The Berkeley County Schools Board of Education met in regular session on July 20, 2026, to conduct routine business, receive instructional and facilities updates, recognize achievements within the district, hear public comments, and consider several operational and governance matters. The meeting included both ceremonial recognitions and action items affecting district operations.
The meeting opened with recognition of two Musselman High School educators. Teacher Molly Rakes was congratulated for appearing as a contestant on Jeopardy!, while Principal Alicia Ribelman was recognized as a finalist for the 2027 West Virginia Principal of the Year award. District leadership highlighted these accomplishments as examples of the work taking place throughout Berkeley County Schools.
One of the largest discussion items was an extensive presentation outlining the district's professional development strategy for the 2026-2027 school year. Administrators described a shift away from isolated training sessions toward continuous coaching, classroom feedback, school-based professional learning, and differentiated support for teachers at different career stages. Special attention was given to mentoring new teachers and expanding professional learning opportunities for special education staff.
Board members discussed how teacher feedback will be incorporated throughout the school year, emphasizing that instructional coaching should focus less on compliance monitoring and more on meaningful support and continuous improvement. Administrators explained that survey feedback, classroom coaching cycles, student performance data, and administrator observations will all be used to refine professional development throughout the year.
The Board approved a consent agenda that included approval of previous meeting minutes, curricular and extracurricular trip requests, use of school property requests, chaperone requests, budget supplements and transfers, payment of bills, financial reports, and the treasurer's report. The available meeting materials indicate these items were approved together as part of the consent agenda.
Several additional action items addressed district operations. The Board considered renewal of the district's Raptor visitor management system, HELA change orders, special education contracts, scheduling of a future board professional development workshop, superintendent-recommended personnel actions, and the process for filling the vacant Board of Education seat created by the resignation of board member Melissa Power. The available materials establish that these matters were before the Board, although detailed vote counts for each individual action are not fully documented in the available source materials.
Community members also addressed the Board during Citizens' Forum. Speakers encouraged greater transparency in district communications, particularly regarding Board decision-making and staffing concerns, and requested improved coordination regarding roadway construction affecting the Dillon Farm Museum property near Hedgesville High School.
The meeting concluded with discussion of future meetings and workshops. The next regular Board meeting was announced for August 3, 2026, with a special workshop scheduled for August 12 focusing on discipline reporting and IXL.
Major Discussion and Action Items
Superintendent Announcements and District Recognition
The superintendent recognized recent accomplishments by Berkeley County Schools employees.
Highlights included:
- Recognition of Musselman High School teacher Molly Rakes for appearing on Jeopardy!
- Recognition of Musselman High School Principal Alicia Ribelman as a finalist for the 2027 West Virginia Principal of the Year
- Announcement that state award winners will be recognized during the Champions of Learning Gala on September 8, 2026
- Announcement of upcoming Board meeting dates
These recognitions emphasized employee achievement and district pride rather than requiring Board action.
Professional Development Plan for the 2026-2027 School Year
District administrators presented a comprehensive professional learning framework designed to improve instructional consistency across Berkeley County Schools.
Major elements included:
- Year-long instructional improvement framework
- Five district evidence-based instructional practices
- School-based professional learning days
- Teacher-led professional development sessions
- Continuous instructional coaching cycles
- Expanded mentoring for beginning teachers
- Increased support for special education teachers
- Greater opportunities for experienced teachers to serve as instructional leaders
Administrators explained that professional learning would become more individualized instead of relying on identical training sessions for all educators.
The plan also expands:
- coaching
- mentoring
- collaborative planning
- teacher leadership
- classroom feedback
- data-informed instructional improvement
No formal Board approval was requested for the presentation itself.
Teacher Induction and Professional Learning
Administrators described a redesigned induction program for new teachers.
Highlights included:
- Eight after-school instructional sessions
- Continuous coaching support
- Classroom mentoring
- Opportunities to earn graduate credit through Marshall University
- Additional compensation opportunities for participating teachers
- Dedicated programming for special education teachers
- Expanded "Beyond the Bell" after-school learning opportunities
The district also plans to increase Beyond the Bell participation capacity significantly compared to the previous year.
