ELKINS — The first of three days of Reduction in Force (RIF) hearings for Randolph County Schools personnel got underway Monday night, with a third meeting scheduled for this evening.

All five Randolph County Board of Education members were present at the meeting, which featured 10 separate hearings for professional personnel. The BOE did not vote on any of the RIF recommendations on Monday evening.

The BOE was joined by Interim Superintendent Terry George and Mike DiPasquale, the school system’s Director of Human Resources, Personnel and Staff Development.

George, who was appointed on Saturday evening after Dr. Shawn Dilly resigned from the superintendent’s post on Friday night, kicked off the meeting with opening remarks.

“It’s unfortunate that we are here every year to do these kinds of hearings,” George said. “All of the teachers and service personnel that will be represented in these meetings are probably excellent employees.

“This just happens to turn into a numbers game where we have schools that have closed, we have some realignment with some of the schools in the county, and we have a reduced student population. And as a result of these situations, you have to sometimes reduce the overall numbers of staff.”

Reduction in Force is the process of laying off teachers and staff and is typically driven by declining enrollment, school closures, and financial constraints. Employees in Randolph County who receive a RIF letter in early spring can request a hearing to speak to BOE members during RIF personnel meetings. Each employee can choose to have their hearing in public or private (executive session) and each have 15 minutes to speak during that time.

Monday’s hearings lasted close to three hours in total. If any of this week’s hearings/meetings are not completed by 11 p.m., they will be recessed and continued on a later date chosen by the BOE. Tonight’s meeting is slated to begin at 5:30 p.m.

Professional personnel taking part in hearings on Monday whose positions were recommended for termination included Jennifer Mendelson, a science teacher at Elkins Middle School; Donya White, a special education teacher at Midland Elementary; and Edward Burda, a business education teacher at Elkins High.

Professional personnel taking part in hearings on Monday whose positions were recommended for transfer included Samuel Everson, a math teacher at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School; Lucy Godwin, a sixth-grade teacher at TVM/HS; Amanda Belan, a physical education teacher at Midland Elementary; Susan

Professional positions recommended for termination at Tuesday’s RIF meeting/hearings included Elizabeth Lowe, a kindergarten teacher at Coalton; Erica Roth, a kindergarten teacher at Third Ward; Kelsey Mahanes, a kindergarten teacher at Midland; and Jodie Akers, an itinerant school counselor with the Randolph Technical Center. Tina Wulin Gomez, a first-grade teacher at Third Ward Elementary, is recommended for transfer.

Service personnel recommended for termination at Tuesday’s meeting included Teresa McCloud, an ECCAT/aide at Midland, and Chloe Sycafoose, an aide VI-Behavioral Support assistant teacher at EMS. Denver Chewning, a custodian III at the BOE Central Office, has been recommended for transfer.

“Mr. Dispasquale will tell you that most of these people who are involved in these hearings the next couple of days are going to have an opportunity to find employment within the Randolph County system once jobs start being posted at the conclusion of the hearings,” George said Monday.

Professional personnel positions recommended for termination on the agenda for Wednesday’s RIF hearings include Nicholas Casey, a math teacher at Elkins Middle School; Glen Auvil, a math teacher at Randolph Technical Center; Crystal Grimmett, a business education teacher at Randolph Technical Center; Brandon Combs, a physical education teacher at Elkins Middle School; Logan Vliet, a physical education teacher at North Elementary; Christian Moats, a physical education teacher at Harman; Hali Newlon, a social studies teacher at Elkins Middle School; Tommy Cogar, a social studies teacher at Harman; Jennifer Nottingham, a school counselor Itinerant at George Ward; Kyle Isenhart, a special education teacher at Tygarts Valley Middle/High; Rebecca Webley, a special education teacher at Elkins High; Ava Holt, a special education teacher at George Ward; John Taylor, a special education teacher at Elkins Middle; Carmen Boggess, a fourth-grade teacher at Beverly Elementary; Tiffany Carr, a third-grade teacher at Beverly Elementary; Samantha Golden, an art and physical education teacher at Jenning Randolph Elementary; Angela Vandevender, a Title 1 teacher at George Ward; Emily Baker, a first-grade teacher at Beverly Elementary; Cynthia Dilly, a pre-k teacher at Jennings Randolph; Kendyl Taylor, a fifth-grade teacher at Elkins Middle; Lindsay Blake, a fourth-grade teacher at Jennings Randolph; Fisher Goodwin, a music teacher at North Elementary; Natasha See, a fifth-grade teacher at George Ward; Amanda Bennett, a fifth-grade teacher at Jennings Randolph; and Amanda Simmons, a first-grade teacher at Beverly Elementary.

