By Stephen Smoot
For the second week in a row, Harrison County Schools stood up to request support for the Game Changer anti-drug program.
For the second week in a row, they walked away with nothing.
The Game Changer program supports anti-drug efforts in schools across the nation, but has found strong support and participation in West Virginia. Governor Jim Justice and First Lady Cathy Justice have promoted it, as well as former West Virginia University star basketball player Meg Bulger and Charleston native major motion picture actress Jennifer Garner.
As a school official described last week to Commissioners, the program focuses on anti-drug education for elementary students and peer leadership development and coaching for middle and high schoolers.
The request caused Commissioners some confusion last week. Game Changers had previously requested support from the Harrison County Commission for its state level organization. That was not clear at the time to Commissioners when the organization requested and received $30,000.
Susan Thomas, Harrison County Commission President, said at the time that she wanted to know if the money sent previously had supported efforts in the county. The official who attended last week only had knowledge of the workings, not the finances, of the program.
Thomas was not in attendance at this meeting, leaving David Hinkle to run the meeting along with Patsy Trecost also present.
This week, Dora Stutler, Harrison County Schools Superintendent, came along with Larry Puccio who chairs the board of directors.
She came to request another $30,000 to support the expansion of the program to the last three schools in the county lacking it. Shinnston area schools served as some of the first in the state to open the pilot program that in its second year expanded to 12 across the county, excluding schools in Bridgeport and South Harrison.
Puccio came to provide information on spending and finances, but no questions were asked of him.
Stutler described how Game Changer’s work brought direct benefit to Lincoln High School. For example, she explained “the vaping has declined significantly . . . the kids are just aware and the community is aware.”
Hinkle made the motion to approve another $30,000, but Trecost’s opposing vote defeated the measure.
At the close of the meeting, Hinkle blasted the non support in the Commissioner Comments period.
He said “I’d like to apologize to Game Changer. This Commission voted to give you $30,000 and now they are reneging on it. They have voted twice to not fund Game Changer.”
Hinkle continued, saying “I don’t think this commission has read what we were charged to do with that opioid money. I think that four or five times we were charged to do everything we could for school students K through 12.”
He concluded with “I apologize for that and apologize for the people who will not be paid next week with the games being played with your all’s money.”
In other business on a light agenda, Commissioners approved the 2024 Tax Increment Financing application from Pratt and Whitney previously discussed in March.
Commissioners also took up the question of launching a usage study. Laura Pysz-Laulis, Harrison County Administrator, stated that it was “to discuss the different plans that are available and possibly move some office spaces around” in currently unused county space.
Hinkle said “we need to do something because we’re paying for utilities for an empty space.” He made a motion to have staff investigate the pricing of holding a usage study, but it failed.
Commissioners did approve two law enforcement related measures. The first will help the County to acquire superior protective equipment for law enforcement officers.
Level IV plates have the ability to protect officers from a round as powerful as one fired from a 30”06 rifle. Currently, their plates can stop pistol rounds and knife attacks. The grant requires zero matching funds.
Next, the Commission approved the receiving of funds from the West Virginia Judicial Assistance Grant program. These funds, which require a 25 percent match for $100,000, help to support the placement of Prevention Resource Officers in middle and high schools. These experienced and specially trained law enforcement officers gather information, engage with students, and protect the schools from violence and other criminal activity.