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photo by: Derek Redd
The local school improvement council for Warwood School has endorsed
splitting the school into separate elementary and middle schools. The schools would still remain under one roof, according to the plan.
WHEELING — The decision is now up to the West Virginia Department of Education as the consolidated Warwood School is one step closer to becoming separate elementary and middle schools.
Interim Principal Jim Rowing and Interim Vice Principal Robert Demarest were present as Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller updated board of education members this week on the process.
The local school improvement council and the faculty senate at the Warwood School both sent board members letters indicating their recommendation that the school’s elementary and middle school programs “move into two separate programmatic entities,” she reported.
“What I am asking for tonight is for the board to accept the recommendation so that we can continue to move forward into making that happen,” Miller said.
The board next unanimously approved the motion.
“Congratulations, Mr. Rowing and Mr. Demarest,” board president Andy Garber told them. “I’m sure you’re going to be wonderful leaders for our two new schools.”
Miller explained what would come next.
“On our end, we will be moving forward with the Department of Education with a formal request to have the (school) broken into two entities,” she said.
Miller said the hope is that the Department of Education will act soon enough that Warwood School will be separated into a Warwood Elementary and a Warwood Middle School before the next school year begins.
There will be no vice principal at either school, according to Miller.
She expects standardized test scores to pick up at the schools as a result of the separation of the elementary and middle schools. Presently, Warwood Middle School’s overall scores include students as young as third grade through eighth grade, while the elementary school numbers measure those in lower grades.
The proposed Warwood Middle School would have about 182 students based on this year’s enrollment in grades 6-8, while the elementary school would have 320 students in pre-kindergarten through fifth grade. The change will also allow the principals at each school to focus on and develop programming for students at their respective grade levels.
“Students will get more of that middle school feeling, but have the convenience if they want to do buddy work with the elementary school,” Miller said. “We think by making this decision, there will be a positive impact at the school.”
Current Ohio County Schools Human Resources Director Susan Nolte became a principal at Warwood School in 2012 before moving on to the central office.
She said it was a suggestion then from the staff a decade ago that the schools be separated.
“It’s such a wide range of grade levels. You felt like you were splitting your time all the time rather than focusing on one specific area,” Nolte said. “When we had a staff meeting, there was a lot of wasted time for half of the people there. This move will streamline services.
“It will give the school a chance to shine. I’m excited for them,” Nolte added.
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