As did the first semester of the 2017 school year, the December 18 Board of Education meeting wrapped up quickly.
Superintendent Campbell and Maintenance Director Jonathan Hicks shared some “awesome news” which was Tucker County received $828,647 from the West Virginia School Building Authority. The needs grant funds will primarily go toward installing a new roof next summer at Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School.
Some site improvements will also be included in the grant allotment, including drainage around the school and paving. “We’re all happy and excited that we finally got the money to do the roof,” Hicks said. The county is not required to match any of the funds provided.
Board Member Kevin White initiated a conversation about the possibility of hosting vocational classes such as welding and other industrial maintenance skills at the high school. “It’s a numbers game for us. There’s always a trade off, when we add something, something always goes away,” Superintendent Campbell responded. The Board discussed ways to hold vocational classes without a cost to the school system. “There’s a need for that, and it’s a shame that we don’t have it,” Board President Tim Turner said.
Plans are underway for summer school in 2018. Funding for summer school in Tucker County comes from the West Virginia Leaders of Literacy Grant. “We are going to try to, again, stretch that money,” Dr. Campbell said.
He mentioned that the school system wants to partner with Energy Express for the summer school program as well. Energy Express is an eight week summer reading and nutrition program provided by West Virginia University Extension Service. “They have essentially, without doing it officially, have told us that we are in,” Dr. Campbell said.
The January 2 meeting was cancelled, so the next Board of Education meeting is schedule for Tuesday, January 16 at 4:30 p.m.
Other dates scheduled for the spring include: Davis Thomas Elementary Middle School PTO meeting on January 3 at 6:30 p.m., Tucker Valley Elementary Middle School PTO meeting on January 18 at 6 p.m., Prom is on April 28, the StArt Show is on May 6, Baccalaureate and Awards on May 25, and Graduation is May 25.
