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Hancock board talks virtual education

NEW CUMBERLAND — Hancock County Schools officials said this week they soon plan to address the many needs present within the district.

During Monday’s school board meeting, Superintendent Tim Woodward discussed several topics, one of which includes plans to launch, by January, a new virtual school for home-schooled students through Admentum.

A meeting was planned Tuesday to discuss Admentum serving as the school provider, which Woodward stated uses teachers who are certified by the state.

Woodward said the online school would be available for students who are home-schooled or need to make up courses, and would also be eligible to participate in athletics in the school system they would attend. He said the county would look to contact those students who are paying for homeschooling, with the county picking up the tab for participating students.

Woodward also discussed plans to visit state representatives in Charleston to apply for a $1 million grant to help complete roofing projects throughout the district, contributing a $200,000 local match. The county schools had applied to the state before but had been declined in a previous attempt. Woodward was confident they would be able to receive the grant.

Woodward was set to be joined by board President Toni Hinerman, county schools Treasurer Joe Campinelli and Maintenance Director Mark Dziatkowicz.

In other business:

• During the “Take a Bow” portion, Special Education Director Erica Sauer presented Oak Glen High School, Oak Glen Middle School, Weir High School and Weir Middle with the Graduation 20/20 State Recognition honors, which was recognized through the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia Board of Education and RESA-6, for dedication toward success in student achievement.

• Three teachers were on hand to discuss Teaching Partisan Resistance, which remembers Holocaust victims from World War II and holds seminars for teachers outside classrooms. Eight local schools have participated in the seminars. The groups said it helps teachers with professional development, while also giving students a first-hand experience of different cultures and societies outside their hometowns. Donna Ferguson, Stacey Porter and David Thompson were among the teachers to speak on the matter. A fourth teacher involved, Sherri Lengthorn, was unable to attend Monday’s meeting.

• The board approved the sales of three surplus properties — Weirton Heights, Liberty, and Broadview elementary. Winning bids came from Theresa Veltre, who bid $120,000 for the Broadview property, and from Agina Kemper, who bid $65,000 and $5,000 for the Liberty and Weirton Heights sites, respectively.

• Relating to policy issues, the board approved the second reading of one issue regarding travel reimbursement, while completely approving the policy related to allergic reactions/anaphylaxis protocol, which gives nurses at the schools the ability to deliver certain medication for those students.

• At the end of Monday’s meeting, a hearing was held regarding disciplinary action of a student.

The next regular meeting will be at 5 p.m. Nov. 27 at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center.

(Rappach can be contacted at srappach@reviewonline.com)

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