Board of Education Hears CTE Presentation

Tonia Ferguson Gives Presentation on CTE program to the Board of Education.

By Marija Ilic

Barbour County's Board of Education convened a meeting on Monday evening, March 11, with a packed agenda.

One of the focal points was the Career and Technical Education (CTE) program, as Tonia Ferguson presented data on state and federal indicators. The success of the program in meeting benchmarks led to a significant increase in funding, particularly from federal sources. Notably, the county received over $22,000 in additional funding due to its achievements. Discussions also centered around strategies to enhance middle school enrollment, identified as an area for improvement. In order to meet funding criteria, county needed minimum score of 75, and Barbour County scored 98, coming up short only in the area of middle school enrollment.

Another highlight was the presentation by the Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA). With a focus on projects, community service, and fundraising, the organization witnessed a surge in membership – with 20 last year, and 31 this year, and with 16 students qualifying for nationals this year. This year’s nationals will be held in Orlando, Florida. The group is looking for funding, as hotel and registration alone will cost them $8100, and transportation cost is yet to be determined. State FBLA provides the transportation, but there is cost involved.

Delegations from both Philippi and Belington Public Libraries were seeking funding support from the Board. Both libraries emphasized the importance of local institutions in educational enrichment and sought assistance to sustain their diverse programs. The state requires public libraries to draw half of their funding from the local governments – City, County, and Board of Education.

Jody Carpenter from WVU Extension Services presented a budget request, advocating for the transition of a part-time employee to full-time status to address staffing gaps and enhance community outreach.

Concerns regarding the enforcement of bullying policies were raised by Kristi Grassi, urging a reexamination of protocols to ensure student safety and well-being.

Infrastructure development also found its place on the agenda. Roof project at Philippi Elementary School could be starting soon and be done in as little as 90 days. Governor will be present this Friday to present Board of Education with the check for this project.