Latest news with #MarionCountySchools
Yahoo
29-05-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Former teacher hopes Mannington Middle School benefits from endangered property status
FAIRMONT — After facing the possibility the school would be closed and the students merged with Blackshere Elementary, former technology teacher Rusty Elliott is now glad that Marion County Schools is taking steps to preserve the historic building that houses Mannington Middle School. 'It's one of those schools that was built in 1902,' Elliott said. 'And it's as solid as the Rock of Gibraltar.' In March, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia announced Mannington Middle School had been added to the state's Endangered Properties List. School Superintendent Donna Heston told WAJR's Talk of the Town in March she hoped the designation opened up opportunities for the school similar to what Alderson Elementary School in Greenbrier County received. According to an article from November 2024, the former Alderson High School was renovated into an elementary school after the school district worked with the West Virginia School Building Association, DC Shires and The Thrasher Group's engineering division to refurbish the school. 'Structurally it is sound, we've had engineers come in and look at it,' Heston said about Mannington Middle on WAJR. 'Beautiful wood floors, it has a very historically rich structure as well as a historically rich library.' Heston said Mannington Middle Principal Jane DeVaul, a group of parents and the Preservation Alliance did the work to move the school onto the endangered properties list. The school faced closure as the county school system worked to put together a bond proposal for the 2024 election. However, the proposal was removed from the final bond before it was presented to voters. Elliott said while the building is structurally sound, the roof could use replacing. In 2023, Marion County Schools had the Thrasher Group check the tower area of the school. The Board of Education instituted safety precautions around the tower in 2022. The inspection led the Board of Education to believe there were no significant structural issues with the school. On its website, the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia wrote that the building was built in the Victorian Romanesque architectural style, and is a significant part of Mannington and the state's history. It's one of the oldest functional public schools in the state. The school was designed by an architectural firm out of Wheeling, and construction finished on the school in 1925. 'While still functional, the BOE, stretched thin, hopes its inclusion on this list will help with the preservation efforts for this outstanding building,' the alliance wrote on its website. It added the Endangered Properties List is a powerful tool used by the alliance to raise awareness about threatened historic sites across the state. Earning a place on the list increases visibility, advocacy and access to preservation resources for historic places. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, is also working on a Rural Historic Tax Credit which could potentially support preservation projects like the one in Mannington. The Rural Historic Tax Credit Improvement Act would reduce financial barriers to historic preservation in rural areas, alleviate burdens for small developers by boosting net proceeds and lowering compliance costs, as well as increasing access to capital to small towns who suffer from high construction costs but lower lease rates, which discourages developers. Elliott said the building should be fixed up, and doesn't require a lot of work to keep up. He supports the school now being on the Endangered Properties List. 'Let's fix it up,' he said. 'It is a treasure in the state of West Virginia. Too many times we tear down our treasures and don't keep them going.'
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Private schools continue to extract funds from Marion County Schools
FAIRMONT — Marion County Schools will lose $500,000 to charter schools next year. 'Look at last year's number, which was $400,000,' School Superintendent Donna Heston said Monday, referring to next year's charter schools allocation. 'And now you're over a million.' The Board of Education went through next year's budget, as part of a supersized meeting that included the regular agenda. School treasurer Scott Reider said Marion County School's number of charter school students has grown to 134, more than double from last year's 60 total. Heston called the loss in funds concerning. Statewide, the state's education savings account program, the Hope Scholarship, will cost more than $100 million next year. The program cost $52 million this year. The state transfers $4,400 per student away from public schools toward an educational program of a parent's choice under Hope Scholarship. If the student returns to public school, the money does not. As the West Virginia Department of Education shutters or consolidates schools across the state, school superintendents say the program is partly responsible for the closings, according to West Virginia Watch. Dwindling enrollment numbers are also responsible, since school funding is enrollment based. Marion County Schools has been losing students steadily over the past few years. Board Member Donna Costello also brought up her concerns that support staff, such as custodial workers and bus drivers, weren't being paid enough compared to teachers and school administrators. The discussion began during a summary of pay equalization for principals in the school system. Heston was explaining that there were assistant principals in the district who didn't see it as worthwhile to move up to principal if the pay was going to be the same as an assistant principal. She also pointed out pay for principals was not competitive with surrounding counties. While Costello didn't disagree with it, she brought up the equalization was a source of contention for the district's service workers. 'No disrespect intended to our principals, I know they and our assistant principals work hard,' Costello said. 