Janis Barton, principal of West End Primary School, was the first to discuss West End’s extracurricular programs. Barton said, “West End School had suffered a tremendous loss of funds.” In order to supplement for these losses, six certified teachers had agreed to work “hands-on” — with a maximum of eight students per teacher (48 students total). Barton said a waiting list would hold the place for any student who may need tutored, but was not selected at the beginning of the program. This year’s ESS at West End will focus on reading curriculum, where students seem to have the greatest need. “If students do not learn to read at the Primary School, their chances of learning to read are much slimmer,” stated Barton.
Steve Martin, principal of East End Intermediate School, seemed to be “more fortunate than West End, in terms of financial stability.” Martin’s ESS program is scheduled to operate two hours a day for three days a week. During the first hour, ESS will target student’s homework and tutorials, while the last hour will involve club activities and intramural events. Martin said, “40-50 percent of the entire student body is a participant in East End’s after school programs.”
Steve Spangler, principal of Middlesboro Middle School said, “we’ve got it worked out where we weren’t cut much.” Middle School students have not started ESS yet, students just recently received their mid-term report, and ESS needs will be assessed based on those grades. Spangler said Kaye Cooke will target math studies for about 25 minutes before school begins, once ESS begins. “Students who participate in ESS benefit. They score well during testing,” said Spangler.
Middlesboro High School’s principal, Shelia Smith said ESS was designed to “recover credit hours.” High school students who fail only one semester of a course, can be tutored through the failed semester’s curriculum. “Breaking a class into two semesters, from the beginning of the year until Christmas and from Christmas on, allows teachers to focus more clearly on their children’s needs,” said Smith. The high school will also participate in an academic lunch program, where tutoring sessions will be conducted during student lunches.
WFXY’s Brian O’Brien and Clarence Yeary were present at the board meeting. O’Brien and Yeary have teamed up to stream football games live, via the internet. They presented the board with information on a problem they’ve had with rival sports broadcasters: “wazoosports.com.”
Yeary said, “’wazoo’ is looking for exclusivity, if they film the game, no one else can get in.”
Superintendent Darryl Wilder wanted to know if anyone had signed a contract with ‘wazoo.’ O’Brien said, they weren’t aware of any formal, binding agreement. Simply put, WFXY didn’t want be denied broadcasting rights at Middlesboro’s school sporting events.
“WFXY has broadcast Middlesboro’s games since 1969. And our stats show that 125 people watched [via yellowjacketstv.com] the game Friday night,” stated O’Brien. The board agreed to look more in depth at “wazoo.com” during their next regular board meeting.
Also approved during the meeting:
The board agreed to meet next month at East End Intermediate School and Boardmember Vicki Byrne made the motion to adjourn.
Sarah Miracle is a staff writer for the Daily News. She can be reached via e-mail at smiracle@middlesborodailynews.com.
Photo: The Middlesboro Board of Education met Monday night at West End Primary School’s library. Board members (left to right) are: Eddie Ballinger, Edie Kelley, Bill Johnson, Darryl Wilder, Kelly Shoffner, and Vicki Byrne. The next regular monthly meeting will be held at East End Intermediate School, Oct. 20, at 7 p.m.
(SARAH MIRACLE/Middlesboro Daily News)
Post a Comment
