Latest news with #McDowellCountySchools
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@
Yahoo
01-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
McDowell County students returning to school March 10
welch — Arrangements are underway to bring McDowell County's students back to their classrooms next month while the county and much of southern West Virginia is still recovering from the devastating Feb. 15 flood. McDowell County Schools announced Thursday that schools will be reopening on March 10. School officials said in their website post that the school system will work with families living in places where bus routes are currently inaccessible and will work with them individually to find ways to make sure their children can return to school as soon as possible. 'We are committed to providing a safe and supportive learning environment for all our students,' school officials said. 'Our district is working closely with the (state) Department of Highways to ensure that buses will run safely where roads are clear. Please note, bus routes may change as areas improve, and we will keep you informed.' School bus routes and changes to them will be posted on the McDowell County Schools website by March 5. Until the county's schools reopen, the school system is encouraging students to focus on a 'technology supportive lesson' so they can review math and reading skills. Schools will be distributing Chromebook devices to students so they can complete their lessons. The lessons are designed to help students keep up with their skills and help ease the transition back to their classrooms, school officials said in their announcement. Soon after the county's flood recovery efforts started, the county schools have been aiding the effort by being places where flood victims and volunteers can find shelter, charge their devices and get hot meals. Gov. Patrick Morrisey announced late Wednesday that the federal government had approved his request for Individual Assistance in McDowell, Mercer, Mingo and Wyoming counties. The Individual Assistance (IA) Program provides funds to individuals dealing with major damage to their homes or property. The governor's request for Public Assistance, which would be spent on repairs for roads, water systems and other infrastructure in McDowell County and the other counties, was still being reviewed by FEMA. Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Rosco's Soul Food serving the Welch community after flooding
WELCH, WV (WVNS) — Workers at a Welch restaurant are making sure their customers are not going hungry during the ongoing flood recovery. McDowell County Schools announce return to campus plan Rosco's Soul Food in Welch has been making and giving away free meals to people in need after the flooding. Employees have handed out meals filled with favorites like fried chicken, meatloaf, and pork chops. Owner Antonio Padgett said he will keep feeding his community as long as he can. 'I'm going to keep on doing it until, you know, the donations run out,' said Padgett. 'But still, I'm going to still get meals to people who come in and really need a hot meal, I'm not gonna turn them down. That's just like, I just cooked all this chicken and stuff for the day, if I run out of all that I'm gonna still be giving people hot meals. Ain't nobody gonna go without, you know, I'm gonna make sure everybody got a good hot meal.' Padgett said for the first three days he was spending his own money to cover the cost of ingredients for the meals. He said he has since gotten several donations, but more would always be welcome so he can continue to feed his community. Padgett said he will serve his community the best he can because that's what his mother taught him to do. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
McDowell county leaders provide recovery information, unveil 24/7 help line
WELCH, WV (WVNS) – Public officials gathered together in Welch on Tuesday, February 18, 2025, to provide some crucial information about flood relief efforts. We got some more sad news today as officials confirmed the second and third fatalities as a result of the flooding. We also learned that the West Virginia National Guard is officially boots on the ground in Welch, they will be helping out with anything they can. Warming centers, supply distribution open up across southern West Virginia Nearly 2200 people across the county are without water in their homes. There is no timeline yet for when those repairs will begin. The Superintendent of McDowell County Schools confirmed that the schools in the county will remain closed indefinitely. She added that it is still unclear whether or not the students will be able to return in-person at all this year, but they will do their best to adapt to the challenges and help their students matriculate to the next grade. One firefighter dies, another injured, while responding to McDowell County house fire They have also opened up a new help line, that will be staffed around the clock. Anyone who needs assistance in McDowell County can call the helpline, and anyone who wants to make a donation can call the number as well. The helpline phone number is (888) 929-4966. 'If it's a life-threatening event please call 911,' said Delegate David Green, who represents McDowell County. 'But if it is a situation where you are needing aid, you're needing help, whether it's running out of medications, you need to get to a critical doctor's appointment and you're not able to get there, this is the number for you to call. If you're needing help and you're not having heat in your home, any of those different types of things, call this number. Again, it will be staffed 24/7.' Officials also confirmed that they have been in contact with Governor Patrick Morrisey about applying for FEMA disaster relief funding. But before they get approval for that they need people to fill out a survey on how much damage they've sustained. You can find that survey online at if you can't get online to fill that survey out, you can pick up hard copy forms at any of the shelters set up around the county. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