'I just have a hard time wrapping my head around a cook making $23,000 and trying to live on that. I have a hard time wrapping my head around a bus driver currently living on a $500 paycheck with a wife and two kids.' However, Heston pointed out that salaries are set by the state legislature. Board Member James Saunders asked if the board could perhaps use any excess funds it has to compensate those workers. Heston said the district already does, with a fall and spring stipend. Heston added if there was a pool of excess money in the budget, additional raises for all employees was possible for the board to provide. Outside of that, however, Heston said the only way for significant changes to service worker pay is to lobby the legislature for it. PEIA funding also increases next year. However, personnel beyond what the school funding formula provides for are not covered by the state, meaning PEIA for any personnel above that number has to be funded by the school's levy, leaving less money for other needs, Heston said. Beyond that, the school budget for next year mostly looks the same, holding steady at around $110 million for FY26. Revenue will include $36 million from taxes, with $16 million and $20 million coming from regular taxes and the county's excess levy, respectively. The county will also receive $41 million from the state in school funding. 'We have worked proactively to address things with personnel and to be able to put more money into facilities improvements, so there wasn't anything that too drastically changed,' Heston said.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pandemic continues to cast long shadow on Marion County student SAT scores
FAIRMONT — Marion County students continue to wrestle with math and to a lesser degree, literacy, in SAT benchmark testing. "As we said in coming off the pandemic, it will take us three or four years to get students back to the point where they have those basic skills they missed in face-to-face instruction," School Superintendent Donna Heston said to the Board of Education on Monday. Heston said the school system has started to climb out the dip in SAT benchmarks since the pandemic. The spread of a lethal virus led to the necessity of virtual in-home instruction. However, schools around the country are reporting lower math and literacy proficiency from students as a result. Heston said Marion County Schools has done a lot to target students who fell behind as a result of the pandemic and worked on improving their proficiency in math and literacy. Heston presented some preliminary data Monday. Heston said East Fairmont High students showed a strong 5% improvements in English Language Arts, while math remained stable. At Fairmont Senior High, students experienced modest growth in English Language Arts, but a sharp 8% decline in math. English proficency at North Marion High declined by nine points but math improved slightly. Districtwide, English language and math proficiency declined slightly, but within the margin of error. Heston said these preliminary reports show that while East Fairmont continues to strengthen in literacy, Fairmont Senior and North Marion continue to face some challenges in math and ELA. Heston cautioned that the data only reflects one day of a student's academic life and that in comparison overall, Marion County is one the better districts in the entire state. Last year, the county was among the Top 10 performing districts in the state, she said. Board Member Donna Costello questioned how long the impact form the pandemic would last on student academic scores. Heston acknowledged it can't all be blamed on the pandemic. She said a number of indicators such as school option play a role. The State's Hope Scholarship program is sold as a school choice program, but could remove $315 million from public education if all private and homeschool students enroll. The program adds those students to the program next year. This effectively defunds public schools. For the 2024-25 school year, the Hope voucher program removed $4.9 million from Marion County Schools. Heston added the format of the test is another factor. "It sends home to us in looking at how we prepare students and use the PSAT," Heston said. As for what the school system is doing to improve scores, Heston said they are working on integrating math and science skills so both disciplines aren't taught in isolation. Students are taught to connect those subjects to the real world. She said the district is in heavy discussion at all levels, from the classroom to central office, on how to bring up test scores. Board members also haggled with Heston over whether or not there would be a standalone budget workshop this year. Costello and Board Member James Saunders created a makeshift front to press for a session separate from a typical Board of Education meeting. Heston argued there wasn't a need for a separate session because a regular session would provide the necessary time and opportunity to field questions about the budget. She also indicated a regular session would be open to the public. Sanders pushed back, saying they weren't saying to hold a meeting behind closed doors. Heston pointed out a meeting limit had been imposed by the state legislature for how many meetings a school board would be compensated for. She added voters and residents are expecting a regular meeting on May 19 at the appointed time, rather than a special line up. Board President George Boyles told board members to give him their preference by Thursday. Boyles and School Treasurer Scott Reider briefly discussed one potential stumbling block for next year's budget in the hallway after the meeting ended. After Reider reached out to the state for next year's estimated budget numbers, he was told to use the numbers from the last year. With all the changes at the federal level and the dismantling of the U.S. Department of Education, Boyles said there was a lot of uncertainty regarding how much the federal issue was going to impact the amount of money schools receive next year. The next board meeting is scheduled for May 19.
