POINT PLEASANT— Members of the Mason County School Board are requesting Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School (PPJSHS) keep their AA status.

There have been some concerns about the upgrading of PPJSHS to a AAA school, and the unfair advantage it would create for the other, often larger AAA schools when it comes to certain events, such as sporting events.

At Tuesday night’s school board meeting, a letter was presented explaining this request to not be made a AAA school, which will be sent to Gary Ray, Executive Director of the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission. Board member Randy Searls read the letter aloud, and it read as follows:

Dear Mr. Ray:

This letter shall serve as notice that Mason County Board of Education is requesting that the West Virginia Secondary School Activities Commission (WVSSAC) and its Board of Directors review and take possible action to their recent decision of WVSSAC rule 127-3-10 Classification, declaring Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School increase in class from AA to AAA status.

Data provided by West Virginia Education Information System (WVEIS) for Point Pleasant Junior Senior High School (PPJSHS) as of September 30, 2011 had an enrollment (7-12) of 1,295 students. Every month since the classification numbers were presented to the WVSSAC, PPJSHS has declined in enrollment. As of February 27, 2012 PPJSHS has an enrollment (7-12) of 1,184 students, a decrease of 111 students within this five month span. This trend is projected to continue in its path of downward enrollment. We are aware that WVSSAC bases its decision of grades 9-12, however, the classification decision last for four years, therefore, grades 7 & 8 are affected. Therefore, we ask the WVSSAC to reconsider the fairness of competition between PPJSHS and much larger populated schools.

All board members signed the letter, and Superintendent Suzanne Dickens reported it was mailed out on Feb. 29. Dickens went on to say the board wanted the public to know about their decision to make this request, and to release the contents of the letter to the Point Pleasant Register.

“We didn’t have to be a AAA school,” Dickens said. “It makes it tougher for us.”

Also at the board meeting, a special reception was held in honor of Jackie Anderson, who has recently been named the State ProStart Teacher of the Year, and was featured for this accomplishment in a previous edition of the Point Pleasant Register.

The board also approved the following personnel items:

Approved the placement of Sarah Smith, an Ohio University Student, to do her student teaching at Wahama Jr/Sr High School, for the Spring Quarter. Approved the Clinical Affiliation Agreement between Fairmont State University School of Nursing and Allied Health and the Mason County Board of Education for the 2011-12 school year. Approved the Memorandum of Understanding between Foster Grandparents Program and the Mason County Board of Education Beginning January 2012 thru January 2015, to place Foster Grandparents in Mason County Schools. Approved Anthony Gilliam as an approved driver for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year. His driving record has been checked by the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.

Approved volunteers from Beale Elementary, Point Pleasant Intermediate, and Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, for the remainder of the 2011-12 school year. Approved the following work based businesses effective immediately through September 30, 2012: Bob’s Market, New To You Thrift Store, and Dandy Don’s Heating and Cooling. Approved the out of state field trip request from Point Pleasant Intermediate School for Sixth Grade Students, Glenn Long, Annette Cook, Cameron Moffett, and approved volunteers to travel to Cincinnati, Ohio, May 29 thru May 30, 2012. School General Funds will be the funding source.

Approved the out of state field trip request from Wahama Jr/Sr High and Hannan Jr/Sr High for Jessy Painter, Kendra Thompson and Jr Board of Directors of Farmers Bank Members to travel to Columbus, Ohio, from March 13, 2012 thru March 14, 2012. Funding will be provided by Farmers Bank. Board member Thompson recused himself for this item.

Approved permission to post the position of Career Center and Work Skills Training Teacher/Work Based Learning Facilitator, at Mason County Career Center. County will be the funding source. Approved to delete the .5 LD/BD/MI Special Education Teaching position at Roosevelt Elementary for the 2011-12 school year. Approved to post the position of Special Education LD/BD/MI, Teacher, Roosevelt Elementary, for the 2011-12 school year. Approved Regular Employee Status for Marquita Duke beginning January 25, 2012, and Erin Northup beginning February 3, 2012. Accepted the resignation of Denise Buchanan, Librarian, Hannan Jr/Sr High, effective June 30, 2012.

Accepted the resignation of Troy Rhodes, Substitute Teacher, Central Office Itinerant, effective February 7, 2012. Approved the employment of Leslie Stepp, as substitute teacher for the 2011-12 school year. County will be the funding source. Approved the employment of Brian King, Laura Smith, and Mikka Yonker, as substitute nurses for the 2011-12 school year. County will be the funding source. Approved to adjust immediately the assignment location of Charla Martin from Counselor, Alternative School, to Counselor .5 Point Pleasant Intermediate School and .5 Alternative School.

Approved the employment of Christina McCormack, LD/BD/MI Teacher, Hannan Jr/Sr High, Job #501-616-P, effective 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Ms. McCormack is being employed from the Reduction In Force List. Approved the employment of Anthony Toler, LD/BD/MI Teacher, Point Pleasant Jr/Sr High, Job #502-838-P, effective 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Mr. Toler is being employed from the Reduction In Force List. Approved the employment of Christopher Lyons, LD/BD/MI Teacher, Wahama Jr/Sr High, Job #503-749-P, effective 2012-13 school year. Special Education will be the funding source. Mr. Lyons is being employed from the Reduction In Force List.

(Note: The remainder of the approved items and personnel will appear in Friday’s edition.)