The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

February 5, 2013

Fayette schools chief outlines plan for board

By C.V. Moore Register-Herald Reporter

FAYETTEVILLE — Fayette County School Superintendent Keith Butcher presented the county’s updated strategic plan to the Board of Education on Monday.

In a brief presentation, he said the plan was revised this year to focus more on three areas of specific needed improvement.

The three core goals of the plan include increasing the skills and knowledge of Fayette County educators, increasing student achievement, and increasing the percent of graduating seniors.

The plan outlines specific benchmarks for each. For example, it calls for increasing by 10 percent the number of highly qualified teachers, increasing by 5 percent the students who demonstrate growth in math and English, and reducing the drop-out rate by 10 percent.

Each of the goals comes with a lengthy list of procedures and opportunities for support.

Each year the plan is revised and presented to a county committee that provides input before it is passed on to the West Virginia State Department of Education. Individual schools also write their own strategic plans.

Last year’s plan is posted on the Fayette County Schools website, http://www.fayettecntywv.web1.schoolpointe.com/.

During board member comments at Monday’s board meeting, Pat Gray said Republic Energy had conveyed a desire to be a partner with Fayette County Schools. Lou Jones also mentioned a possible partnership with Bolts Willis to raise funds for a football field at Valley High School.

Dave Arritt, who was recently hospitalized, referenced several Bible verses that had comforted him during his illness.

Leon Ivey is interested in increasing opportunities for science bowl competitions in Fayette County.

Last weekend, for the third consecutive year, Oak Hill High School attended the WV State Science Bowl. They finished in the top six teams in the state this year.

Ivey said that in contrast to sports teams, who compete many times throughout the school year, the science bowl teams have only one shot.

Finally, Steve Bush brought up the excess levy, which goes up for a vote Saturday. He said the levy, which provides over $9 million per year to the general fund budget, has been a “tradition” in Fayette County for years and that it benefits the county.

Early voting runs through Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at three locations: the Memorial Building in Fayetteville, the Danese Community Building, and Montgomery City Hall.

On Election Day, residents must go to their home district’s poling place between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. to cast their vote.

— E-mail: cmoore@register-herald.com

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