During the Wetzel County Board of Education’s regular meeting held Feb. 20, New Martinsville School Principal Fay Pritchard and Second Grade Teacher Mary Young shared the profitable news that they recently were awarded a Financial Literacy Grant from the state in the amount of $2,000.

Young’s class took part in curriculum focused on budgeting money and saving. To help illustrate all the students learned and accomplished throughout the study, a video slideshow was presented to the board and those present which showed the various activities students took part in relating to finance. This presentation was sent to the West Virginia Department of Education as part of the grant materials for the Financial Literacy project.

During their course the students learned the value of money and even used a computer program to make and print play money. Additionally, they learned to make budgets, set goals, and comparatively shop online for desired items.

To execute these tasks, the students also learned a great deal about utilizing computers and the internet.

In addition to learning about money, they learned about marketing-particularly studying advertising jingles for various products including Oscar Mayer, Secret deodorant, Folgers coffee, and Tootsie Rolls.

“I want them to be problem solvers,” Young told the board. She went on to say that this goal was accomplished above and beyond, in that the students became the teachers. To this end Young organized a Parent Technology Night wherein the students showed their parents their advanced computer skills.

“Seeing the technology that’s been placed in the classroom and how they’re utilizing it is amazing,” Pritchard noted.

The board was pleased to hear of the students’ progress and of Young’s classroom award.

Also during this meeting Superintendent Diane Watt updated the board on proposals surrounding the parking issues at NMS. She noted that the fire department’s idea is to build a fence separating the school lot from the fire house area. However Watt has concerns with that proposal including the fact that parents would still likely park in the fire house’s area and walk around the fence. Also, it’s estimated that constructing a proper fence could cost upwards of $10,000.

Another idea Watt discussed was creating a parking lot attendant position. She went on to say that perhaps an off duty policeman could work in this capacity to help enforce the rules and keep parents and students safe during pick-up time.

After some discussion the board approved Watt to examine the placement of a parking lot attendant at dismissal time to: help direct traffic, stop drivers from blocking other parked vehicles, stop drivers from parking in handicap zones and in the fire department’s areas, and assist in routing traffic so that the fire department personnel are not hindered from responding to an emergency.

Watt will speak more on the matter at the board’s next regularly scheduled meeting.

In other matters, the board also heard a presentation from Tammy Wells, director of student assessment, regarding Social Studies curriculum. This past fall, Ron Dennis, a teacher at Long Drain School and a member of the state Teachers Leadership Institute staff, presented a day-long staff development session on the use of primary and secondary source documents such as speeches, doctrines, letters, and the like, in classroom instruction to secondary county teachers of social studies. “Well-received and extremely useful for the teachers,” Wells said, “it left them wanting more access to resources and training that was specific to their needs in each of the schools.”

Wells shared with the board that following Christmas Break, she visited classrooms and talked with the teachers of grades seven through 12 in the county to get an understanding of where the county is with regard to Social Studies instruction in light of the first year with the statewide digital resources adoption. “This is the first time that the state did not approve any traditional instructional resources, such as textbooks, in favor of freeing up financial resources for counties to upgrade their infrastructure and to purchase the appropriate technology for teachers and students to prepare for the future of education, which is largely digital and hands-on in nature,” Wells explained. “For some of our teachers, this is a huge shift and leaves them feeling a little uncomfortable after teaching quite successfully for a number of years using primarily textbooks, periodicals, and audio-visuals.” Wells went on to say these teachers fully understand and appreciate the depth of knowledge that the students must have in the 21st Century and are willing to “deliver it in the instructional mode necessary.”

Wells then listed these teachers’ requests for staff development. These requests include grade-level meetings to review the Next Generation Standards, further development of the electronic resource packages provided by the state department to meet the needs of teachers and to fill gaps in the packets as they stand, Tech-Steps training for social studies teachers, and tool-specific training for devices such as whiteboards, ELMO, etc.

It was noted that Watt supports all of the teachers’ requests and, regarding the tool-specific training, Watt directed Wells to approach key faculty from West Liberty University at a recent principals meeting with the possibility of having college students majoring in education train teachers on such tools as part of their college program. Wells indicated this idea is doable and will get underway in the near future.

As for other requests, in-county persons have been identified who can facilitate various trainings. Shawn Coen, assistant principal at NMS, has agreed to facilitate the vertical alignment sessions and Robert Shaver and Wells are planning to work together in the development of online resource packages, Tech-Steps training, and the development of an online forum.

“Facilitating grade-level meetings to review the new curriculum will be my responsibility,” Wells said. “I will undoubtedly call upon the expertise of those in the room to guide our efforts.”

Finally, Wells told the board that teachers have also asked that the board make obtaining the proper hardware a priority, including Wi-Fi. “With the round of funding for the next school year, technology for teachers and students remains a priority,” Wells noted. To that end, Wells was happy to report that Shaver shared with her that the wireless installs have been completed in all of the schools and that the techs are in the process of adding new mobile devices to the network.

In addition to approving all personnel and routine matters, the board approved the treasurer’s report including the payment of bills for the month of January and various transfers and increases in the budget.

Lastly, the board established March 5 and March 19 as regular meeting dates for the month of March. These meetings will be conducted at the county office at 7 p.m. Notably, during the March 19 statutory meeting the board plans to determine levy rates.