Tammy Wells, director of Secondary and Vocational Education, presented the annual update to the county’s five-year strategic plan to the Wetzel County Board of Education during their Sept. 6 meeting.

Wells shared some of the core beliefs were altered slightly based on State Superintendent Dr. Jorea Marple’s recommendations. According the plan, the Strategic Planning Committee believes:

Schools have an obligation to help every student fulfill his/her potential by valuing each student’s uniqueness and in ensuring that each student can learn and succeed;

Schools must evaluate the importance of great teachers and learning;

Schools must challenge students and foster responsibility and creativity;

Students, parents, communities, and educators are partners in the lifelong learning process; and

Schools should be a safe, secure, and comfortable environment that fosters excellence in teaching, learning, and achievement.

In addition to outlining the goals of the committee and state department, Wells shared news from the Wetzel County Advisory Council’s Sept. 2 meeting which detailed updates to various programs and offerings by county schools as well as further information regarding the strategic plan.

During the Sept. 2 meeting Deborah Novotny reviewed the special needs portion of the strategic plan wherein data was analyzed which included the graduation rate and achievement of the WesTest II. The analysis determined training needed to be conducted in the area of autism and in the development of IEPs (Individualized Education Plans). Much of the special needs budget is used to fund salaries and the purchase of computers and white boards.

Relatedly, Robert Shaver addressed the technology portion of the strategic plan where he referred to the Tools for Schools funds which totals $173,254. He indicated Wetzel County is still in need of 42 white boards. Wells then asked Hannah Loy, one of the student representatives on the council, how effective the use of white boards were in the classroom, to which Loy said having the white boards made learning more fun.

Under other matters discussed at the advisory council meeting, it was learned Pre-Kindergarten programs in the county will be audited by the state department on Feb. 10, 2012. The Early Learning Scale will be the new assessment and training will be provided for teachers and aides. Kindergarten will now be using the national common core standards with the upper grades expanding to the standards in years to come. Also, Fast Forward has been expanded to include Ticket to Read and Voyager Math at the elementary level.

Also, there have been changes in Title I, as Long Drain School no longer qualifies for Title I due to change in free and reduced lunch figures. New Martinsville School will now qualify for Title I. Since Short Line School did not meet AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress) for the past two years, parents had to be offered school of choice, however no parents indicated they would prefer their child attend a different school. Title I is funding three specialists at both NMS and at SLS. Notably, both LDS and SLS held summer school for children. An added bonus was the free breakfast and lunch for any students under the age of 18. Title I funds will once again be available for students who meet the definition of homeless. The funds will purchase backpacks and school supplies for the students.

Sue Villers spoke to the accomplishments of Title II. This past year groups of teachers participated in the Teachers’ Leadership Institute with follow-up webinars. These teachers assist the principals in leadership of the county’s schools. Two days of training were provided for Support for Personalized Learning for teachers in grades 9-12. Kindergarten teachers attended a week-long academy focused on the national core standards. Academy sessions were held at each school for one day to evaluate test scores and train on test strategies and instructional practices. Several principals, the superintendent, and Villers attended the Student Success Summit designed to help students achieve and reduce the dropout rate. For the 2011-2012 strategic plan, Title II will continue to fund the Teachers Leadership Institute, Summer Academy, teacher mentor training, and training on Building Common Assessment for a team from New Martinsville School. Also, $5,000 will be set aside to reimburse teachers who are not highly qualified to be reimbursed for the cost of tuition. Title II will also be provided a reading interventionist at LDS.

In other news, this year’s adoption of social studies textbook funds will not be spent on textbooks as directed by the state department, but rather the funds are to be used on digital purchases statewide.

To this, Shaver elaborated on how the social studies funds would be used. He stated the funds will be used toward wireless infrastructure of commercial quality and also for digital devices. However, he noted there was not enough funding for each student to have a device. He explained the curriculum for social studies is on the Teach 21 Web site. Wells said teachers attended training on its use this past summer. Shaver talked about E-Rate which pays a lot of the county’s internet costs by funding switches and cable. With this information at hand, Ben McPherson, principal of Valley High School, expressed concern of keeping up with the devices when the county does not have enough personnel now.

Lastly, Wells also reviewed progress and budget items for vocational education during the Sept. 2 meeting. Vocational funds will fund a job coach for special needs students for transitioning into the workforce.

Following the presentation the board approved the updated five-year strategic plan.

In a related matter, Superintendent Watt shared with the board that as of the Sept. 6 meeting, roughly 32 additional students are enrolled in Wetzel County Schools this year according to preliminary student enrollment figures.

Also during this meeting the board agreed to uphold the superintendent’s recommendations to terminate the contract of Ralph A. Myers, bus operator for Coburn/Big Run North Fork/Town Hill bus route, Bus No. 10, for failure to fulfill the terms of his probationary contract.

The board also upheld Watt’s recommendation to deny Donna Dalton’s request for her children, Dylan Bushong and Destiny Dalton, to enroll and attend school at SLS for the 2011-2012 school year.

Under other matters, the board approved the First Reading of Wetzel County Policy GDE: Employment Service Personnel Substitutes; and the Second Reading of Wetzel County Policy GDN: Evaluation of Service Personnel.

Additionally, the following commencement dates and times have been set: Valley High School, May 24, 2012, 7 p.m.; Magnolia High School, May 25, 2012, 8 p.m.; Hundred High School, May 26, 2012, 10 a.m.; Paden City High School, May 26, 2012, 2 p.m..