10/04/2017

Page 1

Inside A4 Red Lane Baptist Church celebrates 171 years

Powhatan, Virginia

B1 Knights offense shines in win over Vikings

Vol. XXXI No. 14

October 4, 2017

All Powhatan schools fully accredited By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

OWHATAN – The state recently released the annual accreditation report that shows all five schools that make up Powhatan County Public School have earned full accreditation for the 20172018 school year, a feat achieved by a little under half of divisions in Virginia. Dr. Tracie Omohundro, assistant superintendent for instruction, gave a presentation to the Powhatan County School Board during its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 26 in which she talked about the division’s achievement as well as areas where improvement is still needed. The Virginia Department PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND of Education released the results in Au- Students at Pocahontas Elementary School greet the day together. The gust. school was recently moved off of Focus School status after two years. “Only 32 school divisions were ful-

300 students eat free on Feed Virginia Day

ly accredited with all of their schools fully accredited last year. This year, there are 65 of those divisions, and we are one of those 65 divisions. So we are still in the top 50 percent of all school divisions that have all of their schools within the division fully accredited,” she said. Schools that earn full accreditation for three consecutive years are automatically rated as fully accredited for an additional three years, so PCPS is actually already fully accredited through 2019, she said. While meeting and exceeding standards that are set by the state on state testing and graduation rates are always important to the division, having that three-year accreditation offers room to look beyond those basic SOL strategies and needs and look at initiatives such see ACCREDITED pg. 6

PHS rolls out 1-to-1 initiative By Laura McFarland News Editor

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

All students at Pocahontas Elementary School had the opportunity to receive free breakfast on Sept. 29 as part of Feed Virginia Day of Action.

Prsrt. Standard U.S. POSTAGE PAID Powhatan, VA Permit No.19

SEE STORY PAGE 8

POWHATAN – Backpack? Check. Pencils? Check. Paper? Check. Chromebook? Check. A new school supply item joined the list of tools helping students learn at Powhatan High School this year when all students and teachers were issued a Chromebook as part of a one-toone initiative by Powhatan County Public Schools. The school district ordered 1,600 devices for the initiative at the high school, most of which have been in the hands of students and teachers for a few weeks and are definitely making their mark, said Dr. Mike Massa, principal. After a successful pilot program during the 2016-2017 school year, the decision was made to move ahead this school year with putting a device in each student’s hands to provide them

PHOTO BY LAURA MCFARLAND

Students at Powhatan High School use their Chromebooks in class. The school issued all students a device as a part of a one-to-one initiative.

with an additional resource to help them in their educational journey, he said. “One thing we want to emphasize is that the Chromebooks aren’t meant to replace good instruction we have done in the past without them,” Massa said. “However, the Chromebooks can and do give the teachers an opportunity to

Board of supervisors get first look at county’s pre audit financial records By Laura McFarland News Editor

P

DELIVER TO: Postal Patron Powhatan, VA 23139

OWHATAN – The Powhatan County Board of Supervisors got an early look at how the last fiscal year turned out with the presentation of the pre-audit financials for the county. During the board’s meeting on Monday, Sept. 25, Charla Schubert, director of finance, gave her annual report on the county’s pre-audit financials for the fiscal year (FY) that ended June 30, 2017 to allow members to review the fund balance after all year end entries have been recorded. The unaudited financial statements have gone to the county’s auditor, Brown Edwards and Co. LLP, Schubert said. The audit is scheduled for this week. She said she expects the findings to go to the county’s audit committee in December. Schubert’s report was presented to the board for informational purposes and no action was required of members,

county administrator Ted Voorhees told them. “Our intent is to give you this information in advance and then we would appropriate the carryforwards at the next meeting,” he said. During FY 2017, the county is projected to have brought in $55,910,188 and spent $54,609,575. This expected $1.3 million in additional funds is projected to be combined with the county’s FY 2016 fund balance to create the FY 2017 fund balance of $16,245,996. Some highlights of the additional $1.3 million over what was conservatively projected during the budget period includes increased real estate tax revenue ($282,150 more than projected); good collection of delinquent taxes by the treasurer’s office ($351,373 more than projected), and personal property taxes trending up more ($585,388 more than projected). Other highlights included higher than expected collections from a variety of

provide students more choices in what they create, how they express and show what they have learned, and in how they access information and curriculum that best suits their individual learning styles and needs.” The Chromebooks purchased by see CHROMEBOOK, pg. 2

Priest sentenced to 10 days for second DUI offense By Laura McFarland News Editor

POWHATAN – A local priest who faced a misdemeanor charge of driving while intoxicated for the second time in under 10 years pled no contest last week and was sentenced to 10 days in jail. Father Walter G. Lewis, 64, of Powhatan, who is the priest at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, appeared in Powhatan County General District Court on Friday, Sept. 29, before Chief Judge Mayo K. Gravatt. The judge sentenced Lewis to 12 months in jail but suspended 11 months and 20 days, according to court documents. Ten days is the mandatory minimum sentence required. Gravatt gave Lewis until Friday, Oct. 13, to make necessary arrangements before he has to besee PRIEST, pg. 1

see BOARD, pg. 10

Powhatan Moose Lodge 4140 OLD BUCKINGHAM ROAD

4TUH AL

ANN

616318-01

Oktoberfest Sponsored by the Powhatan Family Center to Benefit the Shriners Hospitals for Children, Moose Orphanage, (ticket does not Moose Seniors, and Scouts. Music, Food and Drinks include food or drinks)

Open to Public

TICKETS

(Admission only)

Kids 12 & under FREE The Saurkraut and $5 Adults Call 598-2809 for Info & Tickets or stop by the New Horizon Bank. LeeStreet Bands

MUSIC:

Saturday, October 14, 4pm –11pm


Turn static files into dynamic content formats.

Create a flipbook
Issuu converts static files into: digital portfolios, online yearbooks, online catalogs, digital photo albums and more. Sign up and create your flipbook.
10/04/2017 by Powhatan Today - Issuu