"These Kids Need Help"
Nov 20 2022
It was a year
ago now that tossed from office Boardster Dave Mullins managed
to put both feets in his mouth and brought down the future of
the local school system.
How did one guy do so much at one Board meeting? Glad you asked.
Mullins opened his mouth and told the world, that the people, the taxpayers, could ask all the questions they want during a school board meeting but he would NOT provide any answers. With his ears turning blue and speaking so fast he was out of breath, he added, and , the Superintendent is not allowed to answer any questions!
That tirade marked the beginning of the downfall for Mullins, the School Excess Levy, and the Superintendent, ole what's his name.
Now for now. County Clay Board of Edumacation held two meetings in Dec 2022. They went thru the normal ho hum hirings and such but there are three interesting, eyebrow raising topics we plan to cover here.
First, for the month of Dec., the Sch Bd did not mention that ousted Superintendent. That's quite a change considering that all four November meetings were wrapped around tossing Pretty Boy off the island. In Dec there were NO two hour plus secret meetings on the topic of the termination.
Nice!
How did one guy do so much at one Board meeting? Glad you asked.
Mullins opened his mouth and told the world, that the people, the taxpayers, could ask all the questions they want during a school board meeting but he would NOT provide any answers. With his ears turning blue and speaking so fast he was out of breath, he added, and , the Superintendent is not allowed to answer any questions!
That tirade marked the beginning of the downfall for Mullins, the School Excess Levy, and the Superintendent, ole what's his name.
Now for now. County Clay Board of Edumacation held two meetings in Dec 2022. They went thru the normal ho hum hirings and such but there are three interesting, eyebrow raising topics we plan to cover here.
First, for the month of Dec., the Sch Bd did not mention that ousted Superintendent. That's quite a change considering that all four November meetings were wrapped around tossing Pretty Boy off the island. In Dec there were NO two hour plus secret meetings on the topic of the termination.
Nice!
Number 2
On Dec 12th, during public time, a lady was allowed to speak her mind on the serious issues going on at Clay High. She explained the dangerous drug problem a the County's only High School. Note: she spoke pretty fast but we tried to capture the essence of her comments. Here goes
She said her son ended up non responsive at CCHS and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. She admitted that the lad did something stupid, drugs, he did that, but something has to be done before one of the kids dies from overdose.
"Parents are tired of it."
She went with, she didn't want a kid in trouble [with the law] that she wants the problems fixed.
She suggested that grants be found to correct the problems.
It sounded like she was putting the finger on all teachers and administrators there with their thumbs up their collective butts and not monitoring the brats on the grounds, in the hallways, and especially in restrooms.
She advised there have been some close calls already and "They are going to die!... We don't want to have to bury our children.... All kids will try it and he almost died..."
The parent (maybe guardian) volunteered to do hall duty in an attempt to keep the rug rats from vaping drugs while in the restrooms. She felt other parents would do likewise
Up until the new Board came on the scene June 1st, that type of parent involvement, talk, that would have been taken behind closed doors into secret time. For any real problem to be allowed, discussed, in public, that was taboo.
For this Dec 12th meeting, the entire Board paid attention and listened.
New Superintendent Joan Haynie provided: teachers are being trained on pro-active supervision. Kelly Duffield is doing "vape" education after Christmas. Ms Haynie, "We want to do a better job..." There's a new policy coming that is based on Harrison County's policy. More staff is being trained in first aid.
Haynie knows how bad things are at the High School. That's the place that just received over $7 million in repairs. Now, just a few months later, kids are destroying freshly rehabbed restrooms while teachers do little to monitor the drug activities.
That part about "proactive supervision" in plainer English we think that means, teachers were told to get off their butts, walk the halls during class change times, and for that matter, for teachers / administrators to stick their heads in the restrooms and see what's going on.
FYI, often the public hears on the 911 scanner of an ambulance getting called to CCHS due to a child having a seizure. We think that seizure part is more accurately, a kids overdosing.
Haynie seemed firm with her efforts to get things straightened up in the local school system. It appears, she has the backing of the Board for those battles.
On Dec 12th, during public time, a lady was allowed to speak her mind on the serious issues going on at Clay High. She explained the dangerous drug problem a the County's only High School. Note: she spoke pretty fast but we tried to capture the essence of her comments. Here goes
She said her son ended up non responsive at CCHS and had to be taken to a hospital for treatment. She admitted that the lad did something stupid, drugs, he did that, but something has to be done before one of the kids dies from overdose.
"Parents are tired of it."
She went with, she didn't want a kid in trouble [with the law] that she wants the problems fixed.
She suggested that grants be found to correct the problems.
It sounded like she was putting the finger on all teachers and administrators there with their thumbs up their collective butts and not monitoring the brats on the grounds, in the hallways, and especially in restrooms.
She advised there have been some close calls already and "They are going to die!... We don't want to have to bury our children.... All kids will try it and he almost died..."
The parent (maybe guardian) volunteered to do hall duty in an attempt to keep the rug rats from vaping drugs while in the restrooms. She felt other parents would do likewise
Up until the new Board came on the scene June 1st, that type of parent involvement, talk, that would have been taken behind closed doors into secret time. For any real problem to be allowed, discussed, in public, that was taboo.
For this Dec 12th meeting, the entire Board paid attention and listened.
New Superintendent Joan Haynie provided: teachers are being trained on pro-active supervision. Kelly Duffield is doing "vape" education after Christmas. Ms Haynie, "We want to do a better job..." There's a new policy coming that is based on Harrison County's policy. More staff is being trained in first aid.
