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Sunday, December 27, 2015

Rich School Board Meeting And Upcoming Candidate Filing Dates

Chris Coray, Reporter
Rich Civic Times

The Rich County School Board held its regular December meeting on Wednesday, Dec. 16, 2015, at the district office in Randolph.  All 6 board members were present.

Terryl  Warner, State Board of Education member representing this region, was present.  She reported that the new statewide standards in science education were initially a divisive issue, but after consultation with interested parties, including science teachers, the new standards were eventually adopted.  She also noted that it has been recommended that a 4.5% increase in the WPU be made and that there are 100 million new dollars available, almost all to be used in technology.   She noted that Rich County is already in very good shape on the technology front so that the new money will likely not have much effect in the district.

Warner also noted that financial literacy teachers have been told in many cases that they need 12 additional university credits to be certified in the subject, but that this notification will receive a second look as it is not clear whether the existing teachers actually need the extra instruction.  Many of the teachers have been teaching the material for more than 10 years.

Finally, Warner noted that a new national law, the “Every Student Succeeds Act”,  (ESSA) has been passed by Congress and signed into law.  This act replaces the “No Child Left Behind” act.  Specifics on the parameters of the new act are just becoming available, but are known to contain new rules and guidelines on testing and evaluation of schools and likely an increase in state’s voice in both of these areas.

In a change from previous years, the filing dates for all candidates for local school board membership are set this term to be from January 4, 2016, to March 17, 2016.  

Three of the districts will have elections, District 1, 2, and 5.  District 1 is centered near Woodruff, District 2 near Randolph, and District 5 is Garden City north, where Andy Stokes is serving as an appointed interim board member.  Filing for the positions can be accomplished in the county office.  The board currently has 6 members but that will return to the law mandated 5 members after the election in 2018.  Currently Eric Wamsley and Monte Weston are both from the same district (3) but the law indicates that those  4 year terms may be completed by the elected members.  

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