A Patrick County Schools division employee was dismissed from employment effective immediately by a vote of the Patrick County School Board at a Nov. 10 meeting. The vote upheld Schools Superintendent Jason Wood’s recommendation.
The board also upheld Wood’s recommendation of revoking the employee’s teaching license and forwarding the recommendation to the Virginia Department of Education (VDOE) Board.
The decision came after a special called meeting on Nov. 8 that lasted for six hours, from 5-11 p.m.
The school division attorney, a court reporter, and four “witnesses” attended the meeting that was primarily conducted in closed session.
Personnel issues are not subject to the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). As a result, additional information will not be forthcoming.
In other matters, the board:
*Approved moving 50 percent of the division’s current sales-and-use tax balance into an interest drawing savings account long-term and to revisit the balance every quarter. The revisit will coincide with every financial quarter
Walter Scott, of the Smith River District, said that as of October, there was $1.1 million in the sales-and-use tax account.
“It’s drawing basically nothing. The last time I checked, there are some around three percent (interest drawing accounts), and I’m sure Sandra Stone (Patrick County Treasurer) is good at finding those,” he said.
*Approved letting Shannon Harrell, of the Blue Ridge District, attend the meeting virtually.
*Approved the personnel report as amended.
*Accepted an amended bid of a construction proposal from Clark Brothers Company, Inc.
*Heard the Superintendent’s report. Wood said the fall semester writing scores were recently received.
“In 10th grade, 81 students tested, and we had an 86 percent pass rate. In 8th grade, 19 students tested and a 100 percent pass rate. And our retakers, six out of 10 passed,” he said.
Wood said the division was also awarded a security grant worth $181, 984.
“We’re able to move forward with the additional radios for out school buses and schools to help with our security and communications,” he said.
*Discussed the one percent sales tax and the revised project proposal list.
*Approved the consent agenda.
Harrell attended the meeting via Zoom.