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NEWS
High schools committed to Innovation Zone plans
HUNTINGTON -- Cabell Midland, Huntington High and the Cabell County Career Technology Center plan to present a joint proposal to the state Department of Education for Innovation Zone status.
Huntington High School Principal Greg Webb informed the Cabell County Board of Education of some of the plan's highlights during the Local School Improvement Council meeting, which took place before the formal school board meeting Tuesday.
Education Innovation Zones, which were approved by Legislature in the spring and by the West Virginia Department of Education in September, allow schools, groups of schools or departments within schools to apply for waivers that will allow them to do education in totally different ways.
Webb said part of their proposal will likely include giving students credit for subjects they might be learning privately outside of school.
A perfect example, he said, is Kayla Williams, who recently won the world vault title in the 2009 World Gymnastics Championships.
"Why does Kayla Williams need to take (physical education)," Webb said. "She's training four hours a day."
He also said that someone who has taken private music lessons may be able to use that for high school credit. Students would present portfolios of their work to prove they have mastered the skills, he said.
"Let's free up their schedules," Webb said. "We need to look at some flex-scheduling options."
He and Gerry Sawrey, assistant superintendent of School Improvement, said they also may look at embedded credit. One example would be the science a Technology Center student learns in an automotive class.
"The possibilities are endless," Webb said, adding that providing more time for professional development will be a part of the plan, too.
Sawrey said the high schools are grouped together to make it easier for students who may attend all three at some point in their educational careers. But each would have the ability to customize it.
Other ideas that the legislation allows is for schools to rearrange their schedules, boost hiring requirements for teachers, make curriculum changes and give teachers more freedom in meeting the state standards.
Plans require an 80 percent approval from teachers at each school, and plans must not compromise the policies set up by No Child Left Behind or other federal mandates, as well as state personnel codes.
While the school board cannot approve or deny the proposal, a presentation must be made before it is submitted to the state. Sawrey said that must be done in December because the deadline submission is Dec. 29. She anticipates it coming before the school board at the Tuesday, Dec. 15, meeting.
If the proposal is approved, the state will provide up to $50,000 in grant money for further planning and implementation. She said it would kick off during the 2010-2011 school year and be evaluated each year.
