Pocahontas Schools Teaching Citizenship, Civics, and US History
At the May 28th Pocahontas County Board of Education (BOE) meeting, Teacher Anita Workman briefed the board members about Citizenship, U.S. & WV History, and Civics being taught and tested in the county Schools. She explained that all 8th graders take the State’s Golden Horseshoe test,hich is about the history, geography, economics, and civics of the state of West Virginia. The Golden Horseshoe program has been taught and tested in West Virginia schools since 1931 and is the longest running program of it’s type in the U.S.
High school juniors study and are tested on U.S. history, while high school seniors study and take a test on Civics.
Workman said she uses the U.S. Naturalization test as the final exam in her Civics class at PCHS. That is the same test the U.S. government administers to people who apply to become U.S. citizens, and covers the basics about how the government operates and is structured, including the three branches of government and the right to vote.
She said that right now passing the Civic/Citizenship course is not required to graduate, however the WV Legislature is considering passing House Bill 5196, which will require that Civics, Citizenship, U.S. and WV History courses be taught, tested and passed in order to graduate.
Workman also informed the members that this is her last BOE meeting, as she is leaving the county schools to take a position with the State Department of Education, however her programs will be continued here by another teacher.
In a related matter, it was announced that Nadiya Kerr of Green Bank Elementary/Middle School and Nicholas Beverage of Marlinton Middle School were this year’s County Golden Horseshoe winners. Kerr was present at the meeting and was congratulated in person.
Additionally, the members approved routine financial reports and payments.
They also approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Southern Educational Services Cooperative to provide Proximity Virtual Learning to students.
The members voted to approve a MOU with the West Virginia Wesleyan College School of Nursing and School of Counseling & Psychology which will allow the placement of two West Virginia Wesleyan Fellows in the county schools each grant year. Those Fellows will provide school-based mental health services to the county schools through Community Care of WV.
At the recommendation of Math coach Joanna Bert-Kinderman and of the Math Teachers, the members approved the 2024-2025 Math Adoption Program which will take effect in July. This program will include new math standards and also new math text books which are selected by the teachers, even if those books have not been approved by the state.
They also voted to allow the School Treasurer to pay invoices prior to board approval from June 11th through July 18th; and also, to make budget adjustments prior to board approval from June 11th through June 30th.
They authorized the School Superintendent to post and fill vacancies, excluding administrative vacancies, prior to board approval from May 29th through October 25th.
They approved the recommended Service and Professional Personnel Actions. Which can be seen by clicking on the link to the official agenda for this meeting –2024 5-28 Agenda
The board adjourned following their Matters of the Board discussions.
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