Darla Minor, Lois Myers, Chester Nadolski, Denise Phillips, Bill Talkington, Tracle West, Dani Jo Wilson, Chris Wood and Rick Young.

As board members passed out the certificates, they shared memories and stories about each retiree. Board President John Miller expressed his appreciation to the group, noting that the retirees had given “a lot of years” to the students in Marshall County.

Board member Lori Kestner joked that it was “not too late” for the retirees to change their minds. MCS Superintendent Dr. Shelby Haines added that the retirees were always welcome in the county as substitutes.

“You haven’t left the building yet, so you can still come back,” Kestner said. “I’m sure you all have probably said that you were going to retire a long time ago, and still you’re here, so we’re thankful for that. You all have so many great things ahead of you.”

In other business, board members unanimously adopted the 2026-27 Budget to be submitted to the state department. No members of the public spoke during the 2026 Budget hearing.

Treasurer Nan Hartley presented the 2026 Budget to board members during the board meeting on Tuesday, May 13. The total revenue was $129.9 million, and the total expenditures were $204.9 million. A total carryover of $75 million between 2025 and 2024 resulted in a balanced budget.

Board members unanimously approved the FY2026 Salary Schedule, which includes the pay scales for teachers, service personnel, administrators and coaches. Haines noted that the pay scale for advisors on non-WVSSAC-sanctioned sports had been moved to the coaches’ pay scale following board members’ review during the May 13 board meeting.

“We took a couple of the advisors for clubs like lacrosse and put them into the coaches scale,” Haines said. “Robotics, golf, dance and some other clubs that will now have advisors paid like coaches.”

Haines also presented the 2024-25 Attendance Report to board members. The 2024-25 County Attendance Rate was 92.60%, a slight increase from last year’s 91.79%. Glen Dale Elementary School had the highest attendance rate of 95.06%, and the Gateway Achievement Center had the lowest attendance rate of 88.83%.

The report included the percentage of chronically absent students in the county, which tracked students who missed more than 13 school days, excused or unexcused. The 2024-25 chronically absent student rate was 20.48%, a slight decrease from last year’s 22.66%.

John Marshall High School had the highest percentage of chronically absent students, 28.06%, and Glen Dale Elementary School had the lowest percentage, 3.28%.