BOE swears in re-elected members

HUNTINGTON -- The Cabell County Board of Education swore in two newly re-elected incumbents to serve four-year terms at a board meeting on Tuesday.

The two members sworn in were Ted T. Barr and Suzanne Oxley.

"I only hope that they like us in December like they did in July," said Barr.

The board meeting agenda included a provision in which Superintendent William A. Smith suggested a bid for vending machines that would go to Mountain Vending and Pepsi Cola.

A recent change in Cabell County policy included adopting a recommendation from the State Board of Education for healthier schools. The recommendation suggested that carbonated beverages only be available to the school staff and not to students.

Smith's proposal was to give vending of carbonated beverages in staff areas to Pepsi Cola at a cost of $1.25 per bottle with a commission to the school of 54 percent.

Mountain Vending would be given the bid of water vending to students at the cost of 75 cents-$1 per bottle of water with a 50 percent commission.

The committee suggesting this said they favored Mountain Vending's bid because the cost would be more affordable to students and the difference in commission was nominal.

Mark George, the facility manager for the Pepsi Bottling Co., was present at the meeting and said that Pepsi was concerned about the county not choosing Pepsi's bid for the bottled water contract.

George said that while Pepsi is supportive of measures taken to be more healthy, they feel that the revenue lost should be a concern. He cited an example of a school in an adjacent county that took similar measures and saw a decrease in commissions from $41,000 to $19,000.

"Pepsi has sponsored several (school related) events outside of the contract. I am asking the board to further look at the Pepsi Bottling Co.," George said.

The board voted to set the issue aside in light of the information presented. The board also decided to wait on the scheduled issue of changing the attendance area for those in the Summer Acres subdivision.

The board decided not to vote on the issue of whether Summer Acres children would go to Milton or Culloden Elementary. Board member Bennie Thomas suggested that it would be more appropriate to assess and reconsider the attendance boundaries.

"We are very far behind on redrawing the boundaries," Smith said.

The board also approved suggested revisions of the drug testing program which they approved at their last meeting. The program allows drug screening for students as a requirement for non-class related activities sponsored by the school.

The board also appointed Bessie A. Holley to continue representation of the board at the RESA II advisory council and announced that they would hold a statutory meeting Monday, July 7, at 7:30 p.m.