Two members of the public addressed the Board.
One speaker discussed long-standing concerns regarding teacher shortages, district transparency, and public communication. The speaker encouraged district leaders to explain decisions more openly and engage residents through existing communication platforms.
A second speaker discussed roadway construction near Hedgesville High School and concerns about impacts to the Dillon Farm Museum property. The speaker requested additional communication between the district and project stakeholders regarding modifications to the planned traffic improvements.
The Board listened to both speakers consistent with Citizens' Forum procedures. The available materials do not indicate formal Board responses or action.
Consent Agenda
The Board considered a consent agenda containing routine administrative business, including:
- Previous meeting minutes
- Trip requests
- Chaperone requests
- School property use requests
- Budget supplements and transfers
- Payment of invoices
- Financial reports
- Treasurer's report
The available meeting materials indicate these items were approved together through the consent agenda.
Facilities, Finance, and Governance
Additional Board business included discussion of:
- Raptor visitor management system renewal
- HELA project change orders
- Special education contracts
- Future Board professional development workshop scheduling
- Superintendent-recommended personnel actions
- Appointment process to fill the Board vacancy created by Melissa Power's resignation
- Executive session legal update
The agenda establishes these topics were considered. Where final actions are not fully documented in the available materials, they are described as discussions rather than confirmed approvals.
Votes, Decisions, and Direction
Verified from the available meeting materials:
- Agenda approved.
- Consent agenda approved.
- Previous regular meeting minutes approved.
- Previous statutory meeting minutes approved.
- Curricular and extracurricular trip requests approved through the consent agenda.
- Use of school property requests approved through the consent agenda.
- Chaperone requests approved through the consent agenda.
- Budget supplements and transfers approved through the consent agenda.
- Payment of bills approved through the consent agenda.
- Financial reports approved through the consent agenda.
- Treasurer's report approved through the consent agenda.
Additional agenda items—including Raptor renewal, HELA change orders, special education contracts, superintendent personnel recommendations, and the Board vacancy appointment process—were discussed. The available materials do not fully establish every final vote outcome or individual vote count, so no additional formal actions are stated beyond what is verified.
Financial Matters
Financial matters before the Board included:
- Budget supplements and transfers.
- Payment of district invoices.
- Financial reports.
- Treasurer's report.
- HELA project change orders.
- Special education service contracts.
The meeting materials available in this conversation do not provide complete financial amounts or vendor details for every item discussed during this meeting.
Policies, Ordinances, Resolutions, and Governance
Governance topics included:
- Scheduling a future Board professional development workshop.
- Appointment procedures for filling the Board vacancy following the resignation of Melissa Power.
- Executive session legal update.
- Continued emphasis on evidence-based instructional practices throughout the district.
The Board also discussed instructional governance through the district's professional development framework, emphasizing consistent instructional expectations and ongoing coaching rather than one-time evaluations.
Reports, Presentations, and Updates
Substantive reports included:
- Superintendent announcements.
- Professional Development Plan for 2026-2027.
- Teacher induction program.
- Beyond the Bell professional learning initiative.
- School-based professional development structure.
- Instructional coaching and feedback systems.
Board members asked questions about:
- Teacher leadership opportunities.
- Feedback mechanisms.
- Professional learning effectiveness.
- Administrator coaching.
- Teacher participation.
- Differentiated support for experienced and beginning educators.
Personnel, Appointments, and Organizational Matters
Personnel-related topics included:
- Recognition of Molly Rakes.
- Recognition of Principal Alicia Ribelman.
- Superintendent-recommended personnel actions.
- Expanded teacher leadership opportunities.
- New teacher induction.
- Veteran teacher professional learning.
- Appointment process for filling the vacant Board seat.
The Board also discussed professional growth pathways for teachers, including graduate credit opportunities through Marshall University.
Projects, Facilities, Infrastructure, and Operations
Operational matters included:
- Raptor visitor management renewal.
- HELA project change orders.
- School property use requests.
