With the first day of school just around the corner, local board of education offices, principals and teachers are busily preparing for classes to resume.

Most spent the summer implementing changes to individual county polices, updating facilities and outlining classroom curriculums.

In The Register-Herald’s seven-county circulation area, many had exciting news to report for the 2009-2010 calendar year.

- Wyoming County — Thousands of Wyoming County parents can now be notified about school closings and delays, PTA meetings, or any other school happening within minutes, thanks to a new school messenger system which will be up-and-running just in time for classes, superintendent Frank Blackwell says.

Parents can submit an e-mail address, fax number, cell phone, home and work numbers and receive multiple notifications through this technologically advanced communications system.

Parents are asked to provide schools with contact information for the system on their child’s student information card, which will be handed out on the first day of classes. They can also call their child’s school directly to update information.

“I can send out a message countywide if there’s a blizzard at 10 p.m. to notify every parent in the county that there’s not going to be school the next day,” Blackwell said. “Parents will have to give us their work number, home, e-mail ... and within minutes, every one of those numbers will be notified. It’s just a super messaging service that we’re going to have available for all of our parents and children. We want to increase parent involvement on all levels — elementary all the way through high school,” Blackwell said.

Wyoming County is also providing every student with accident insurance for the first time ever.

“This is one thing we added in our school levy. Every year, we have an accident of some kind where a child is not insured,” Blackwell said.

Wyoming County previously insured student athletes. All students will be covered this year.

- Nicholas County — Nicholas County Superintendent Beverly Kingery says the school district spent the summer months working with the prosecuting attorney and circuit judge in an effort to increase student attendance rates.

Nicholas County Schools utilized stimulus funds to upgrade technology and added an interventionist (to assist with academics) and a countywide Character Education Program, Kingery says.

“Also, our board of education, last year, started a book study about what makes effective school boards. We’re continuing that this year.”

Kingery and board members will spend four two-hour study sessions annually, to review concepts that make school boards more effective.

“I think it’s pretty unique, and I don’t know if any other board in the state is giving up their time voluntarily to do it,” Kingery said.

Nicholas is also putting the finishing touches on it’s automated calling system. Parents can now be notified within minutes of any school happening.

- Fayette County — Fayette County altered its benchmark exams to make them congruent with WESTEST 2, Superintendent Chris Perkins said.

The county also updated countywide bus schedules and combined three elementary schools into one.

Students who would ordinarily attend Oak Hill, East End or Scarbro elementaries will now be attend a new state-of-the-art learning facility — New River Elementary School.

The new school will open Aug.. 26 along with the other schools in the county.

Fayette County brought in two renowned educators, Dr. Larry Lezotte, best known for his work in the “effective schools” area, and Dr. Steve Edwards, experienced in drop-out prevention, to address staff members.

“We’ve also had elementary and secondary content academies, which has dealt with curricular mapping and pacing guides in the core subjects areas — English, science, math and social studies,” Perkins said. “These academies have covered things like standard-based instruction, professional learning communities (PLCs) and literacy.

- Monroe County — Monroe County superintendent Dr. Lyn Guy says the school district implemented a new random drug testing program for activity students and students who drive to and from high school.

Once school resumes, students who belong to extracurricular clubs/activities, who drive to campus, or whose parents want them to participate in the program, will be part of random drug testing each week.

“The student whose drug test comes up positive can face 20 days or 365 days suspension from driving or activities,” Guy says.

“It’s a pretty harsh penalty, but if they choose counseling, they’ll only face a 30-day suspension from the activity.”

This year, FMRS is providing a drug rehabilitation counselor free of charge to students.

- Summers County — Summers County Superintendent Vicki Hinerman says Summers has been busily gearing up for another school year.

“We’ve spent the summer weeks preparing for the new year. Problem and project-based learning will be emphasized in all five of our schools. In today’s society, it’s important for students to learn to work together to solve problems,” Hinerman said.

Hinerman says the new approach to learning will allow students to utilize creative skill they’ve acquired, rather than just memorize facts.

