Thursday, March 6, 2014
Don’t forget to spring forward Saturday night!
Cabell schools may start Aug. 6 50 Cents
Troop 733 leader Carl Sullivan hands out awards to the participants and winners of the annual Pinewood Derby.
Pinewood Derby offers scouts fun, competition By Heather Barker For The Cabell Standard
Cars racing, children laughing and families cheering were just a few of the sounds that were heard at Boy Scout Troop 733’s annual Pinewood Derby. An annual event for most Boy Scout troops, the Pinewood Derby allows boys and their family members to build a car out of a block of wood to race against other boys in their troop. “The Pinewood Derby is just a fun family event which allows for the boys and their families to do something together,” said Troop 733 leader Carl Sullivan. The boys received a kit including a block of wood and four wheels two weeks prior to the Feb. 21 race. In those two weeks, the boys carved their cars and painted them to look however they pleased. “The scouts were able to build their race cars out of blocks of wood and make it look however they wanted it to,” Sullivan said.
By Amanda White For The Cabell Standard
Parents and teachers raised concerns over the start date of the new 2014-15 calendar at the first required public calendar hearing by the Cabell County School Board. The proposed 2014-15 calendar starts the school year on Aug. 6 and has 180 full days of instruction, seven holidays, one Election Day, three continuing education days, six outside school environment days and three teacher prep days. The OSE days as well as the teacher prep days can be used to make up school in the case of inclement weather, but the calen-
dar no longer is allowed to provide in-school education (ISE) days as it did in the past. This means there will be less built in days for making up school, and in situations like this year, the students and staff may have to come to school long past the proposed ending date. If the schools do not have to make-up any days the last day school will be May 19, 2015. However, the school year could be extended to June 12, 2015 and beyond if additional make-up days are required. Lenora Richardson, Director of Curriculum and Assessment, headed up the calendar committee that consisted of students, parents, teachers and administra-
tion from around the county. The committee created three separate calendars and distributed them to Cabell County teachers, who voted. The calendar currently under consideration received a total of 642 votes, more than the other two calendars combined. "The Spring Break days will be used as a last resort," Richardson said. She said the state is keeping a close eye on all schools to ensure they are meeting the legislation's guidelines and requirements. "We have to have documentation in case the state comes and checks, which they said they would be doing," she said. According to Dr. Jeff Smith, as-
Plowing toward spring
l Volume 116 l Issue 9
sistant superintendent, the calendar was viewed online over 1,000 times, where it was posted in order to inform stakeholders as well as field early questions. He said the early start date will help students and teachers by giving a clear break between semesters as well as additional time to study for college prep tests and advanced placement exams. Several parents, however, felt this unfairly geared the calendar toward the older children. "It seems to me like a whole school calendar is being changed to accommodate a small percentage," said Elizabeth Mitchell, a parent and teacher at Guyandotte SEE SCHOOLS ON PAGE 4
Water crisis, prosecutor highlight meeting By Brian Harper For The Cabell Standard
The recognition of several local organizations for their response during the recent water crisis highlighted the Cabell County Commission meeting “It was a real effort of our own people helping out,” commission President Nancy Cartmill said Thursday. “I want to thank all of them for a job well done.” The organizations that were recognized included: Culloden Elementary School, Hurricane Equipment, the Cabell County Sheriff’s Department, the Huntington Food Bank, the West Virginia National Guard Unit 1257, 84 Lumber,
SEE DERBY ON PAGE 3
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John Chapman bundles up to plow the snow outside Halfway Market in Milton. Schools and many offices in Cabell County closed Monday due to a March dose of ice and snow.
SEE MEETING ON PAGE 4
Inside This Week: SPRING LAWN & GARDEN - PAGE 7 & 8 BARBOURSVILLE LIONS CLUB - PAGE 8 LADY KNIGHTS BASKETBALL - PAGE 16
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