.....Advertisement.....
.....Advertisement.....

Education

  • Plan to fix schools under fire

    NORFOLK — The fate of a new statewide entity with the task of fixing underperforming schools is up in the air thanks to a slate of new elected state officials and a lawsuit working its way through the courts.
    A nine-member board has been appointed. An executive director earning $125,000 a year is in place. Still, few people —  including those appointed to guide the system — seem to know much about its next steps.

    Click here to read more...
  • Galax Elementary plants 'Grateful Garden

    Galax Elementary educators felt grateful for a recent warm December day to get an early start on their new teaching garden.
    Many of the participating students wore jackets while helping dig out the first shovelful of dirt in “The Grateful Garden of Galax” behind the school, even though the temperature seemed to hover around the 60s.

    Click here to read more...
  • Governor's school could expand, as local interest contracts

    HILLSVILLE — While Southwest Virginia Governor’s School officials contemplate an expansion of their program, Carroll educators wonder if they can reignite their students’ interest in the special math and science curriculum in Pulaski.
    Sherry Pugh, assistant director and math teacher, represented the governor’s school before the Carroll County School Board at its Nov. 12 meeting while sharing the expansion proposal.

    Click here to read more...
  • Group reviews library books for 'inappropriate' content

    By SHAINA STOCKTON, Staff
    School officials, parents and students are joining together in a proactive effort to keep inappropriate reading materials out of the Galax High School library.
    Schools Superintendent Bill Sturgill, GHS parent Lynn Funk and GHS honor student Maggie Turbyfill — three members of the newly-formed Galax Library Book Committee — explained in a group meeting on Tuesday that their efforts were not to shield students from difficult topics, but to offer the student body books that deal with these topics the right way.

    Click here to read more...
  • Schools aid in preparing workforce

    HILLSVILLE — In service of economic development, Carroll County already has a large and ongoing organization dedicated to preparing an educated workforce — it’s called the Carroll County Public Schools.
    Schools Superintendent Strader Blankenship brought that message to the Carroll board of supervisors’ November meeting. He said the division stands ready to provide assistance in economic development efforts.

    Click here to read more...
  • Learning lab goes full 'STEAM' ahead

    HILLSVILLE — While some intensive studies could happen in a new lab space in Carroll County High School, the construction project to set up the lab shouldn’t be too complicated, according to the schools superintendent.
    Carroll officials and educators intend to go to bid for the construction of the new STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) lab on Dec. 5.

    Click here to read more...
  • County pitches in $10K for new ball field

    INDEPENDENCE – Grayson County Supervisors have pitched in $10,000 to go towards construction of a recreational facility at the Grayson Highlands School,  as long as the school board and school’s Parent-Teacher Organization are willing to put in equal amounts.
    County Administrator Jonathan Sweet received a letter last month from Rhonda Halsey, Grayson Highlands PTO president, asking the board to consider a donation.

    Click here to read more...
  • State approves A-F school grading scale for schools

    RICHMOND — Most of the state’s schools would earn an A or B letter grade based on preliminary data used to establish a new grading formula approved last Thursday by the Board of Education.

    Click here to read more...
  • Educators say students subjected to too many tests

    HILLSVILLE — With a belief there are too many Standards of Learning tests in a student’s life and too few significant learning opportunities, Carroll School Board members asked the Virginia General Assembly to reexamine its system of measuring school accountability.

    Click here to read more...
  • Supervisors: gym ideas should come from educators

    HILLSVILLE — Though the Carroll County supervisors supported a vague motion to look for a way to pay for an auxiliary gym at the high school, they rejected a more detailed motion on the same topic at their Nov. 14 meeting.
    The same supervisor, Bob Martin, proposed both motions, asking his fellow elected officials to “get the ball rolling” on an addition that would solve several areas of concern at Carroll County High School.

    Click here to read more...