By Matt de Simone
The Botetourt County School Board held its May meeting at Central Academy Middle School (CAMS) last Thursday in Fincastle.
Superintendent Dr. John Russ introduced the 2022 BCPS Teachers of the Year from each school: Angie Myers (Read Mountain Middle School), Amy Wolford (Troutville Elementary), Kendel Lively (Lord Botetourt), Elizabeth Foster (James River), Katie Kurz (Greenfield Elementary), Khymberli Spikes (Colonial Elementary), Kathy Firestone (Cloverdale Elementary), Rhyanna Moran (CAMS), Sarah Boblett (Buchanan Elementary), Sara Browning (Breckinridge), Amy Warren (Eagle Rock Elementary) and Whitney Witt (Botetourt Technical Education Center).
Angie Myers was also recognized as BCPS Teacher of the Year for the entire county and is currently being considered Teacher of the Year on the regional and state levels.
Russ recognized the BCPS Employee of the Month for April, kindergarten teacher Amanda Rowe of Troutville Elementary School.
During the student recognition portion of the meeting, Sarah Reynolds, Gifted Resource teacher at Breckinridge Elementary, introduced fifth grade students Isaac Theimer, Madison Gray, and Caroline Rushing, who recently won the 2022 Stock Market Game on the elementary level. The program is designed to familiarize elementary school students with the stock market, how it works, and how better to understand buying and trading in the real world. Roughly 100 teams competed in the game. On the final trading day, the fifth grade students sold all of their stocks, except for Chevron and Lockheed Martin, due to the current “high demand” for both companies’ resources worldwide.
Gifted Resource teacher Daryl Hylton-Reynolds at CAMS introduced her students in the Stock Market Enrichment program. She spoke about her students initially competing in the Stock Market Game on the elementary level. Students Kate Cook, Jeremy Tribble, and Colin Turner, along with the elementary-level winners, received certificates of recognition for their effort in the contest.
Lord Botetourt High School art teachers Richard Moon and Ingrid Chase, James River art teacher Gina Stanley, and CAMS art teacher Courtney May introduced the winners of the Southwest Region Scholastic Art Contest Awards from James River, Lord Botetourt, and CAMS. Jenna Tucker, an eighth grade student at CAMS, is the first Botetourt County middle school student to place in the competition earning an honorable mention. High school winners include James River’s Kaycee Kincaid, Sarah Lucas, and Georgia Honts, and Lord Botetourt’s Mia D’Arpa, Landon Dobbs, Travis Goad, Aliyah Honaker, Adalyn Relf, Lauren Setliff, and Courtney Zerrilla.
Moon, May, and Greenfield and Breckenridge Elementary art teacher Holly Clary introduced the 2022 VSBA Blue Ridge Regional Art Contest Entry winners from Greenfield Elementary, Central Academy Middle School, and Lord Botetourt High School. Elementary school winner Evelyn Bowden won with a piece using chalk pastels. Jenna Tucker won on the middle school level with a picture of a bouquet of flowers. Lord Botetourt senior Nina Appicello won an award on the high school level and placed third overall in Virginia.
During the public comment period, a concerned parent asked the School Board to consider changes in attendance policy regarding the “gray area” about students coded as “remote virtual” for all illnesses, not just Covid-related symptoms. The same person supported a mental health professional being employed by BCPS to better support students in need and also asked for BCPS to better coordinate the free lunch program for families who need assistance.
Russ cleared up the authorization for his asking the Board of Supervisors for an additional appropriation of $425,000 to the School Nutrition Fund. Over the last school year, students who ate breakfast and lunch were at no cost to the student. Russ explained the $425,000 is revenue from the state that comes to Botetourt County for expenses, and it won’t be a common issue moving forward.
The board moved to approve the readoption of the FY23 School Board Budget Readoption, voting 4-1. Board members Jenny Wilson, Tim Davidick, and Dana McCaleb noted that students’ mental health played into their readoption decision. McCaleb added that the board was “disappointed” in making decisions that weren’t in favor of the school system.
“The mental health issue is not something new,” McCaleb said. “This is my 26th year in education. If I was still teaching (in public schools), I (would be) advocating for (addressing the hiring of a mental health professional). It’s just that Covid has brought it to the forefront, and with the stress the kids are under, (stress) that the teachers are under—(hiring a mental health professional) is a top priority moving forward.
The board approved the 2022-2023 Proposed Special Education Annual Plan. The plan can be found at https://www.bcps.k12.va.us/school_board under Board Docs in the meetings tab (2022) at the top of the page.
Tyler Painter, Extension Agent, 4-H Youth Development, made a presentation highlighting some of the accomplishments of Botetourt County’s 4-H program over the past school year. Painter thanked the board, administrators, and teachers involved. Painter talked about some of the projects involving BCPS fourth and fifth graders. Alissa Grooms, a fifth grade student at Colonial Elementary, presented her “How To” presentation she prepared for the county’s contest about “how to make slime.” Currently, Painter works with 74% of the county’s fourth and fifth grade classrooms. He also spoke about the 4-H Robotics Club and its accomplishments. Ethan Spickard represented the team and talked a bit about the group’s tournament participation.
Supervisor of Special Education and BCPS Consultant Karen Turner made a presentation on Student Emotional Well-being Post Pandemic along with Student Assistance Program Counselor Ashley Hatcher and Troutville Elementary Guidance Counselor Lynette Saville.
Dr. Russ made his monthly superintendent’s report. During the report, Russ spoke about the budget and finance department attending the Botetourt County Board of Supervisors public hearing for the budget on April 13 and the budget adoption meeting on April 26. The budget and finance department are working with the school nutrition department to monitor their increased federal revenues due to the expanded nutrition program. He mentioned the finance department continues to monitor the state budget progress.
Russ mentioned the BCPS Retirement Banquet recognized 22 retirees for their years of service in the schools and community.
BCPS currently collaborates with the local health department to offer drive-thru immunization clinics for rising 7th and 12th grade students on June 23 from 9-11 a.m. at Central Academy and 1-3 p.m. at Read Mountain. Parents will be required to accompany anyone under 18, and pre-registration with the health department is required.
Russ added that the Spring Student Record Collection Report had been submitted to the Virginia Department of Education. The report shows the school division’s average daily membership, which is a factor for state funding. The technology department is migrating custom reports in PowerSchool to a newer interface that allows the schools to export data more efficiently.
Russ made an update about the funds received from the ESSER III (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) plan. He clarified that the board had a lot more mitigation strategies for students’ return to school last year. Next month, Russ revealed that BCPS Director of Finance Brandon Lee would update the county’s ESSER III spending plan. Although it won’t be the “final plan,” that part will come during the June meeting.
To watch May’s school meeting in its entirety, visit bcps.live/archives.
