Sens. Mike Azinger and Donna Boley attend the legislative luncheon hosted by the Pleasants County Board of Education Tuesday afternoon to hear concerns and discuss education among the county and state. (Photo by Candice Black)

ST. MARYS — Members of the Pleasants County Board of Education hosted their annual legislative luncheon Tuesday afternoon which allowed educators and community members to voice their concerns to legislators who represent the county.

Michael Wells, schools superintendent, said the luncheon has been in place since the ’90s.

It’s an opportunity to get together with the community members and county commissioners, Wells said. “It’s an opportunity for us and the legislators to get together and talk before they go into session,” Wells said.

He mentioned the importance of the event.

“It’s critical for our community, we have a voice, to let them know because there’s so many things that come across the legislators’ plates; we want to keep them informed so they can make decisions based on information and facts and having those answers,” Wells said.

Eric Croasmun, principal of Belmont Elementary, shares his thoughts regarding charter schools and discusses information from a friend who teaches at a charter school in Florida. (Photo by Candice Black)

Present were Sen. Donna Boley, Sen. Mike Azinger and Del. Trenton Barnhart.

Wells put together a list of priorities for the 2020 legislative session. The first is to maintain the stability of the Public Employees Insurance Agency (PEIA).

“It has been funded the last few years which we’re very appreciative of, but just making sure we’re going to be able to sustain it over the next several years,” Wells said.

Another topic was the funding for dual credit college courses for high school students. A couple students in Pleasants County were able to graduate with both their high school diploma and an associate degree, Wells said.

Teacher shortages in areas of critical need involving retired West Virginia teachers to return to the classroom without losing retirement benefits were discussed.

Pleasants County Schools Superintendent Mike Wells discusses a few priorities for the 2020 legislative session during the annual legislative luncheon Tuesday afternoon. (Photo by Candice Black)

The needs of homeschool students were also talked about.

Kim Kehrer, director of special programs, talked about the importance of catering a curriculum to the career path of the students.

“I really feel like I want to advocate for those students who are needing to be prepared to be career ready,” she said. Azinger liked her approach and said it was “out of the box thinking.”

Educators brought up concerns regarding the home lives of students. Jim Brown, superintendent of Ritchie County Schools, said dynamics have changed dramatically because of the opioid crisis.

Kehrer gave a statistic saying 70 students since August have been impacted with negative situations at home.

However, Kehrer praised the county and specifically Amanda Mote for creating the “Handle with Care” program, which recently won a statewide award. The program involves alerting school personnel to “handle with care” a student who may have had a drug bust in their home the night before or something of the like.

“We are providing more services. I would venture to say that 90 percent of the state is,” Kehrer said.