“Research tells us that the students of today will change occupations many times throughout their adult life. To prepare them, we must teach them to use higher level thinking skills and to work effectively with others.”

Summers County also changed it’s VI-H-2 Policy — Grading and Uniformity of Promotion Within the Schools.

Students will now receive report cards every nine weeks. Last year, report cards were issued every six weeks. Mid-term grades will be sent home halfway through each nine-week period.

Contractors are working to complete a new air conditioning and heating system at Summers Middle School. It’s expected to be complete prior to the first day of school. In the event this doesn’t happen, alternate plans will be in place so that school will open on time.

- Raleigh County — It was a busy summer for Raleigh County Schools Maintenance Department and construction crews.

Each year, Assistant Superintendent Racine Thompson says, the department develops a list of priority projects to accomplish during the absence of students.

This year, Woodrow Wilson has undergone asbestos abatement in all classrooms and a renovation of two restrooms in the downstairs “D” wing. Ceramic tile has also been installed on the walls in the salad bar room of the cafeteria.

Four existing restrooms at Park Middle have undergone complete remodeling as have three classrooms, one of which will accommodate home economics and the other two will serve special needs students.

At Shady Spring Elementary, the county has relocated a modular building from Marsh Fork Elementary and repositioned the existing modular structure. A ramp, chain link fence and deck have been installed for access and added safety around the modulars. Plans also include the installation of a canopy from the main building.

Work at Shady Elementary has also included replacing carpeting with tile in two classrooms, the office area and lounge.

Major construction projects, which include the new Fairdale Elementary and the classroom addition at Shady Spring Middle School, are also moving forward.

Occupancy of the new elementary school at Fairdale is scheduled for sometime in 2010 while the four new classrooms at Shady Spring Middle are expected to be ready when school opens later this month.

- Greenbrier County — School building projects are moving forward in Greenbrier County.

The county says it’s grateful to the voters who supported its 2008 $37.7 million bond project which included construction of new elementary schools in Rainelle and new Lewisburg, major renovations to Greenbrier West High School, construction of an auxiliary gymnasium at Eastern Greenbrier Middle School and health and safety upgrades to Smoot Elementary School.

“We are very pleased with the progress of the design team meetings for all five projects and know that the children of Greenbrier County will be the beneficiaries of these facilities for years to come,” Superintendent John D. Curry said.

Preliminary completion dates for school building projects are: Smoot safety upgrades, January 2010; Eastern Greenbrier auxiliary gym, July 2010; Rainelle Elementary, January 2011; Lewisburg Elementary, July 2011; Greenbrier West renovations, December 2011.

Greenbrier has also expanded its Pre-K services and trasitioned to a four-day program.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) funding has made it possible for the county to make significant progress toward providing Universal Pre-K to all eligible students by 2012. The program will be available to children who turn 4 before Sept. 1 of the year he/she enrolls and to qualifying 3-year-olds.

“We’ve been very busy this summer getting our facilities and staff ready for the expansion of services,” states Christina Chambers, director of Head Start and Pre-K for Greenbrier County Schools. “We’re very excited about welcoming our new students and their parents in just a few weeks.”

— E-mail: jayres@register-herald.com



2009-2010 SCHOOL CALENDAR



Raleigh County:

Aug.. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 25-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 1 (2010) — Last day for students



Fayette County:

Aug. 26 - First day for students

Nov. 23-27- Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 3 (2010) — Last day for students



Greenbrier County:

Aug. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 23-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 2 (2010) — Last day for students



Monroe County:

Aug. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 25-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 8 (2010) — Last day for students



Nicholas County:

Aug. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 23-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 24-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 4 (2010) — Last day for students



Summers County:

Aug. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 23-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 23-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 5-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 8 (2010) — Last day for students



Wyoming County:

Aug. 26 — First day for students

Nov. 25-27 — Thanksgiving break

Dec. 22-Jan 1 — Christmas break

April 2-9 (2010) — Spring break

June 4 (2010) — Last day for students