Bath School Board holds September meeting

It was clear the “hottest” topic at the September 1^st’ School Board meeting, was turf vs. sod for a new surface on the high school’s largest, multi-purpose field. However, the process of actually acquiring funds for any new surface has not even begun. This conversation was intended to spark interest in the subject, and in board member’s Cathy Lowry’s words, have a group who is “eager to move forward with the process get the School Board’s ‘blessing’ for doing so”. The are definite pros and cons of each type of field surface, and as the community gathers information, and weighs its priorities, we will all probably learn plenty about both.

Good news included Ed Ozuls,, technology teacher, accepting a 1,500 dollar check from Emmett Toms of Dominion Power. Mr. Ozuls wrote the grant to get funding for weather stations at both Valley and Millboro Elementary Schools. The weather station at the high school is already an integral part of the science curriculum. Also in Good News was the word that Millboro Elementary was awarded the number one Elementary school in Virginia position on schooldigger.com for its SOL scores. While this statistic is certainly praiseworthy, it comes at a time when educators are finally beginning to question the Standards of Learning, and how they encourage “teaching to a test”.

This was a first regular School Board meeting for Kevin Kendall, Valley Elementary’s new principal, and he and Allison Hicklin of Millboro, and Sarah Rowe of Bath County High School all reported smooth openings to the school year. Each of them was very appreciative of the excellent job the custodial staff had done over the summer in cleaning and preparing for the new school year.

Five substitute teachers were added to the approved list: Susan Ailstock, Kayla Jordan, Kim Lancaster, Laura Massie and Giayanna Smith. Dustin Hupman was approved as a substitute custodian.

There are also two behavioral intervention specialist positions, which had previously been paid for through the Department of Social Services, but now will be administered through the school system using county funds.

Finally, the high school band is trying to raise money for new uniforms for sports games and competitions. The band has not had new uniforms since 2001. The cost of these uniforms for all of the students in the band is around 48 thousand dollars. So far, the band has raised around six thousand dollars. More coverage on this will become available as fundraising continues. If you are willing to help with this effort please contact Melinda Hooker, band director, at the high school.