Life at the Helm
Dec 1 2022
Its been a
heck of a 3 weeks for new School Superintendent Joan Haynie.
Each day each minute, something changed. On Nov 30th, an
investigative team from Charleston showed up to give the
school system more than just a once over. On Dec 1st, the Ace
Cub Reporter interviewed Ms Haynie. Our focus was on the out
going Superintendent, ole what's his name, and the now in
progress, investigation.
We recorded that interview and provide this info without changes or additions to Haynie's comments. Here goes.
We recorded that interview and provide this info without changes or additions to Haynie's comments. Here goes.
Superintendent Joan Haynie
On Nov 28th the School
Board held their regular meeting at the Pentagon where they
were in secret time for over 2 hours. We left before
their returned to the meeting room. What happened then?
Haynie, "After the executive session Monday night we came out and Mr Pierson read a motion into the minutes to clarify the terms of Mr Paxton's termination agreement..... The vote was 3 to 2 . ( the two nay votes) were the Board President Phoebe Nichols and Brooke Jones."
As to the agreement, is this agreement something that is added to Joe Paxton's employment contract or is this something separate?
Haynie "It was based upon the mutually agreed upon termination agreement from the meeting where Mr Paxton was terminated. It was just clarifying the details of that agreement to legally carry it out".
Is that agreement a public record?
Haynie, "It is written into our minutes . Yes, it was read into our minutes. Yes, it is a public record."
And the changes and stuff?
Haynie ,"Yes, everything was read into the minutes to make it a public record. "
That makes about the third time , Nov 2, 15th and then Monday night [28th] , is this over?
Haynie, "As far as I know, Yes Sir. "
Haynie, "After the executive session Monday night we came out and Mr Pierson read a motion into the minutes to clarify the terms of Mr Paxton's termination agreement..... The vote was 3 to 2 . ( the two nay votes) were the Board President Phoebe Nichols and Brooke Jones."
As to the agreement, is this agreement something that is added to Joe Paxton's employment contract or is this something separate?
Haynie "It was based upon the mutually agreed upon termination agreement from the meeting where Mr Paxton was terminated. It was just clarifying the details of that agreement to legally carry it out".
Is that agreement a public record?
Haynie, "It is written into our minutes . Yes, it was read into our minutes. Yes, it is a public record."
And the changes and stuff?
Haynie ,"Yes, everything was read into the minutes to make it a public record. "
That makes about the third time , Nov 2, 15th and then Monday night [28th] , is this over?
Haynie, "As far as I know, Yes Sir. "
The Pentagon
This week a
group from Charleston came up. Can you tell us what they're up
to, what's happening?
Haynie,"They are doing a special review of Clay County schools to insure that we are on stable footing and that we are able to continue to operate without a deficit in lieu of our Levy falling, failing. ... they will be here this week and next week."
Will there be a report issued afterwards and will that report be public?
Haynie," Yes, Absolutely."
Our Superintendent did not know the timeline for the report. Haynie, "I welcome the report because they will point out things that we can do to improve our school system. And, we can focus on those areas and make our school system better."
The Levy failed and that's substantial. Are they also looking at the test scores?
Haynie, "Yes sir."
Do you know all that they are looking at?
Haynie, "It's just a general review of the county and our operating system. They will be in all of our schools, observing classes, they will talk to the Board office personnel, the school administrators, and to the other staff while they are here.
Ms Haynie confirmed that the investigators will make recommendations. What does recommendation really mean, does that mean, you got ta do it?
Haynie , "We want a good school system. I think the recommendations will help us focus on those efforts so we can make our school system better."
Being on the job just three weeks and in the midst of a state investigation, before that good underway, did you already have in your head significant changes that you were going to work on?
Haynie, "Yes and I shared those changes with the principals the Friday before Thanksgiving break."
How did that go over? Haynie, " I think they were very receptive."
Are they responsive to having the first female Superintendent? Was there resistance?
Haynie, "I really didn't ask em. No because [on any resistance] I believe our principals want the same thing I want, a good school system for our kids."
As for the changes the Super wants to do, Haynie, "We talked about having high expectations for our staff and for our students, more focus on instructional time, teaching a prioritized curriculum, maximizing time on task with our students, using a variety of instructional strategies, just good solid principals of teaching and learning that's going to help us do a better job."
As for any message the Superintendent wanted to share with parents and the world, Haynie, "I believe in Clay County Schools. I wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't. It's a great place for students to grow and learn. I am going to do everything in my power to help us bring back the high achievement and good results for our students. We've got a good staff but I think we can do better than what we've been doing."
Ms Haynie answered each question and sounded forthright. She invited us to come back anytime for more information. For our new readers, that's the first time in over five years a Superintendent has been willing to sit down and talk to the media. As a matter of fact, the last words from that last what's his name Superintendent were F U.
What's the name of the investigation group? Answer: West Virginia System of Support and Accountability.
As for getting an eyeball on the terms of the tossed from the island employment contract from the last guy, the Sch Bd will OK the minutes from that last meeting during their next gathering. A day or so later, we will publish those findings and dealings if we're still breathing.
AW
Haynie,"They are doing a special review of Clay County schools to insure that we are on stable footing and that we are able to continue to operate without a deficit in lieu of our Levy falling, failing. ... they will be here this week and next week."
Will there be a report issued afterwards and will that report be public?
Haynie," Yes, Absolutely."
Our Superintendent did not know the timeline for the report. Haynie, "I welcome the report because they will point out things that we can do to improve our school system. And, we can focus on those areas and make our school system better."
The Levy failed and that's substantial. Are they also looking at the test scores?
Haynie, "Yes sir."
Do you know all that they are looking at?
Haynie, "It's just a general review of the county and our operating system. They will be in all of our schools, observing classes, they will talk to the Board office personnel, the school administrators, and to the other staff while they are here.
Ms Haynie confirmed that the investigators will make recommendations. What does recommendation really mean, does that mean, you got ta do it?
Haynie , "We want a good school system. I think the recommendations will help us focus on those efforts so we can make our school system better."
Being on the job just three weeks and in the midst of a state investigation, before that good underway, did you already have in your head significant changes that you were going to work on?
Haynie, "Yes and I shared those changes with the principals the Friday before Thanksgiving break."
How did that go over? Haynie, " I think they were very receptive."
Are they responsive to having the first female Superintendent? Was there resistance?
Haynie, "I really didn't ask em. No because [on any resistance] I believe our principals want the same thing I want, a good school system for our kids."
As for the changes the Super wants to do, Haynie, "We talked about having high expectations for our staff and for our students, more focus on instructional time, teaching a prioritized curriculum, maximizing time on task with our students, using a variety of instructional strategies, just good solid principals of teaching and learning that's going to help us do a better job."
As for any message the Superintendent wanted to share with parents and the world, Haynie, "I believe in Clay County Schools. I wouldn't be doing this job if I didn't. It's a great place for students to grow and learn. I am going to do everything in my power to help us bring back the high achievement and good results for our students. We've got a good staff but I think we can do better than what we've been doing."
Ms Haynie answered each question and sounded forthright. She invited us to come back anytime for more information. For our new readers, that's the first time in over five years a Superintendent has been willing to sit down and talk to the media. As a matter of fact, the last words from that last what's his name Superintendent were F U.
What's the name of the investigation group? Answer: West Virginia System of Support and Accountability.
As for getting an eyeball on the terms of the tossed from the island employment contract from the last guy, the Sch Bd will OK the minutes from that last meeting during their next gathering. A day or so later, we will publish those findings and dealings if we're still breathing.
AW