Latest news with #AmandaPeyton
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
McDowell County Schools prioritizes school bus safety after several close calls
WELCH, WV (WVNS) – McDowell County School administrators are taking extra steps to ensure the safety of bus drivers and students. During the 2024-25 school year, there have been many close calls when kids are getting on and off school buses throughout the county. Assistant Superintendent, Amanda Peyton explained one specific example where an elementary age girl was trying to cross the road after getting off the school bus. This girl was almost hit by a car that did not stop for the halted school bus. W.I.L.D. Institute unites women in firefighting for first Women's Firefighter Weekend 'Thankfully, the little girl waited on the signal. So she was trained by the [bus] driver to wait. That [car] driver just sped through, just really exceeding through there. One mile an hour [over] is too much. You know that that car was really speeding. We could have lost a child,' said Peyton. Peyton told 59News their Transportation Director, Adam Grygiel has been very insistent that they do something to crack down on the incidents. Cameras were already installed to capture the front-facing view of the bus, but now an additional rear-facing camera has been added to each bus. As soon as the 'stop' arm goes out, that camera starts recording. This captures pictures and camera footage of the driver, car, and license plate. This will be used if the driver decides against stopping for a school bus. McDowell County Schools have began sending the film and photos to the McDowell County Sheriff's Department. Peyton said McDowell County Sheriff Muncy and his team are working to issue citations and fines for those who try to pass stopped school buses on the road. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Schools in McDowell County closing in on return to normalcy
WELCH, WV (WVNS) – McDowell County Schools are about to be one step closer to a return to normalcy. New Social Security requirements pose barriers to rural communities without internet, transportation When students originally returned to school after the February flooding, school schedules and bus schedules were delayed by an hour each day to accommodate the time change and less lighting early in the morning. Amanda Peyton is the assistant superintendent of McDowell County Schools. Peyton told 59News beginning March 31, all schools and buses will go back to normal schedules throughout the county. 'Some families have had to get child care. If an elementary school did not open until 9:15 a.m. and families had to be at work at 8:00 a.m., then they were having to try to get child care. We are very cognizant of that. We know that it has been hard for families but we knew safety was the most important [thing]. We are getting back a minute of day like every morning. So we just come together to decide we are still in a good place. Road conditions are improving and we add back stops and bus rides every day as those are being approved,' said Peyton. Peyton told 59News they are also doing what they can to help students with their mental and emotional health. 'The research shows us that when students can have that normalcy and that routine, that it really helps with their mental health and their emotional health. and Students are resilient anyways,' added Peyton. 'Our counselors and our Communities in Schools facilitators, they have care closets in every school. So, what a care closet is – is I can come to you and say that I need toothbrushes, toothpaste, shoes, or I need some extra food. Our facilitators help with those requests if they do not have what they need at their school, then they are contacting the board.' McDowell County Schools received a generous donation that is helping them purchase items for students who might need some help after the events of the flood. Peyton said every donation they have gotten goes straight back to assisting their students. Second FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens in McDowell County 'We have less than five students that are having to have virtual learning and some of those are logging in live and watching their classroom teachers teach. So we are really proud of families for putting children first and making sure they are back in school,' said Peyton. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Students return to school in McDowell County
welch — McDowell County students were welcomed back to class Monday as the school system worked to address their emotional needs following the devastating Feb. 15 flood. All of McDowell County's school reopened Monday, said Assistant Superintendent Amanda Peyton. 'Absolutely. We've opened our campuses today to students,' Peyton said. The school system has reached out to all its students by making home visits and even taking teddy bears when visiting families facing significant impacts from the flood. Peyton said the school system is working within its resources to help these families overcome barriers between their children and school. Peyton said the school system is working on individualized lesson plans for students who have trouble getting to school and students who have been displaced by the flood. Some students are now in other counties and other states. The goal is to help them keep up with their studies. 'We've done a lot of programs that offer focus on recovery, first and foremost focusing on their social and emotional needs,' she said. Students were welcomed back to class Monday with celebrations ranging from dances, bounce houses and ice cream socials, Peyton said. The next step is to help them catch up academically. The school system has a technical support program and distributed Chrome devices last week so students can participate in online lessons. Wifi connections are available in school parking lots. With summer break in mind, McDowell County Schools has applied to the West Virginia Department of Education to be exempt from the state's required 180 days in school. A county plan is being put in place to maximize learning, Peyton said. There are school calendar days that can be converted to instructional days, she said. The school system is asking that spring break days be converted to instructional days so students don't have to attend school into the summer. Peyton said county schools aided students, their families and communities after the flooding. 'I just think it's been truly amazing to see our staff come together,' she said. 'We ran three shelters. The flood happened on Saturday and we opened our doors to the community and they were run by McDowell County Schools staff and volunteers.' Food was distributed at three schools and three meals a day were prepared, plus flood victims could shower and wash clothes as well as find a safe place to stay, Peyton said. 'We're just really proud of our system,' she said. 'It's been a beautiful thing to see the community come together and support each other.' Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced Sunday that just three weeks after severe floods hit southern West Virginia, all schools will now be open across the state. McDowell County reopening Monday meant that all 55 county school systems are operational. 'I am so thankful for the educators, school staff, and state and local officials who worked around the clock to quickly recover and get kids back in school,' Morrisey said. 'This is a significant achievement, and one that was made possible through teamwork and sacrifice. We know the work is not done, and we will continue to support southern West Virginia as they recover.' 'I am humbled by the outpouring of support and love we have received in McDowell County,' said McDowell County Schools Superintendent Dr. Ingrida Barker. 'Our principals, educators, counselors and staff were committed to the students from the very beginning, even though many of them suffered flood damage to their own homes. We call it 'McDowell Strong' because we work together until the job is done. With our students returning to their schools in person, we will be able to resume instruction while also supporting them as they recover from this traumatic disaster that has touched everyone in our community.' When disasters hit West Virginia, school superintendents, educators and school personnel are among the first to respond to the needs of children and families, said State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt. 'McDowell County is no exception,' Blatt said. 'From feeding the community to getting clothing and bare necessities collected and distributed, the school system did it all. I am so proud of what they accomplished so quickly to get children back to school and resume some level of normalcy. We will continue to support their recovery because we know there remains much work to do.' West Virginia Department of Education staff have traveled to McDowell County to cover shifts in the emergency shelters, provided support to create a back-to-school plan and calendar adjustments, ensured bus routes had necessary signage where roads were damaged, worked with impacted counties to determine any equipment or financial needs, and allowed parents or guardians to pick up multi-day meal boxes for their children. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