- Roadway construction concerns raised by the public regarding Dillon Farm Museum.
- Ongoing district instructional planning.
- Upcoming discipline reporting workshop.
Two speakers addressed the Board.
Topics raised included:
- Teacher staffing shortages.
- Public transparency.
- Better communication regarding Board decisions.
- Community engagement through social media.
- Road construction impacts.
- Coordination with agencies affecting district-owned property.
The Board received these comments in accordance with its Citizens' Forum procedures.
Questions and Answers
Board members asked administrators about:
- How teacher feedback will be incorporated into the new professional development model.
- How instructional coaching differs from previous walkthrough practices.
- How teacher leaders will be selected.
- Whether experienced teachers can benefit from graduate credit opportunities.
- How professional development will be evaluated throughout the school year.
Administrators responded that:
- Feedback will occur through surveys, coaching conversations, classroom visits, and student performance data.
- Coaching will emphasize support rather than compliance.
- Principals will identify teacher leaders based on demonstrated instructional practice.
- Professional learning will continue to evolve using participant feedback.
Students may benefit from more consistent instructional practices and expanded teacher support.
Teachers may receive:
- additional coaching,
- more individualized professional learning,
- expanded leadership opportunities,
- graduate credit opportunities,
- mentoring,
- stronger instructional feedback.
Families may see improved instructional consistency as teachers implement district evidence-based practices.
Community members seeking greater transparency may continue following future discussions regarding district communications and Board decision-making.
The Board vacancy process will eventually result in the appointment of a temporary member until voters elect and certify a successor.
- How will the district measure whether the new professional development model improves student achievement?
- What metrics will be used to evaluate instructional coaching?
- How will teacher feedback influence future professional learning?
- What qualifications are used when selecting teacher leaders?
- How will special education teachers benefit from the expanded mentoring program?
- What timeline exists for filling the vacant Board seat?
- What work remains on the HELA projects?
- What services are included within the approved special education contracts?
- Will additional public communication initiatives be implemented?
- How will community concerns about roadway construction be addressed?
Important Dates and Next Steps
- August 3, 2026: Next regular Board meeting.
- August 12, 2026: Special Board workshop focused on Discipline Reporting (IXL).
- September 8, 2026: Champions of Learning Gala and announcement of West Virginia Principal of the Year.
- Continued implementation of the district's 2026-2027 professional development plan throughout the upcoming school year.
- Continued work to fill the vacant Board seat.
Key Takeaways
- The Board recognized outstanding educator achievements.
- Molly Rakes was recognized for appearing on Jeopardy!
- Alicia Ribelman was recognized as a state principal finalist.
- The district introduced a comprehensive professional development framework.
- Teacher coaching will become more continuous.
- Professional learning will become more individualized.
- Teacher leaders will help lead school-based training.
- New teacher mentoring will expand.
- Graduate credit opportunities will continue.
- Beyond the Bell programming will expand.
- Special education teachers will receive additional support.
- The consent agenda was approved.
- Financial reports were considered.
- Budget transfers were approved through the consent agenda.
- Personnel recommendations were discussed.
- Board vacancy procedures were considered.
- Citizens requested greater transparency.
- Citizens also raised concerns about roadway construction impacts.
- Executive session included a legal update.
- The next regular meeting is August 3, 2026.
- A discipline reporting workshop is scheduled for August 12, 2026.
Official Sources
About the Public Body
- Name: Berkeley County Schools
- Organization type: school-district
- Government body: school-boards
- Location: Martinsburg, west-virginia
- County: Berkeley
- Provider: boarddocs
Keywords
Berkeley County Schools, Berkeley County Board of Education, Regular Meeting, July 20 2026, Martinsburg, West Virginia, BoardDocs, superintendent announcements, professional development, teacher induction, instructional coaching, evidence-based practices, Beyond the Bell, teacher leadership, special education, consent agenda, budget transfers, financial reports, treasurer report, Raptor renewal, HELA change orders, personnel actions, board vacancy, citizens forum, transparency, Dillon Farm Museum, Musselman High School, Molly Rakes, Alicia Ribelman, governance
