photo by: Shelley Hanson

Wheeling Park High School student Ike Aderholt, center, is the West Virginia Soccer Player of the Year. He poses with his parents John and Molly Aderholt, a board member, following Monday’s Ohio County Board of Education meeting.

WHEELING — The Ohio County Board of Education unanimously approved a one-time stipend of $2,000 for full-time workers and $1,000 for part-time employees.

To receive the money, employees must first complete and submit a few job-related tasks. For example, for a teacher this could include creating lesson plans. Upon completion the stipends will be handed out in March, said Superintendent Kim Miller. The expenditure will cost a little more than $2 million in total.

“We recognize the hardship with PEIA and all the things taking place throughout the state with the public school system, and thought that now would be a good time to provide all employees with this assistance,” Miller said.

Steven Bieniek, business manager for OCS, noted the school district had a nearly $19 million carryover and could afford to do the one-time stipend.

“We’ve looked extensively at our expenses to make sure this is feasible,” he said. “We have a healthy carryover from last year. … It’s no secret that we prepared and that is the reason we have this healthy carryover. We had inflated tax revenue. That tax revenue is going to go down, but we prepared and as a result we have this to do the right thing and help our employees.”

Miller reiterated that it was not a pay raise.

“Hopefully the state will work out some kinks with PEIA and we’ll be able to help our employees,” she said.

Board President David Croft said the board was permitted to do the one-time stipend under state code.

“It’s within our authority and it only makes sense that if we can save some dollars in other areas that those dollars find their way back to our hardworking employees,” he said.

Board member Andy Garber said the employee tasks will be monitored by principals or administrators.

“I personally think this is something that our people deserve. They worked hard and our test scores have been outstanding,” he said.

In other matters, the board congratulated Wheeling Park High School senior Ike Aderholt for being named the West Virginia Soccer Player of the Year. Aderholt is the son of John Aderholt and Molly Aderholt, who is a member of the Ohio County Board of Education.

Molly Aderholt said she was proud of her son. Ike Aderholt said he had a fun season and a great team this year. After graduation, he plans to attend Grove City College and play soccer there.