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NEW CUMBERLAND -- Regular meetings of the Hancock County Board of Education may soon be on the move.
The school board met in special session Monday, where members approved a recommendation to place a proposed policy amendment out for public comment with a goal of moving regular meetings to Tuesday nights.
Board Vice Chair Ed Fields noted Monday's vote simply was to initiate a 30-day comment period, with the proposal to be placed on the Hancock County Schools website. For the change to become effective, the board will have to take a formal vote following the public comment period.
"We'll address it again in 30 days," Fields said.
Board Chair Chris Gillette explained Superintendent Dan Enich, who was not in attendance Monday, had recommended beginning the process now to provide adequate time in crafting the board's meeting schedule.
"Dan said it was pertinent to do it now," Gillette said.
Assistant Superintendent Dave Smith, sitting in for Enich, reported the plan would be to make the switch for the new school year, which administratively begins July 1.
Smith also noted moving the meeting day would provide time necessary to make sure all required paperwork and notifications are properly handled for regular meetings.
"It gives us an extra day during the week," Smith said. "It gives us extra time."
The current meeting policy, last amended in June 2017, establishes regular meetings of the board on the second and fourth Monday of each month. The policy also establishes "proper public notification" will be issued following the Open Governmental Proceedings Act in West Virginia Code, and the notice and agenda shall be emailed to newspapers in Hancock County "three (3) business days prior to the Board meeting. The date of the meeting will not be included in the three business day total."
The agenda also is to be posted on the school board's website three business days prior to the meeting.