Calhoun Middle School Band was recognized by the Calhoun Board of Education for their 2023 Spring Adjudication where they received a Superior Rating under the direction of Band Director Michael McHenry and Assistant Director Lindsey McHenry.
Although all band students were recognized, not all were present. Those recognized were: Cohen Blankenship, Allie Ogle, Ryan Carpenter, illy Falls, Greyson Hill, Kole Marks, Regan Smith, Rylan Smith, Danika Starcher, Lydia Starcher, Kevin Wilson, Izabella Zwoll, Kaylee Adams, Ryleigh Crislip-Garrett, Halle Lawson, Griffen Parsons, Bret Richards, Brody Richards, Jasmyne Tingler, Destiny
Langford, and Abby Reed.
Mr. McHenry told the School Board that this was the most focused group of students that he has ever worked with. With the help of student teachers, the students have worked together to become a well polished group of performers that he is excited to watch them as they’ll compete at Cabell Midland’s Knights of the Round Table Competition. This year the band will be going to five competitions.
Superintendent Michael Fitzwater gave certificates to those that attended and has requested the band learn a Jimmy Buffet song. Board member Hortz Motz told the students that he could remember the first time he seen the band and how very much they’ve improved. There pride and progress is visible.
Following the recognition the crowd seriously thinned down as seen from the photo below. This is just a reminder that community involvement is vital to understanding what’s happening in your children and grandchildren’s education.
Shari Johnson, Publisher of the Ridgeview News addressed the board prior to the meeting on matters brought to her attention by students. Multiple pictures were sent to the Ridgeview News sharing the concerns of what appeared to have been mold, if not black mold, in the ceiling tiles and on equipment in several class rooms. (Handout Provided to the Board below).
Another matter discussed by Shari Johnson, respresenting herself, was the continuing concerns for School Spirit and overall school pride that seems to be non existent within the student body. While teams and cheer squads do their best each week to celebrate the school competitions the students are encouraged very little to feel as thought they’re apart. A empromtu Friday afternoon thuse was an apparent afterthought, when the Career center was closed and the school needed something to occupy students. The Cheersquad Coach and Band was notifited late afternoon of the event without any time to prepare. School pride may seem trivial to some, but it is an important part of building a successful school community. When students have pride in their school it gives them a sense of ownership which sets in motion a range of positive behaviours. The Cheersquad recently wore their uniforms on game day and were promptly removed from class and asked to put on pants to cover their legs because the uniforms didn’t comply with dress codes. While in theory this may have been true, their reasoning was to encourage school spirit land the skirts are viewed as appropriate for school event.
A longtime complaint against Calhoun Schools has been the inability to make parents and volunteers feel welcome. A case in point is boosters and volunteers not having access (via keys) to the areas of the school needed to perform their duties overseeing their perspective events. When the school was recently re-keyed, access was denied to many areas. It is understood that keys had gotten handed out to many undeserved individuals creating security risks, but removing access to trusted individuals should not have happened and creates feeling of distrust.
The final parent complaint Mrs. Johnson share was the request of middle school parents to get recognition for 8th grade athletes through banners for outstanding achievement which was denied. The reason given (unsubstantiated) was because it detracted from the High School Acheivements. Also a matter of complaint was their inability to celebrate their foot ball homecoming.
None of these matters were addressed by the board due to the matters not being on the agenda and being spoken of during delegation time.
Handout for the board provided below.
Board member Hortz Motz, who sits on the board of the Calhoun Gilmer Career Center, reported that two new hires have occurred. Mr. Huffman, who spent seventeen years in law enforcement in Gilmer county has been hired as instructor of the Criminal Justice program and Mr. White who is now instructor of the culinary program. He eplaced and was highly recommended by Liljon McCormick who left the Career Center for a State Board of Education position.
The Career center recently sustained serious damgage to the roof over the commons area of the school. The roof drains were clogged causing water to pour into the commons area of the building causing damage and closing the school for one day due to clean up. There is progress on the repairs following a cleaning company being brought in as well as an electrician. Board member Jenna Jett asked if equipment was damaged to which Motz response was the damage stayed mainly in the commons area, not offices or classrooms.
