Phares hears ideas at TVHS
By ANTHONY GAYNOR, Staff WriterAbout 40 community members attended a public forum Wednesday at Tygarts Valley High School to voice their concerns about the local school system. It was the fourth in a session hosted by Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Dr. James Phares to help the Board of Education develop goals for the upcoming school year.
"I do know about Mill Creek and about Tygarts Valley," Phares said to start the meeting. "Marion County has more small schools than Randolph County and when we talk about Valley Head, people think we are going to close it (Valley Head Elementary School). I am not interested in taking a school from the community."
The first question to the crowd was, "What does our community value in our schools?"
Chelley Depp was the first to respond saying she values the teachers most of all.
"If you stack up all the credentials of the teachers in this county, it is amazing," Depp said.
Christina Swecker said she also values the committed and remarkable teachers.
George Ward Elementary School Principal Diane Arbogast said, "I value the children and the sense of the community."
Another individual in the crowd spoke of the one-on-one type of education available at the small schools.
Rich Depp said each individual school has a strong community atmosphere unlike the view of the county system as a whole. He said the community will rally around an individual school.
"I appreciate the parental backing," TVHS Principal Steve Wamsley said. "Parents often side with the school and ask how they can help the children."
Joan Tacy said she values the school staff's willingness and helpfulness in providing a quality education.
One person in the crowd said teachers will go out of their way to help students understand difficult concepts and help keep the frustration level down.
Phares' second question was, "What would you like to change about our schools?"
Chelley Depp responded that the schools need more technology. Other teachers raised a concern of out-of-zone students saying parents will threaten to transfer their students when they do not agree with the teachers or administration.
"I would like to see equal opportunities and cooperation between TVHS and EHS," board member Lisa Wamsley said.
She went on to say that teachers at both schools could coordinate lesson plans and field trips to ensure more students benefit.
Phares responded to Lisa Wamsley statement by saying, "All means all."
One person in the crowd suggested the school system post a position for a professional grant writer. Others in the crowd suggested an auditorium at the schools, arts in the elementary schools, a new gym at TVHS and new bathrooms at the schools.
"We would like to see some accountability," Chelley Depp said. "If people are not doing their job, they do not need to have a job."
Rich Depp said he would like to see board members and administrators have better communication with the schools.
Phares' third question was, "What are you willing to do to bring about the changes you wish to see in our schools?"
Many people in the crowd said they would work to get a levy passed while others said they would continue to do what they do now and do a better job.
"We are heading toward a train wreck and if we want to keep our community schools open, we have to pass a levy," Phares said. "We cannot continue to operate on the basic state aide formula."
The public forums will continue at 6:30 p.m. July 25 at Elkins High School.
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ltlabner
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06-18-09 3:35 PM
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NO LEVY!! We pay enough Tax's! If The State of Wv would allocate funds properly and give more to Randolph NO LEVY is needed! Where are your heads?? UP YOUR ARSE? First thing you think about is making other pay tax's out of our pockets. That's the easy way out! The County and State would love to tax you (us) more. That way they can continue to collect and utilized the revenues presently and not dip into it and give Randolph more out of there slush or money buckets. If you want a Levy Increase then lets all vote on passing a LEVY on those who are willing to pay or have kids in school. My kids are not in school and are gone years ago. Why make me pay for your kids?? I have already paid! Looks like several of the writers didn't learn any economics when they went to school or if they did graduate. If so, it sure didn't take?
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Chelley
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06-18-09 1:19 PM
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I for one supported all the previous levy attempts within the past 10 years that I have lived here...our schools can no longer survive in just getting by financially. our children are disadvantaged by the lack of funding to provide simple thinkgs like basic supplies and textbooks let alone repairs and code upgrades to facilities. The time has now passed for everyone to be mad at the errors of the predecessors in the adminstration--we have to TRUST that the lessons have been learned and Dr Phares will lead our district to a more productive and sound educational system...without the levy we will see small schools like Valley Head and Coalton closed and our student's educational environments and skills continue to deteriorate. RANDOLPH COUNTY WAKE UP--You must pass a levy in order to support or kids--this is about them--not the administrators.
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Bowden
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06-18-09 10:49 AM
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Will people of Randolph "put there money where there mouth is". When it comes to a tax to pay for school will they be just as supportive of that as they are of all the programs and improvement they want in their school. It is no longer enough to be an average WV school system as far as test scores are concerned because the students who graduate from school here will have to compete with students from all over the USA for good jobs. Improvement usually cost money so will the citizens stand up and be counted.
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