Cuts Make Scheduling Very Difficult At Valley
Valley High School Guidance Counselor Linda Kirk addressed the June 21 meeting of the Board of Education to express her concern for academics at the school. “We’re having trouble scheduling required classes,” Kirk said, because of teacher shortages and funding requirements.
“At the rate we’ve been losing teachers and course offerings,” she continued, “and with the (unfunded) requirements the state continually adds … it’s going to be impossible to meet the requirements for our students.”Passionate and, at times, emotional, Kirk outlined and underlined the complexity of scheduling students at the Mid Ohio Valley Training Institute, e-POP courses, and math and science classes because of when during the day the courses are available.
Kirk is retiring at the end of the current school year.
County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones responded that “We know and understand what you said is true. There is nothing left to cut at VHS. It is heart-breaking to know (that our students are being short-changed).”
Jones said he would ask County Director of Secondary Education Tammy Wells to meet with Kirk and VHS Principal Shane Highley to see what can be done to relieve the shortages and scheduling problems and report to the board at the next board meeting, July 6.
Board Vice President Bob Patterson, who presided at the meeting, thanked Kirk for appearing. “We take very seriously what you say because of your reputation,” said Patterson.
School System Treasurer Jeff Lancaster introduced new revenue for the 2010-11 school year. He said the system has, or will receive, a federal-state grant of $84,000 for special education. He also reported that the school system had received $7,100 state funding to reimburse for H1N1 materials and training.
In addition, Lancaster reported $184,000 has been budgeted from local revenue for prior year (late) taxes.
The board approved Wetzel County’s participation in Title II of the U. S. No Child Left Behind Act, Improving Teacher Quality,” for which the county will receive $236,928 in the 2010-11 school year.
Board Executive Secretary Jeannie Higgins, who also is a public officer, administered the oath of office to Jones for his fourth one-year term as superintendent.
The board voted to approve pay rates for professional and service workers for the coming year. A teacher with no experience would start in Wetzel County earning $30,187 annually. The same teacher with a doctoral degree would start at $36,000 a year.
The pay schedule raises earnings incrementally up to a teacher with 40 years’ experience, who would start at $52,596 per annum, up to $59,009 per year with a doctorate.
A service worker with no experience would start at $17,040 per year and could earn as much as $20,350 starting in Pay Grade H. A service worker with 40 years of experience would start in Wetzel County at $29,870 and could earn as much as $33,190 in Pay Grade H. Earnings for service workers also raise incrementally with every additional year of experience.
There was no change in pay rates from the current year.
The board rescinded its transfer of Deborah L. Allen from fifth grade teacher at Paden City Elementary School to the first grade at the school. It did likewise for Angela M. Barcus, whom it had moved to the sixth grade at NMS. She will remain as kindergarten teacher.
The board approved the retirement of Patricia A. Wildman from her position as third grade teacher at New Martinsville School.
It also approved the retirement of Marilyn McWhorter as assistant principal at MHS at the end of this school year.
The board approved on second and final reading a revision in the pre-trip inspection and school bus cleanliness responsibilities for bus operators. The measure, aimed at improving bus safety and cleanliness, requires a pre-trip inspection before every extra-curricular transport. The measure becomes effective immediately.
The board also approved the first reading of revisions in three policies. A change in the compulsory school attendance policy changes from 10 to five the number of unexcused absences a student may have before a required meeting with the attendance director.
A second policy revision adds students’ e-mail addresses, photographs, grade level, and dates of attendance to that reportable to the state board of education.
A third policy revision permits a school principal to handle student racial, sexual, religious/ethnic harassment, and violence against another student.
The three revisions move to a second and final hearing at the board’s next regularly-scheduled meeting, July 6 beginning at 7 p.m. in the board offices, 333 Foundry St., New Martinsville. It is the only meeting scheduled for July.
Cuts Make Scheduling Very Difficult At Valley
Valley High School Guidance Counselor Linda Kirk addressed the June 21 meeting of the Board of Education to express her concern for academics at the school. “We’re having trouble scheduling required classes,” Kirk said, because of teacher shortages and funding requirements.
“At the rate we’ve been losing teachers and course offerings,” she continued, “and with the (unfunded) requirements the state continually adds … it’s going to be impossible to meet the requirements for our students.”Passionate and, at times, emotional, Kirk outlined and underlined the complexity of scheduling students at the Mid Ohio Valley Training Institute, e-POP courses, and math and science classes because of when during the day the courses are available.
Kirk is retiring at the end of the current school year.
County Superintendent of Schools Bill Jones responded that “We know and understand what you said is true. There is nothing left to cut at VHS. It is heart-breaking to know (that our students are being short-changed).”
Jones said he would ask County Director of Secondary Education Tammy Wells to meet with Kirk and VHS Principal Shane Highley to see what can be done to relieve the shortages and scheduling problems and report to the board at the next board meeting, July 6.
Board Vice President Bob Patterson, who presided at the meeting, thanked Kirk for appearing. “We take very seriously what you say because of your reputation,” said Patterson.
School System Treasurer Jeff Lancaster introduced new revenue for the 2010-11 school year. He said the system has, or will receive, a federal-state grant of $84,000 for special education. He also reported that the school system had received $7,100 state funding to reimburse for H1N1 materials and training.
In addition, Lancaster reported $184,000 has been budgeted from local revenue for prior year (late) taxes.
The board approved Wetzel County’s participation in Title II of the U. S. No Child Left Behind Act, Improving Teacher Quality,” for which the county will receive $236,928 in the 2010-11 school year.
Board Executive Secretary Jeannie Higgins, who also is a public officer, administered the oath of office to Jones for his fourth one-year term as superintendent.
The board voted to approve pay rates for professional and service workers for the coming year. A teacher with no experience would start in Wetzel County earning $30,187 annually. The same teacher with a doctoral degree would start at $36,000 a year.
The pay schedule raises earnings incrementally up to a teacher with 40 years’ experience, who would start at $52,596 per annum, up to $59,009 per year with a doctorate.
A service worker with no experience would start at $17,040 per year and could earn as much as $20,350 starting in Pay Grade H. A service worker with 40 years of experience would start in Wetzel County at $29,870 and could earn as much as $33,190 in Pay Grade H. Earnings for service workers also raise incrementally with every additional year of experience.
There was no change in pay rates from the current year.
The board rescinded its transfer of Deborah L. Allen from fifth grade teacher at Paden City Elementary School to the first grade at the school. It did likewise for Angela M. Barcus, whom it had moved to the sixth grade at NMS. She will remain as kindergarten teacher.
The board approved the retirement of Patricia A. Wildman from her position as third grade teacher at New Martinsville School.
It also approved the retirement of Marilyn McWhorter as assistant principal at MHS at the end of this school year.
The board approved on second and final reading a revision in the pre-trip inspection and school bus cleanliness responsibilities for bus operators. The measure, aimed at improving bus safety and cleanliness, requires a pre-trip inspection before every extra-curricular transport. The measure becomes effective immediately.
The board also approved the first reading of revisions in three policies. A change in the compulsory school attendance policy changes from 10 to five the number of unexcused absences a student may have before a required meeting with the attendance director.
A second policy revision adds students’ e-mail addresses, photographs, grade level, and dates of attendance to that reportable to the state board of education.
A third policy revision permits a school principal to handle student racial, sexual, religious/ethnic harassment, and violence against another student.
The three revisions move to a second and final hearing at the board’s next regularly-scheduled meeting, July 6 beginning at 7 p.m. in the board offices, 333 Foundry St., New Martinsville. It is the only meeting scheduled for July.
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