Yahoo
03-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lawsuit claims lack of handrails at Woodcutter Stadium led to injury of Harrison County woman
FAIRMONT — A lawsuit filed April 1 in Marion County Circuit Court claims a lack of handrails at Woodcutter Stadium led to the injury of a Harrison County woman. Plaintiff Brittany Shaffer alleges Marion County Schools' failure to install handrails in the visitors stand of the football field at North Marion High led to her injury. Shaffer's attorney is T. Keith Gould, of Clarksburg. The injury took place near the end of a middle school football game in 2023. As Shaffer descended the steps to join her son near or behind the team's locker room, she slipped, lost her balance and wrenched her left knee, according to the civil complaint. 'The Plaintiff's severe and permanent injury included a rupture of her anterior cruciate ligament and a torn meniscus, all of which required surgical repair,' the document states. The filing states the steps in question were once fitted with handrails for the purpose of aiding spectators as they used the aisle steps. However, it alleges Marion County Schools removed the handrails and did not replace them. The document also points out the aisle steps were designed with predrilled holes to allow for handrails. School Superintendent Donna Heston declined to comment for this story, saying Marion County Schools does not comment on ongoing litigation. Gould did not return a phone call by press time. As of May 1, no handrails are present at the visitors stand, despite the accident having occurred almost a year and half ago, which the complaint also points out. The complaint alleges Marion County Schools violated state law. According to the International Code Commission, the West Virginia Fire Commission adopted IBC standards statewide, including in Rachel where the field sits. IBC standards require handrails on bleacher aisles. 'There is no publicly available sign that the Defendant intends to make them compliant with the law or common sense safety practice,' the complaint says. The lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of Marion County Schools as well as state law violations resulted in Shaffer suffering a severe and permanent knee injury. Shaffer seeks compensatory damages for past and future medical expenses, loss of household services and other damages. Shaffer also seeks general damages for pain, suffering, permanent injury, loss of enjoyment of life, emotional distress and other damages. Marion County Schools has not filed a response in court yet.
Yahoo
15-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Marion County School Superintendent receives report card from board of education
FAIRMONT — Marion County School Superintendent Donna Heston continues to hold the Marion County Board of Education's confidence in her annual performance review. 'She has my confidence,' Board President George Boyles said. 'There's others on the board that really appreciate — she gets into an issue, she always gets me an answer when I ask her a question. A lot of it is just things sometimes off of her head that she knows, that this is what I'm asking about. She's well informed and that's really good to have a person like that.' The Board of Education evaluated Heston at a special meeting and executive session on Thursday. The board rated Heston on whether she 'meets or exceeds' all five expectations laid out on the official performance rubric. The five goals the board considers are community engagement, family and student engagement, district operations and planning, learning environment, increasing the number of students proficient in English and mathematics and fostering career and technical education. Heston had one concrete goal on the rubric — decrease the number of professional and service personnel over the state aid formula by June 2025. Heston said budgeting and personnel season is right around the corner. Marion County Schools had been third on a list of school districts that are over budget on what the state funding formula pays for. Thanks to Heston's work over the past two years, the school system has dropped to 16th place. 'We're really looking at our student enrollment and addressing those things proactively based upon those numbers,' Heston said. 'The seven percent decrease in what we were over the formula amounts to 6.5 positions that we need to address. As we've done in previous years, it had always our goal — that if somebody wants a job for Marion County Schools, there is one available for them.' Heston added the school system has been able to keep employees while shedding positions through realignment and redistribution. Heston also said student enrollment has declined again this year, in line with enrollment decreases at other counties in the state. Heston said her administration is working with those decreases in mind so that they can realign and redistribute with the goal of keeping the school workforce strong. Aside from driving student achievement as a priority, Heston's other goals for the coming year include strengthening school security. She said the School Building Authority granted funds, which after combining them with local funds, will help fortify nine school entrances. The district has applied for a tenth safe school entrance at East Fairmont Middle School. Heston is also looking at facility improvements, such as roof replacements, HVAC and boiler improvements and others prioritized by the district's comprehensive educational facilities plan. Boyles said they set the superintendent's objectives in September. 'Where she hasn't exceeded them she's got the structure in place and it's just a matter of time to get some of those things further in place,' Boyles said. 'More concretely, she's well on the way to having everything exceeds expectations. So that's why we said she either meets or exceeds.' Boyles echoed Heston's goals for the coming year, and wants to see progress made on roofing and school security. He added the district obtained a grant for such projects through former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin's office that has to be spent by the end of December. Boyles is also keeping an eye on what the state legislature is doing this year, with regard to K-12 education. Boyles was glad to hear Gov. Patrick Morrisey and the state legislature is finally evaluating the outdated school funding formula. He also brought up the Hope Scholarship, which removes money from the public school system and allows parents to spend it with private education providers. Students need to be part of the school system for a set number of days before withdrawing to access the money. If a student returns from private instruction, the money doesn't return with them, however. Boyles wants to see that be part of the discussion in Charleston. 'They've got some opportunities to make some nice adjustments,' he said.
