By Adam Pack
The Greenbrier County Board of Education met for their regularly scheduled meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 13 to recognize the nursing staff at New River Community and Technical College. After a time out for applause, Director of Career and Technical Education Deborah McClintic announced that, “The Greenbrier County Board of Education would like to recognize the [NRCTC] LPN program staff and instructors for aiding our Greenbrier LPN students throughout their last months before graduation. The staff stepped in to instruct our 17 LPN candidates to help them successfully earn their LPN nursing cert from the greenbrier school of practical nursing.”
Staff recognized Tuesday night included Duane F. Napier, Jo Anna Perry, Vanessa Bailey, Laurie Bourdeaux, Carla Sarver, and Michelle Johnson. Napier, Bailey, and Johnson were unable to attend. Board member Jeanie Wyatt spoke for the whole board when she extended many thanks and appreciation to the staff of the NRCTC’s Nursing Staff.
The Board also motioned to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Greenbrier Aquatic Center. Superintendent Jeff Bryant said that he and the board were “honored” and “grateful for the vision of those here from the aquatic center and many who are not who have seen made this a reality.” He explained that students in the sixth grade will receive swimming instruction at the Aquatic Center during the school year.
This measure had been discussed at summer meetings, and now representatives from the Aquatic Center were on hand to officially sign the MOU to begin the program. Those representatives explained the reasoning behind the MOU prior to signing.
“We had high school students from [Greenbrier] East conduct research last year in preparation for this, and they found that almost fifty percent of the population of this state cannot swim, and that drowning is the second largest cause of accidental deaths among children. With that said, we want to thank the Greenbrier County Board of Education for partnering with us so much.” The board also made note that this program will be made possible by the new school levy, which will be on the Nov. 8 ballot.
In other news, the Board designated Sept. 23, 2022, as Greenbrier County School Service Personnel Day. This comes after a decree by Governor Jim Justice declared the same day to be West Virginia School Service Personnel Day. The Governor’s Proclamation stated that, “Whereas school service personnel are involved in nearly every aspect of education, by maintaining buildings and grounds, preparing and serving meals, keeping school facilities clean and orderly, assisting in the classroom, providing administrative support functions, providing safe transportation, and many other specialized services,” and “whereas school service personnel are dedicated individuals who serve the children of West Virginia and our public education system and have an important role of non-instructional service, be it resolved … September 32rd be School Service Personnel Day.”
Superintendent Bryant echoed the sentiments of the proclamation. “We are so indebted to our service personnel; our service personnel have such a major impact on our school system and we are so blessed with great service personnel.”
Wyatt agreed, adding, “We couldn’t have a school system without our dedicated school service personnel. During COVID they really stepped up, especially the bus drivers with the delivery of meals and so on and so we are so grateful to them.”
The next Board of Education meeting will be Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 6 p.m. in the Kyle & Ann Fort Arts & Sciences Building at 653 Church Street. The public is encouraged to attend.