Haynie knows how bad things are at the High School. That's the place that just received over $7 million in repairs. Now, just a few months later, kids are destroying freshly rehabbed restrooms while teachers do little to monitor the drug activities.
That part about "proactive supervision" in plainer English we think that means, teachers were told to get off their butts, walk the halls during class change times, and for that matter, for teachers / administrators to stick their heads in the restrooms and see what's going on.
FYI, often the public hears on the 911 scanner of an ambulance getting called to CCHS due to a child having a seizure. We think that seizure part is more accurately, a kids overdosing.
Haynie seemed firm with her efforts to get things straightened up in the local school system. It appears, she has the backing of the Board for those battles.
The Board
held their second meeting in December on the 19th. After
getting the entrance door unlocked, everyone was able to get
seated by the 6pm start time.
Tina Burnette was the star attraction during for the regular meeting. Burnette provided a bunch of data on how many students are in each class and how they are performing this year. Her attention was directed to the youngest learners. Get this. The entire Board and Superintendent actually read thru the stacks of info.
Burnette, "Pre K is not like it used to be."
She was referring to the kids able to do puter related things but not the old basics like hand eye coordination areas like using scissors. It came out that learning levels are nowhere close to those of the pre-pandemic era.
Higher grade level data dumps will be come in 2023.
Tina Burnette was the star attraction during for the regular meeting. Burnette provided a bunch of data on how many students are in each class and how they are performing this year. Her attention was directed to the youngest learners. Get this. The entire Board and Superintendent actually read thru the stacks of info.
Burnette, "Pre K is not like it used to be."
She was referring to the kids able to do puter related things but not the old basics like hand eye coordination areas like using scissors. It came out that learning levels are nowhere close to those of the pre-pandemic era.
Higher grade level data dumps will be come in 2023.
Ms Burnette
And as we
told ya, there were three important topics. Here comes number
3
The short agenda was over in just a few minutes. Boardster Brooke Jones brought up the need to find a permanent School Superintendent. Sounds like applications will be accepted in Jan with interviews conducted near the end of Jan.
Interested? the details will be posted on the State Ed website from Jan 3rd thru 13th.
Not sure if it's due to the Levy failing twice this year or just maybe, this next topic came up due to the recent investigation of the system by the State Dept of Ed but, discussion turned to cutting costs.
We think the Board knows something. Boardster Sue Bodkins: we may have to stop transporting to sports events.
Gulp!
Haynie: the biggy is we're over on professional and service personnel. Haynie , "It's going to be tough." She emphasized they do not want to do anything that will hurt academic. That "over"part... that means many in the school system will be laid off in the coming year.
Here's that biggy readers, from the head table, they will look at school closing procedures.
Double Gulp!!
Our best guess is H E White Elem where there are very few students attending and and and when the new Clendenin Elem opens next year, a bunch of the remaining yard apes will jump ship for the new facility. We hate the thought of a rural school closing but without kids and with horrible test scores, it's coming.
As for that investigation by the State Suits, results will be made public on Jan 11th during the State of West Virginia Board of Education meeting in Charleston. Reps from Clayberry will be on hand for that meeting.
Not sure what the State's will do. .. take over this school system? Reign in to meet financial demands and funding available?
If there's anything on our side, it's 2022. During the last 12 months, citizens spoke up at the ballot box and put into office a new quorum of the Sch Bd. That new Board tossed the sitting Superintendent for another fresh start. Citizen's made the need for change apparent when they voted down the Excess Levy not once but twice during 2022.
With a new foundation in place, maybe the Gold Dome folks will take that into account when deciding our fate.
Next meeting of the Clayberry School Board will be Jan 9th beginning at 6pm at the Pentagon.
AW
The short agenda was over in just a few minutes. Boardster Brooke Jones brought up the need to find a permanent School Superintendent. Sounds like applications will be accepted in Jan with interviews conducted near the end of Jan.
Interested? the details will be posted on the State Ed website from Jan 3rd thru 13th.
Not sure if it's due to the Levy failing twice this year or just maybe, this next topic came up due to the recent investigation of the system by the State Dept of Ed but, discussion turned to cutting costs.
We think the Board knows something. Boardster Sue Bodkins: we may have to stop transporting to sports events.
Gulp!
Haynie: the biggy is we're over on professional and service personnel. Haynie , "It's going to be tough." She emphasized they do not want to do anything that will hurt academic. That "over"part... that means many in the school system will be laid off in the coming year.
Here's that biggy readers, from the head table, they will look at school closing procedures.
Double Gulp!!
Our best guess is H E White Elem where there are very few students attending and and and when the new Clendenin Elem opens next year, a bunch of the remaining yard apes will jump ship for the new facility. We hate the thought of a rural school closing but without kids and with horrible test scores, it's coming.
As for that investigation by the State Suits, results will be made public on Jan 11th during the State of West Virginia Board of Education meeting in Charleston. Reps from Clayberry will be on hand for that meeting.
Not sure what the State's will do. .. take over this school system? Reign in to meet financial demands and funding available?
If there's anything on our side, it's 2022. During the last 12 months, citizens spoke up at the ballot box and put into office a new quorum of the Sch Bd. That new Board tossed the sitting Superintendent for another fresh start. Citizen's made the need for change apparent when they voted down the Excess Levy not once but twice during 2022.
With a new foundation in place, maybe the Gold Dome folks will take that into account when deciding our fate.
Next meeting of the Clayberry School Board will be Jan 9th beginning at 6pm at the Pentagon.
AW