McDowell Free Press

By Miles Layton

The McDowell County Board of Education addressed student attendance, personnel matters, facility repairs, and policy updates during its regular meeting on Thursday, Jan. 22, at the Central Office.

The board awarded a bid for repairs at the Phoenix Center to Certified Consulting, Inc., doing business as Morgan Contracting Company, in the amount of $133,870. The project is intended to address facility needs and ensure the center’s continued safe operation. The Phoenix Center project is a rebuild of the building’s interior after flooding damaged it in February 2025. The board also approved repairs to the baseball field at RVHS — the field flooded in February 2025. Folks will be talking about that flooding in McDowell County for years to come.  

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Board members received a report on chronic absenteeism during the first semester from Aaron Lester, director of child nutrition and student services. Lester presented data and outlined plans to improve student attendance across the district. Chronic absenteeism, defined as students missing a significant portion of the school year, has been a growing concern for school systems statewide and can affect academic performance and graduation rates.

The board also approved several personnel actions. Roger Hale was employed as a countywide substitute teacher, effective Feb. 2, 2026. In addition, the board accepted the resignation of Randall Johnson, assistant football coach at Mount View High School for grades 6-8, effective Dec. 17, 2025.

Board members approved Michele Sweeney as a volunteer for school activities and non-coaching duties at Bradshaw Elementary School.

The board approved multiple student trip requests, allowing students to participate in educational and athletic activities outside the county. Road Branch Junior High and Mount View Middle School boys and girls basketball teams in grades 6-8 were approved to attend a game on Feb. 10. The Mount View High School volleyball team, grades 9-12, received approval to travel to Columbus, Ohio, on April 26, to attend a professional volleyball game.

Two additional trips were approved for Sandy River Middle School students in grades 6-8 to attend the Wyldlife Winter Weekend at Rockbridge Alum Springs on Feb. 20 and return on Feb. 22.

In policy matters, the board gave final approval to Revised Policy 8-058, which addresses substitutes in areas of critical need and shortage and had previously been open for public comment.

The board also approved the McDowell County Schools Site Monitoring and Access Control Project, a districtwide initiative focused on improving door security and campus access to enhance student and staff safety.

The Board of Education’s next meeting will be at 4 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 5, at 900 Mount View Road, Welch. 

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