Mr . Fitzwater gave his Superintendent’s report, telling the board that there is a couple of big projects to discuss. A new score board has been installed at the Football field, donated by Hope Gas. Earlewine Concrete and B. Miller also donated their time to the installation. Jeff Houchin donated his crew to help with rock work on the baseball field. They are currently waiting for First Energy to hook up a transformer for the newly installed score board donated by Calhoun Banks for the field.
A new school bus has been purchased and is set to arrive next month along with four buses in limbo. Fitzwater said that the school had gotten behind on bus replacement with a 2003 bus still in use, far exceeding the expected time of use. As school started buses began to break down causing the need for Roane and Gilmer County Schools to loan Calhoun replacements. “We’re good right now, ” Fitzwater said, “We’re read to rock and roll.”
Facility wise he reported that they’re trying to address the humidity issues at Calhoun Middle High school with the need to replace two boilers and one chiller in the facility. CMHS was opened in 1998 and much of the equipment is at the point of needing replaced. He said that as far as the three facilities are concerned the age of the building are forgotten with CMHS still being referred to as a new school, when in fact it’s 25 years old. Although Arnoldsburg Elementary is the newest school, Pleasant Hill is likely in the greater condition because of the new roof and recent renovations there.
With school improvements on the heart of Mr. Fitzwater he went on to discuss their plans to put forth a school levy on the next ballot of 2024. “Thirty Seven votes” he said, “that’s what we missed having a levy by.” His intention is to speak with staff and students about helping to promote the levy. “It was never about the football team,” he added, “With an astroturf field the school can utilize the area for recess and activities allowing the students more time outside. Currently, because of the mud, it’s not feasible to use the grassy areas. Other purposes for the levy would be transportation for extracurricular events and activities, supplements for teachers, replacement of the HVAC and paid lunches for staff and service professionals. Calhoun is one of very few school in the state that does not have a County levy to assist in funding.
Graduation date has been a matter of contention for several years with it’s falling on the annual track and field state competition. However the matter was put to vote and was overwhelmly decided that graduation would remain the same time, being May 17th, 2024.
The school drug testing policy was discussed, as some board members were not satisfied with the vagueness of the policy, but no action was taken.
Further matters discussed and approved are to follow directly from the agenda. (an agenda not provided to Ridgeview News by the way).
A. Finance for Approval September 11, 2023
- General Fund Invoices – $ 501317.47
- Supplements – $ 390237.00
- Transfers – $ 0
- August 2023 Financial Statement
(Invoice list available for review at Calhoun County Board of Education Office)
B. Contracts - Mountain State Educational Services Cooperative
C. Volunteers - Twila Nicholas
- Amanda Kerby
- Bobby Toppings
- Mary Beth Sauer
- Jeffrey Hunt
- Brenda Hunt
- Debbie Jones
- Miranda Siwicki
- Angelia Slider
10.Megan Heiney
11.Nikki Boatright
12.Amber Francis
13.Mikayla Vanhoose
14.Melinda Lamb
15.Kaylie Lamb
16.Mary Crislip
17.Aryeh White
18.Makahla Page
19.Tracie Brown
20.Stephanie Richards
21.Betty Barr
22.Brent Barr
23.Mary McCumbers
24.Cassandra Ray
25.Sheila Falls
26.Beth Harris
27.Vanessa Harris
28.Kelly Morgan
29.Stacy Sampson
30.Sherry Thomas
31.Danielle Wilson
32.Kathryn Holbert
33.Aislin Putnam
34.Judy McCumbers
35.Arlene Sampson
36.Lisa Wilmoth
37.Rebecca Siers
38.Pamela Miklos
39.Lea McCumbers
40.Brenda Billingsley
41.Shelly McCoy
42.Beth Nicholas
