SCHOOL SUPPORTERS — On Monday, Brooke County Superintendent of Schools Jeff Crook and the county’s school board recognized four volunteers who promoted passage of the school district’s five-year operating levy. From left are: Crook, Teresa Taylor, Tresa Thomas, Rick Taylor and Cindy Schiffbauer. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — A petition to state legislators to stabilize the public employee insurance system and the departure of two members of the athletic staff were among personnel matters before the Brooke County Board of Education on Monday.

The board accepted the resignations of William Garvey, Brooke High School’s athletic director; and Casey Goff, the school’s head football coach.

Superintendent Jeffrey Crook said, “With personnel issues, you can’t really say a lot about it.”

“I wish them both well. They worked really hard for us,” he said.

Crook confirmed Jason Williamson, an assistant principal at Brooke High School, has been named interim athletic director until the position can be filled permanently.

He noted Williamson has served as game day manager for many years and is familiar with the school’s athletics programs.

The Brooke Bruins football team has finished its 2024 season.

Garvey and Goff were relative newcomers to the school district.

Garvey had served as athletic director since May 2023. Prior to that, he served as head football coach at Bethany College for nine seasons and assistant football coach there for seven seasons.

Goff was hired earlier this year to head the football team this fall and also has served as an instructor in the school district’s adult education program.

He came to Brooke after six seasons heading the Division III football program at the College of New Jersey.

In other business, the board supported a resolution urging the state Legislature to rectify financial issues faced by the Public Employees Insurance Agency.

Teachers, administrators and other personnel in public schools are among public employees who receive health care coverage through the agency.

Crook told the board local representatives to the West Virginia Education Association are asking county school boards to support the resolution, which asks the state’s lawmakers to prevent further increases in premiums and cuts to benefits.

PEIA officials have proposed a 14 percent increase for premiums for state employees, 16 percent for local government employees and 12 percent for retired public employees.

They have cited rising medical costs, particularly for prescription drugs.

Antoinette Perkins, the board’s vice president and a retired teacher, said of the insurance system, “This has been a mess for a while. This is imperative, that they straighten this crap out.”

The board also:

• Recognized retired teachers Richard and Teresa Taylor and Cindy Schiffbauer and Tresa Thomas, executive secretary of the Wellsburg Chamber of Commerce, for their efforts in promoting renewal of the school district’s five-year operating levy.

Crook noted the four, working together as the Friends of Brooke County Schools, mailed fliers, posted messages on social media and appeared on commercials, to encourage voter support for the levy.

A total of 2,785 voters, or 65.21 percent, voted in favor of the levy, which will generate $12.1 million for staff, instruction, services and extracurricular activities not covered by the state department of education.

Crook said of the four, “Hardworking people like this really make Brooke County an outstanding community.”

He added the community has been very supportive of its schools and the school district is proud to be a part of it.

• Entered into an agreement with Compassionate ABA LLC, a Weirton organization whose goal is to help youth with autism and other communication/behavioral needs to develop skills needed for healthy mental functioning.

• Announced its next meeting will be at 6 p.m. Dec. 16.