Pam Dudding-Burch
Contributing writer
It’s that special time of year when parents are busy buying new school clothes for their growing children, school supplies are in high demand and kids are looking forward to catching up with their friends.
The Craig County School Board has also been extremely busy. At their August 7 meeting, reports were given out. Members in attendance were: Jeanette Warwick – Superintendent, Pat Myers – Chairman and Representative for Craig City District, Susan Crenshaw – co-chair representing Craig Creek, Aaron Calfee – Potts Mountain, Gina Smith – Simmonsville, George Foster – New Castle and Diana Bayne – Deputy Clerk of the School Board.
Superintendent Jeanette Warwick noted that the Virginia State Police Department provided safety training for the school staff and a critical trial run of a lockdown. “We practiced the procedures for a lock down without the students,” she said. “Other training classes for the staff took place on Thursday, August 9.”
Every year the Board has to approve committees for the upcoming school year. The recently approved committees are as such: The School Health Advisory Committee, CTE Advisory Committee, Agriculture Advisory Committee, Gifted Advisory committee and the Scholarship Assistance Team, which was recently created.
Bus schedules were also approved. Discussions on charting their times of departure until they return was a question asked. Warwick stated that for the first ten days, a log with all of that pertinent information would be made, about the individual bus routes and the expected travel times.
Warwick reported that she and Principal VanDyke were approached by the Child Evangelism Fellowship, who asked if they could implement and adopt a school program, called The After School Good News Club, for elementary students.
“They plan to partner with local churches, and run one hour, one day a week, for six weeks in the fall and again in the spring,” Warwick said. “We only provide a place for them to meet. They provide the church volunteers and conduct all the background checks for the mentors who work in their program.”
Parents do have to sign a slip saying they want their child to participate and can provide transportation after the club meeting is over.
Smith, who joined the Board in January, shared the idea of conducting a walk-thru inspection twice a year throughout the schools, just to make observations.
“We have had several large expenditures that we have had to approve, and I just feel that as Board members we should visualize these by walking through the halls twice a year and see the items such as the new furniture,” Smith explained. “I feel it will cut down on the many questions we ask as Board members if we are able to physically visualize the schools and its supplies and to make sure our kids have equipment that is working effectively for them and the teachers.”
Crenshaw added, “This will allow us to view the progress that is being made from past expenditures as well.”
Another suggestion was made to schedule a walk-thru on two occasions before the January School Board meeting, and do the same in May or June.
“Tomorrow the teachers have all day to work in their individual classrooms which I know they are happy about,” Warwick said. “We will welcome the students on Thursday.”
The September School Board meeting will be held on the second Tuesday, September 4, at The Media Center at 6:30 p.m. All Craig County parents and citizens are encouraged to attend.
