State Delegate Campbell Asks Pocahontas Board of Education’s Opinion on Common Core Curriculum
West Virginia House of Delegates member Denise Campbell spoke to the Pocahontas County Board of Education at their August 24th meeting about the controversial issue of the Common Core Curriculum. Delegate Campbell questions the Board.
“I am not for sure if the County here has any views on Common Core” Campbell said. “I would love to hear what your comments are because I have a feeling that Common Core will be raising its head at the next legislative Session. And we will have to vote on (it) because last year in the House it was voted to repeal that and of course it died in the Senate the last night of the session.”
Campbell went on to explain that she hears a lot of very different things about the Common Core Curriculum.
“And I think everybody has a different view” Campbell says. “I’ve talked to certain teachers and some teacher’s say that we’re so new into it I’m not sure we can evaluate it. But is it good, is it bad or whatever? I’ve heard other parents say it’s dummying down our students. I’ve heard some parents saying that the students are so frustrated that when they come home they cry . So I would really like to get some feedback from Pocahontas County about what your feelings are about the Common Core Curriculum.”
Board member Steve Tritapoe asked Lauren Dilley, a Math Teacher at Pocahontas County High School, who happened to be in attendance to express her opinion of Common Core, at least how it affects High School Math. Dilley was outspoken in her support of the curriculum, assuring Campbell that Common Core does not “Dumb Down” the students. She talked about the main advantage of Common Core Math instruction.
“I feel like the main difference is..and I didn’t graduate that long ago, but when I was still in High School it was like put the thing up on the board, teach us how to do it and we did the problems and it’s like ‘OK, Great, Like I’m a robot’ said Dilley. “It’s not like that anymore. We’re teaching them how to think and problem-solve and not memorize.”
Several others at the meeting commented pro and con – although mostly pro- about Common Core.
If you have a pro or con opinion on the Common Core Curriculum, you may want to email it to Delegate Denise Campbell. Her email address is Denise.Campbell@wvhouse.gov. She wants to hear your opinions about this controversial issue.
Lisa Dennison, a Child Nutritionist with the school system and Kevin from Hooten’s Food Service Equipment Company briefed the Board on the status of the work just completed in the High School Cafeteria- installation of a range hood- which had delayed the serving of hot lunches at the school for about a week. However they are now serving hot lunches.
Lauren Dilley also briefed the Board on the newly authorized Computer Sciences class, an elective for seniors. She said that to her knowledge this is the only one in West Virginia Public Schools.
Personnel Agenda Approved at the 8-24-15 Board Meeting
ALESIA WAYNE was EMPLOYED as Mentor for Lauren Prestopnik, Teacher of English/Language Arts/Reading at Green Bank Elementary at a $1000.00 supplement.
CREATION OF POSITION: After School Tutor at Hillsboro Elementary School – 2 hours per day, 2 days per week for 29 weeks at $20.00 per day. All costs to be paid for by McKinney-Vento funding.
CREATION OF POSITION: After School Tutor at Marlinton Elementary School – 2 hours per day, 2 days per week for 29 weeks at $20.00 per day. All costs to be paid for by McKinney-Vento funding.
CREATION OF POSITION: After School Tutor at Marlinton Middle School – 2 hours per day, 2 days per week for 29 weeks at $20.00 per day. All costs to be paid for by McKinney-Vento funding.
JOHN R STAATS EMPLOIYED as Mentor for Kristy L. Tritapoe, Assistant Principal at Pocahontas County High School effective for the 20015-2016 school year at a supplement of $1000.00.
CREATION OF POSITION: After School Tutor at Pocahontas County High School – 2 hours per day, 2 days per week for 29 weeks at $20.00 per day. All costs to be paid for by McKinney-Vento funding.
CREATION OF POSITION: Coordinator/Career Counselor/Homeschool Liaison/Tutor for Pocahontas County Schools effective for the 2015-2016 school year. 30 weeks, five hours per week not to exceed 150 hours at $24.00 per hour. All costs to be paid for by McKinney-Vento funding.
EMPLOYMENT: DAVID W. VANORSDALE JR as Substitute Teacher for Pocahontas County Schools effective August 26, 2015 (or upon completion of RESA IV Substitute Training Program) as needed for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year, at state basic pay based upon degree and experience.
EMPLOYMENT: CARISSA WILSON CRITES as Substitute Teacher for Pocahontas County Schools effective August 26, 2015 as needed for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year, at state basic pay based upon degree and experience.
EMPLOYMENT: DIANE ARBOGAST as Substitute Administrator for Pocahontas County Schools effective August 25, 2015 as needed for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year
EMPLOYMENT: SARA H. McCLINTIC as Substitute Administrator for Pocahontas County Schools effective August 25, 2015 as needed for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year
EMPLOYMENT: PAMELA M. VANORSDALE as School Bus Operator for Pocahontas County Schools at state basic pay, effective August 25, 2015 for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year. Term of employment is 190 days.