JUMPING BRANCH W.Va. (Hinton News) – The Summers County Board of Education met on April 14 at Jumping Branch Elementary School. Jumping Branch Principal Susan Newsome gave the first presentation concerning progress in the school’s strategic plan. Specifically, she talked about yearly progress in math and English/language arts.
Last school year, the school achieved a 72% success rate in math and a 51% success rate in English. This year, the goal is to reach 80% in both areas, and the school is on track to meet those goals. She also talked about progress in decreasing absenteeism. The State defines a student as chronically absent if absent 18 days or more during the school year. To have a school absenteeism rate of less than 20% is acceptable. Right now, the Jumping Branch rate is 13% (prorated), and Newsome expects it to be even lower at the end of the school year.
I questioned Newsome about the security in her school. As previously reported, one of the items in the proposed school levy is to provide a security door at her school. As she explained it, most, if not all, modern schools have a double-door entry system. Jumping Branch, built at least 70 years ago, does not. In a double-door system, a visitor goes through the first, unlocked door, is identified, and then proceeds through the second, locked door. She proposes to have the porch at the school enclosed, so that would be the first door.
Angela Gumm, the Principal at Hinton Area Elementary School, appeared before the Board to discuss the proposed move of the Central Board Office from its present location to either the old Board office next to HAE or the high school. She is opposed to moving the Board to the old office. Her concerns are that there is more space at the high school, parking would be a problem at HAE, and the old office does not have the best space or layout. The Board once again tabled the proposal to move the office. Lauren Crook, Chief Business Officer, was happy to report that the audit came back with no adverse findings.
The only agenda item that created some controversy dealt with coaches’ pay. The cheer coach is paid the same as a single-season coach. However, the cheerleaders perform at both the football games and basketball games. In addition, the Athletic Director is paid the equivalent of a one-season coach. The Superintendent’s Office proposed to double those supplements. Its position was that it was righting an older wrong. However, the Board members were opposed to giving two people raises, and not the other coaches. The Board refused to follow the Superintendent’s recommendation.
