[New] Two PCPS teachers achieve National Board Certification

Contributed Report

The Powhatan County School Board recognized Becky Brown and Katie Bates on Jan. 10 for attaining National Board Certification.

Bates teaches second grade at Pocahontas Elementary School and Brown teaches sixth grade English at Powhatan Middle School.

Working toward National Board Certification is a rigorous endeavor that increases the effectiveness of teachers. By systematically examining their teaching practices by videotaping classroom lessons and analyzing student work, teachers deepen their knowledge of their subject matter and become more skilled in daily classroom instruction and student assessment.

A National Board Certificate attests that a teacher has met the highest standards established for the profession. Teachers complete a four-component process that includes three classroom-based portfolio entries and one assessment center exercise. Certification is good for five years and must be renewed by completing a similar but shorter process.

Brown and Bates are part of a National Board Support Cohort with the Met - they can work for the citizens of Powhatan, he added.

“I think that we need to work on our meeting presence and we’ve got a big task to figure out how to get through not having a county administrator. We have (Bret) Schardein as an interim county administrator, which I think we’re all very happy with, very pleased to have him here,” Byerly said.

“We’ve got some other hires that we need to do, some positions that need to be filled, and that’s going to be a difficult task but one we need to work on.”

Byerly said he doesn’t think the board is at the point where it has decided whether to move forward in hiring a county administrator now or let the next board do it when it takes office in 2024. “But we are definitely talking about it, and they are good talks and good communication. We are moving forward.”

As the board prepares to enter the budget season, Byerly pointed out that fiscally Powhatan County is in very good condition.

“If we can maybe work on leading from facts as opposed to fear we might do a little bit better for everybody,” he said.

Beyond the budget, Byerly said one goal he wants to see move forward is the planned creation of an eastern convenience center. He also recognized that the capital improvement plan (CIP) will be a significant issue “because we are going to be a little bit out of sync with that by virtue of the inflationary numbers that are coming into play. So we are going to have to work through that through the budget season.”

McClung, who is a firsttime officer on the board, said in a separate interview it is an honor to serve Powhatan and to be chosen as vice chair. He echoed Byerly’s comments that the board needs to come together in unity.

“We are going to have differences; that’s life, we have differences every day. But in some cases we have to come together and change your views or just come unified as one on what is better for Powhatan and your constituents,” he said.

Entering his second full year on the board, McClung said he knows more this time around about the responsibilities and the commitments the role requires. It takes an extra 10 to 15 hours a week to fulfill the role of supervisor on top of working a full-time job, including not only board meetings but the five committees where he represents the board.

The last year in the role has taught him a great deal about how to talk to and listen to constituents but also heed the advice of county staff as they all work to do what is right for the county, he said.

Regarding the board’s focus this year, McClung pointed out the county has good revenue coming in but expenditures that are climbing as well, so finding a balance will be key.

“With every expenditure this year everything is way more expensive. That goes for going to the grocery store and getting gas. On a county level, it is amplified a hundred times more than that. We are going to have to be smart about the budget, we are going to have to spend our money wisely, and in the end we will just have to come up with a balanced budget,” McClung said.

Laura McFarland may be reached at Lmcfarland@ powhatantoday.com.

„ March 6 at 3 p.m., budget workshop to introduce financial forecast, budget presentation and school budget presentation

„ March 8 at 6:30 p.m., joint BOS/SB meeting

„ March 13 at 3 p.m., budget workshop to discuss departmental budgets

„ March 20 at 3 p.m., budget workshop to discuss CIP and personnel

„ March 27 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting — public hearing on real estate tax rate and adopt personal property tax rates (preferred by treasurer and commissioner of revenue)

„ April 3 at 6:30 p.m., budget workshop to decide what budget to advertise — must send to paper by April 6, public hearing on real estate tax rate and adopt RE tax rate and PP tax rates (drop dead date by treasurer and commissioner of revenue)

„ April 17 at 6:30 p.m., budget workshop – public hearing on budget and fee schedule

„ April 24 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting – adopt the fiscal year 2024 budget and CIP

„ May 11 at 3 p.m., workshop (tentative)

„ May 22 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ June 15 at 3 p.m., workshop (tentative)

„ June 26 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ July 24 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting (to include draft legislative agenda)

„ Aug. 17 at 3 p.m., workshop (tentative)

„ Aug. 28 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ Sept. 14 at 3 p.m., workshop (tentative)

„ Sept. 25 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ Oct. 12 at 6:30 p.m., workshop with legislators

„ Oct. 23 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ Nov. 16 at 3 p.m., workshop (tentative)

„ Nov. 27 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

„ Jan. 8, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., organizational meeting

„ Jan. 22, 2024, at 6:30 p.m., regular meeting

All meeting dates and times are subject to changes by the board. Updated meeting listings can be found throughout the year at http://powhatanva.gov/.