I am excited about the future of Isle of Wight County Public
Schools and the future of our children.
We have many dedicated individuals who are leading the way and setting
the example as life-long learners.
Administrators, teachers, and staff are innovatively thinking,
brainstorming, and researching to provide a 21st century education
to our children. This is a tribute to
the dedication and professionalism they demonstrate each day.
The budget presented this year will focus on providing the
funds necessary in each category in order to accomplish the School Board’s
Strategic Goals. We must solidify the operational budget on the instructional
side as well as providing a strong operational budget that will enable us to
provide a positive learning environment for our students by proactively
maintaining our facilities and support services.
The House and Senate joint budget included a two percent
raise for all teachers this year. A
compensation study will be conducted during the second year of the biennium
budget. A strategic plan for employee
compensation needs to be phased in over a period of time on a rotational basis
in cooperation with the Board of Supervisors.
This will best provide for employees and for school and county officials
to plan together.
As we continue to learn with our students, we will be
focusing on several new areas this year. The focus will shift from a single
score on an SOL test to the skills necessary to be successful lifelong
learners. These skills include
collaboration, communication, creativity, and critical thinking. Performance based learning and STEM will be
the vehicle in which these skills will be taught on a regular basis.
We are researching a more rigorous reading curriculum in our
elementary schools to ensure all children are reading on grade level by third
grade. We will be implementing coding as a resource class for all elementary
students. Coding is the second most used
language in our country. Guidance
counselors will no longer teach a resource class and will be utilized to mentor
students and work with the reading initiative.
The secondary schools will focus on creating new learning
environments in the media center and throughout the schools such as maker
spaces, writing rooms, music studios, and areas to brainstorm and collaborate. These environments will provide the tools and
space for students and teachers to use their creativity in solving problems and
providing a benefit to the school community.
We will focus on Career and Technical Education. Conversations will continue with local
businesses and industry to provide us the information as far as the technical
and soft skills that students will need to be employable after high school. We
will use this information to design CTE programs in which students will be
ready for employment in local industry upon graduation. We are investigating
design and manufacturing, HVAC, electrical, and welding opportunities. In addition to this, a Career Pathway
curriculum will be developed for middle school students to expose them early on
to possible careers and college.
Teachers will be exposed to deeper learning professional
development in order to provide performance based learning opportunities for
students. Students in turn will be able
to apply the knowledge that they have learned in the classroom and solve real
world problems in addition to being prepared for the new performance based
assessments developed locally and at the state level.
We are requesting additional funding in this budget in the
area of maintenance and transportation.
Preventive maintenance schedules will be funded and implemented as well
as painting in schools on a rotational basis.
A line item fund to implement a rotational purchase of new furniture
will keep the school division moving in a proactive manner in providing a
positive learning environment for our students.
There is not a better way to invest in your community’s
future than to support the school budget and provide an opportunity for
students to achieve their goals.
Dr.
James Thornton
Division
Superintendent
