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SCHOOLS
William Smith: Future looking bright for Cabell County schools
I am very optimistic about where we are headed in Cabell County. It is exciting to see the amazing progress of the new schools being built throughout the district. We will open Martha Elementary this year, and it appears that Barboursville Middle will be ready for students in January. Milton Middle will open shortly after and not far behind is Huntington Middle and Southside Elementary. No doubt, these new facilities translate to a better education for our students.
A by-product of these 21st century buildings is the positive impact they have on the economic development of the area. While it is not always clear how the pieces of the puzzle fit together to create a final product, modern, well-equipped schools play a major role in the economic revitalization of Cabell County and the surrounding area. If you step back just a bit, you will see the synergy created by the cooperative efforts of the public, private and faith-based sectors of our communities. The Tri-State area is experiencing a modern renaissance, and our Board of Education, teachers and staff will play a major role in this rebirth.
What is not always visible, but equally as important, are the internal efforts made to develop successful students in Cabell County. We have been talking about the rigor and relevance of our curriculum and instruction in terms of the 21st century. It is clear that the world our children live in now is vastly different than a decade ago. There is no doubt that our students will hold jobs that have yet to be created. Cabell County Schools is involved in several initiatives to improve the quality of education in the district by creating and encouraging a climate of achievement.
- An Internet product called Edline will be implemented for every school in the district. This will allow students and parents to access grades, assignments and classroom activities from any online computer at any time. E-mail communication with classroom teachers is also a feature of this versatile resource. For those families who do not have Internet at home, our principals are working on setting up access to kiosk units or computer labs so that parents can come in during the school day and access their children's information. The potential for effective parent involvement and school/home communications is extraordinary and will have a positive impact on achievement.
- This year, we will begin a close examination of our high schools using a multidisciplinary committee similar to middle school reinvestment initiative. This thorough review will be the centerpiece of our plans to increase the rigor in our classrooms and the educational quality of our graduates.
- Teachers have begun extensive training focused on engaging students in the learning process. We will begin to see students more actively involved in the classroom. This is a fundamental change in the mindset of teaching and learning.
- A focus on a healthy lifestyle for our students and staff is gaining momentum in our schools. Our students and families will learn more about diet and exercise designed to improve student performance and overall health.
- Last year, we began an assessment called Organizational Health designed to increase student achievement by enhancing leadership effectiveness in our district and our schools. While this initiative is not easily observable, all of these 21st century learning efforts will not flourish unless we develop a trained teacher population who can facilitate, enable and manage student-centered learning environments. Our decisions should be focused on what is best for the short- and long-term interests of all students.
Our teachers, principals and staff are dedicated to the challenges ahead, and we understand the importance of learning and passing on the knowledge and wisdom to the next generation. Charles Stanley stated in one of his recent broadcasts about sitting at the knee of his grandfather that "we are only one generation away from paganism." Our way of life depends on our children learning from the previous generation. There is nothing more far reaching than the education of our children.
William Smith is superintendent for Cabell County Schools.
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