By Stephen Smoot
“We are blessed to have them. The children are blessed to have them too.” So said Sonny O’Neil, Pendleton County Board of Education member, of the administration, faculty, staff, and other personnel of Franklin Elementary School.
After the invocation, all sat down to enjoy a menu of baked potatoes with all the fixings, salad, and a large slate of homemade desserts.
Between the meal and the presentation by FES, Lisa Henry gave a short talk. She came from Martinsburg, representing both the West Virginia Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Henry spoke of the need for all 55 county school systems to sign a resolution requesting that the West Virginia Legislature find a way to address the coming major shortfall in the Public Employees Insurance Agency, or PEIA.
PEIA, the state-owned insurance corporation for state and many local government employees, was ambushed by a perfect storm of problems. Many of these came from problems inherent in Obamacare and other more recent federal actions.
Like many insurance companies, they expect to have to raise premiums as a response. Unlike most other health insurance customers, state employees can appeal to the state Legislature for relief and will likely get at least some kind of mitigating action.
“We at WVEA and AFT will be advocating for public school employees,” Henry noted.
After Henry closed her short talk, Lori Moore, FES principal, rose because it was “time to brag a little” about the progress made on multiple fronts.
She first shared “just how awesome I think Franklin is” and added that “I work with some of the best I’ve ever worked with.”
The school has adopted the maxim of “we choose to shine” and shared a number of educational, but also fun and hands-on activities that the school conducts with the students. Like North Fork Elementary, they hold a great pumpkin drop. Moore said, “Travis (Heavner) always comes in and helps” with that.
Moore then presented benchmark results. Each of Pendleton County’s public schools tests students at the beginning of the year to determine a benchmark for comparison the rest of the year. Testing at different points throughout the year demonstrates how well a school has done in building knowledge and skills.
Benchmark results showed that 84 percent of students showed growth in mathematics with second grade performing best. Students meet state standards when they are at or above the 50th percentile and 76 percent of students achieved that.
In reading, 80 percent showed growth. The second grade again had the best growth numbers, and 75 percent of students met the percentile mandate.
Success has come with application of the Science of Reading and Unite With Numeracy programs of techniques. The school also utilizes small group instruction, data discussions, attendance incentives, and positive behavior supports.
Attendance incentives in recent years have come mainly from Communities in Schools staff. Wendy Kisamore serves at FES. Moore says of her work, “We have a lot of need here and she never stops.” CIS staff also work in direct student support situations, such as when students may not have enough to eat at home, need hygiene products, and more.
Moore then thanked the board and superintendent for providing items from the requested “wish list” that Pendleton County Schools asks for annually. She said, “We have a whole new playground area . . . we are very appreciative.”
Moore shared that their “next big goal” lay in getting an itinerant part-time art teacher. Amy Rexrode said during her talk that art instruction produces a number of academic, behavioral, and social benefits beyond the subject taught. Teachers also want the telephone system restored. She explained that “it’s pretty vital” to have a way to speak privately with the office.
Rexrode came next, representing the faculty senate. She shared several items of practical concern, most related to school safety. “We can’t learn and we can’t teach unless we feel safe,” she opened.
The school has issues with a lack of camera coverage in certain areas as well as problems with some of the doors. Charles Hedrick, Pendleton County Schools superintendent, shared that they have identified the problems that she described and are looking for funding to address the problems,
Additionally, Rexrode noted that “the nurses are fabulous to have here” and praised their attentiveness. She also stated that a school the size of FES should have a functioning Parent Teacher Organization
Rexrode said, “It’s a great time to be here. Good things are happening.”
The regular meeting of the board of education followed the presentations by FES. One of the highlights of the brief agenda came in the overall attendance numbers. North Fork Elementary School for the second time this year pulled off the remarkable feat of having every student in school one day last month. It happened so quickly after the first incidence that staff members were not prepared with the same reward, which the first time was ice cream.
North Fork’s attendance improvement was credited to improved attendance incentives. The NFES fourth grade had the best fourth month attendance percentage with 99.159 percent. Best percentage for an entire school came from Brandywine Elementary with 95.730 percent.
Best grade countywide was fourth grade with 96.511 percent. The overall county attendance percentage was 93.824 percent.
