Superintendent Tim Hardesty speaks as the Cabell County Board of Education conducts a special meeting to vote his recommendation to revise the excess levy order on July 9, 2024, in Huntington.
Superintendent Tim Hardesty speaks as the Cabell County Board of Education conducts a special meeting to vote his recommendation to revise the excess levy order on July 9, 2024, in Huntington.
HUNTINGTON ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” No recent threats made against Cabell County Schools have been found by law enforcement to be substantiated, Superintendent Tim Hardesty shared in his latest update during a regular board of education meeting Tuesday evening.
The Cabell County Prosecuting AttorneyÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Office Facebook posted in an update into the threat investigations last week that they had interviewed some people who were identified as ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œpersons of interest.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Prosecuting Attorney Jason Spears told The Herald-Dispatch in a text message, of those individuals, no arrests had been made in connection to the threats as of Tuesday evening.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe dealt with a rash of supposed social media threats. I just want to let everyone know, we worked closely with law enforcement to investigate each one of those to determine at that time whether our schools or students were in danger or not and how to respond to that,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Hardesty said during TuesdayÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s meeting.
Cabell County Schools were some of 45 schools across West Virginia, according to a news release from the office of Gov. Jim Justice, that received potential threats online last week.
Also on Tuesday, an unrelated bomb threat was found in a Huntington High School bathroom after school, which the Huntington High ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ Department is monitoring, according to a news release. The school day will proceed as regularly scheduled Wednesday.
The West Virginia Department of Homeland Security and other law enforcement agencies across the state have been investigating all information relating to the threats.
Besides calling 911 if there is imminent danger, West Virginia is also partnered with My Mobile Witness, meaning anyone can report suspicious activity through their mobile devices by downloading the app. The FBI Pittsburgh Division has also asked students, parents and educators to report any suspicious activities by calling 1-800-CALL-FBI or online at .
Hardesty said in an email to families last week to discuss the dangers of misusing social media and the consequences of threats with students throughout this time.
In other business, the board of education reviewed options for funding information delivery regarding the excess levy call, which will appear on the November general election ballot.
Hardesty provided the board with an example of a mailer which would include information about the levy call in detail, which he said could include a letter explaining the levy call.
A full copy of the excess levy call, which will appear on the November ballot, is included on the Cabell County Schools website.
According to the , the call would not raise current property tax rates and would amount to $30,528,234, including $575,979 for the parks and $1,862,289 for the libraries.
Other items funded through the excess levy call include:
School safety
Employee salaries and benefits
Career and technical education and workforce development
Cyber safety and device security
Instructional support and school libraries
Summer programs
Athletics
Facilities maintenance and equipment
Deputy Superintendent Justin Boggs also updated the board on a request from a couple bus operators who attended a regular meeting earlier this month asking to wear shorts in buses which arenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t air conditioned.
Boggs told the board 46 buses currently do not have air conditioning, and it would take about four years to replace those vehicles following the normal replacement schedule. Otherwise, he said it would cost about $10,000 per vehicle to retro-fit air conditioning units.
Boggs said any actions regarding transportation uniforms may be considered next school year.
Boggs also said structural engineers are currently addressing possible structural damages reported at the Cabell Midland High School administrative office. He said work on that part of the building will begin either this week or early next week.
Finally, Boggs told the board graduation requirements at Cabell County high schools have been updated to include a personal finance course.
The board also reviewed the treasurerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s report and statement of net position as of June 30. The entirety of the consent agenda was also passed.
The board will meet again at 5:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 1.
Katelyn Aluise is an education and court reporter.
