[New] Middle school rolls out variety ofclubs to engage students

current status is expected to be a significant focus of the board in

By LauraMcFarland Managing Editor

The matter came to a head at the Oct. 11 meeting when McClung read a statement saying the only way forward he could see after hearing from many constituents was to call for Smither’s resignation. The decision was ultimately approved 4-1, with Williams dissenting because he didn’t want to pay Smither a severance package. Smither then offered his resignation.

POWHATAN– PowhatanMiddleSchoolwillbe buzzingwithdifferentkinds ofactivitiesmovingforward asnew clubsallow students tobondwithotherstudents withsimilarinterests.

The board has not released any information about plans to hire a new county administrator.

Theweeklyclubs,which launchedonOct.21,willbe held everyFridayduringIndian Timefortherestofthe year accordingtoformer principalSamanthaMartin.

2. Powhatan community comes back strong

The evidence of Powhatan County bouncing back from the COVID-19 pandemic started to materialize in 2021 with the return of several key community events. Special measures were often still in place to mitigate risk, but events like the Powhatan County Fair, Relay for Life, Powhatan Festival

BeforetheCOVID-19 pandemic,themiddleschool hadclubs but they had a broaderfocus,shesaid.This new iterationinvolvesofferingmorespecializedclubs basedonstudentinterests.

“We startedwithstudent requests.Thestudentscompletedtheirrequestsofwhat they wereinterestedin first. Thentheteacherssignedup tobe a sponsorfor a club andwesentitbackoutfor studentstosignup.Soit was allfocusedonstudentinterest,” saidMartin,whohas now transitionedintothe roleoftheschooldivision’s coordinatorofinnovative learning.

During the Powhatan County Board of Supervisor’s meeting on Monday, Dec. 19, Megan Argenbright, a partner with Brown, Edwards & Company, LLP, presented the results of the independent auditor’s report her firm did on the county’s finances.

The county’s financial statements were prepared by Charla Schubert, finance director, and the auditor’s role is to review them and express an opinion. As has happened consistently in the past few years, the firm delivered an “unmodified” or “clean” opinion on the financial statement, which is “the opinion you would like to receive,” Argenbright said.

Schubert said in a separate interview that the county has received unmodified opinions since she was hired in fiscal year (FY) 2014.

Argenbright commended Schubert and her staff not only for achieving an unmodified opinion on the CAFR but because all of the work on the financial report was prepared in-house.

With48clubsforstudentstochoosefrom,she hopes everymiddleschooler willhave theopportunityto interactwithotherstudents they mightnotnormally meet but withwhomthey mayshareanunexpected bond,shesaid.

“It is kind of a huge deal. I just want to reiterate, No. 1 that Charla puts this report together. It is becoming increasingly rare for our clients to prepare their own financial report and Charla did prepare this report,” Argenbright said. “Not only that but not to have any findings on your single audit or any state compliance findings. … Pretty impressive. Worth noting more than once.”

Justsomeoftheclubtop-

Brown Edwards audited the county’s financial statements of