43.Terra Badgett
44.Wanda Wayne
45.Holly Swisher
46.Connor Boggs
47.Trevor Lynch
48.Cheyenne Varnell
D. Surplus
IX. Personnel (Attachment D):
A. Retirements
Professional
- Lori Parsons, Title I Teacher, PHE Elementary, effective August 31, 2023
Service
Extracurricular
B. Resignations
Professional - Tamara Cook, Long Term Substitute Pre-K/Pre-K Special Needs Teacher,
AES - Tamara Cook, Substitute Teacher
Service - Timothy Able , Substitute Bus Driver
- Crystal Jarvis, Substitute Custodian
C.Employment
After School - Amy Cottrell , After School Prevention/Intervention Facilitator, County
effective August 15, 2023 - Brandi Sampson, Substitute After School Prevention/Intervention Facilitator,
County effective August 15, 2023
Professional - Janice Westfall , Long Term Substitute Elementary Teacher, PHE 3rd Grade
effective 8/18/23 -12/22/23 - Charles Thomas, Long Term Substitute Pre-K/Pre-K Special Needs Teacher,
AES, effective 8/25/23 – 12/22/23 - Dyna Dow , Substitute Teacher
- Renita Benson , Long Term Substitute Elementary Teacher, AES effective
8/18/23-12/22/23 - Wesley Self , Substitute Teacher
Service - Jasmine McGlothlin, Long Term Substitute Cook, PHE 7:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.
(September 12, 2023 – October 31, 2023) - , Substitute Cook
- , Substitute Custodian
- Barbara Greathouse, Substitute Multi-Classified Aide II/Supervisory Aide/Bus
Aide/Specialized Health Care Procedures - Madison Gerlach , Substitute Multi-Classified Aide II/Supervisory Aide/Bus
Aide/Specialized Health Care Procedures
Extracurricular - Melissa Jarvis , $1 Assistant Volleyball Coach effective 9/5/23
- Kelley O’Harrow , Substitute After School Tutor/Teacher, County
- Jennifer Hoskins , Substitute After School Tutor/Teacher, County
- Laura Webb , Literacy Fair Coordinator, AES
- Laura Webb , Social Studies Fair Coordinator, AES
- Mary Hoskins , Science Fair Coordinator, AES
- Mary Hoskins , Math Field Day Coordinator, AES
- Amanda Morris , Young Writers Coordinator, PHE
- Amanda Morris , Social Studies Fair Coordinator, PHE
10.Amanda Morris , Literacy Fair Coordinator, PHE
11.Carissa Yoak , Math Field Day Coordinator, PHE
12.Carissa Yoak , Science Fair Coordinator, PHE
13.Amanda Morris , Mentor New Teachers, PHE
14.Ryan Jarvis , Mentor, Chief School Business Official
X. Employee Hearing – Discipline with Pay
- Ratification of Paid Suspension
- Ratification of Paid Suspension
XI. Adjournment
Future Board Meeting Dates:
- October 16, 2023 4:30 p.m. (Work Session) Arnoldsburg Elementary
- Monday, October 16, 2023 5:30 p.m. (Regular/LSIC) Arnoldsburg Elementary
- November 14, 2023 5:30 p.m. (Regular/LSIC) Pleasant Hill Elementary
- December 12, 2023 5:30 p.m. (Regular/LSIC) Calhoun Middle High School
That makes no sense that 8th graders can not be celebrated because it will take away from high school…??? The middle school is completely separated from the “high” school and that doesn’t just mean, different hallways. I think all students should be recognized, no matter “middle or high.” Some athletes from youth all the way to 8th grade work just as hard, if not harder in some instances….Take that as you will but it’s the truth. They deserve to be recognized when they have strived so hard. Whether that be academics OR sports. Thank you Shari for bringing this up and making them aware of the situation. I still feel it is unfair that they automatically dismissed it….
Just like how our county’s Pre K and Kindergarten classes cannot have graduations because it “takes away from the seniors”. This favoritism should be stopped. The accomplishments of our county’s youths should be celebrated regardless of their age or the school that they attend. The celebrations and acknowledgements boosts moral and school spirit for students and their parents. Having a younger student’s successes recognized should not be looked at as taking a spot light from someone else. There can be more than one spot light.