Professional personnel positions recommended for transfer on the agenda for Wednesday’s RIF hearings include Debra Berdine, business education teacher at Elkins Middle; Declan McGill, physical education teacher at Elkins High; Kelley Shaffer, a principal at Harman; Rebecca Vance, school counselor itinerant at Harman; Samuel Hawkins, school counselor itinerant, North Elementary; Ronnie Armentrout, a special education/business education teacher at Harman; Lacey Mullennex, a special education teacher at Harman; Anna Elmore, a special education teacher itinerant at Coalton; Taylor Thomas, a Title 1 teacher at Beverly Elementary; Twila Zirkle, a fifth-grade teacher at Coalton; Kelly Malcomb, fifth-grade teacher at George Ward; Jennifer Vandevender, a fifth-grade teacher at Midland Elementary; Hannah Shiflett, a music teacher at Midland Elementary; Cassie Atkins, a kindergarten/first-grade teacher at Harman; and Wendy Thurston, a vocational agriculture teacher at Harman/Elkins High.

Service personnel positions recommended for termination on the agenda for Wednesday’s RIF hearings include Nathan Scott, a custodian III at Elkins High; Kyle Cobb, a custodian III at Third Ward Elementary; Jamie Lanham, a custodian III at George Ward; Justin Fincham, a custodian III at Elkins High; Charlotte Warder, a cook at Elkins Middle; Kelly Crawford a cook at Elkins High; Kimberly Arbogast, a cook at George Ward/Tygarts Valley Middle/High; Melissa Mahanes, a cook at Elkins High; Tonya Irwin, secretary III/Accountant II at Randolph County Schools; Tina Edwards-White, an aide VI and behavioral support assistant teacher at Elkins High; Sommer McAtee, an ECCAT/Aide at George Ward; Elisha Shreve, a bus/classroom aide itinerant at Beverly Elementary; Shawn Higgins, autism mentor/aide at Elkins Middle; Autumn Delauder-Kisner, a classroom aide itinerant at Elkins Middle; Patricia Casto, a classroom aide itinerant at Elkins Middle; Johnnie Meadows, a custodian III at North Elementary; Rachella Hedrick, a custodian III at Harman; Danielle McDonald, a custodian III at Harman; Nicole Crites, a cook at North Elementary; Kelly Crawford, a cook at Jennings Randolph; Angela Isenhart, an ECCAT/aide at North Elementary; Shawnee Morgan, an ECCAT/aide at North Elementary; Maya Engstrom, an ECCAT/aide at Beverly Elementary; Tammy Anderson, an ECCAT/aide at George Ward; and Tammy Higgins, ECCAT/aide at Midland Elementary.

Service personnel positions recommended for transfer on the agenda for Wednesday’s RIF hearings include Mark Cain, a custodian II at Midland; Glenda Balint, a custodian III at North Elementary; Mary English, a custodian III at Alternative Learning Center; Drema Bender, a cafeteria manager at Harman; Evelyn Floyd, a cafeteria manager at North Elementary; Joni Mullennex, a cook at Harman; Flisha Dean, a cook at Beverly Elementary; Dana Bennett, a secretary II/accountant II at Harman; Melinda White, ECCAT/aide, Harman; Heather Pritt, ECCAT/Aide at Midland Elementary; Jennifer Markely, ECCAT/aide at North School; Melanie Paugh, a ECCAT/aide at Harman; Nuttakul Yirmiyahu, ECCAT/aide at Third Ward; Dana Arbogast, an ECCAT/Aide at North Elementary; Rachel Ball, an ECCAT/Aide at George Ward; Barbara Hedrick, an ECCAT/Aide at North Elementary; Samantha Vandevender, an ECCAT/Aide at North Elementary; Melody Jones, an ECCAT/Aide at Third Ward; Lydia Woodford, an ECCAT/Aide at North Elementary; Candy Proudfoot, an ECCAT/Aide at George Ward; and Suzanne Wymer, a bus/classroom aide at Harman.