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CHARLESTON -- Recommended corrective actions for a Barbour County school have been given the OK by a state board this week.
A Special Circumstance Review of Philippi Middle School was approved by the West Virginia Board of Education Wednesday.
The West Virginia Department of Education conducted the review at the direction of the state superintendent of schools, beginning on Nov. 9, 2023. The review examined compliance with the laws and policies affecting students' safety and well-being, discipline and administrative protocols, and academic achievement.
Additionally, school improvement practices and the provision of special education services for students with disabilities were examined during this review. The review was conducted as the result of student safety concerns and a lack of adequate progress in the school improvement process.
The review team conducted 44 classroom observations, as well as teacher, student and principal interviews.
Philippi Middle has a total enrollment of approximately 275 students in grades 5-8, the review states.
In the 2018-2019 school year, Philippi Middle School was one of 34 schools identified for Comprehensive Support and Improvement. Identified schools represent the lowest-performing schools in the state.
Of the 34 schools identified in 2018-2019, Philippi Middle School was the only school that did not exit Comprehensive Support and Improvement status after five years, and was reidentified as a Comprehensive Support and Improvement School in 2022-2023.
The recommended corrective actions for Philippi Middle which were approved by the state Board of Education Wednesday include:
* Assign rotating coverage from counselors at other schools or from within community partnerships for emergency social-emotional care to students in need.
* Hire a school counselor with appropriate credentials/certification.
* Update School Crisis Prevention and Response Plan.
* Retrain staff on supervision protocols and expectations to ensure students are not left unattended.
* Utilize data to implement a social and emotional advisory system.
* Discontinue the practice of propping open exterior doors. Hold accountable any staff member who props open exterior doors or allows this practice to occur.
* Develop and implement a disciplinary matrix to ensure fair, firm, and consistent responses to student behaviors can be applied in a timely and efficient manner. Communicate the disciplinary play to parents/guardians. Coordinate with the Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) in the development of the disciplinary matrix.
* Revisit expectations for the division of administrative responsibilities to allow instructional leadership to be prioritized.
* Collaborate with the WVDE Office of Special Education to plan and implement improvements to IEP procedures and record-keeping, and correct identified noncompliance and other findings. Ensure staff are trained and held accountable for implementing standards-based IEPs.
* Fulfill existing contract with Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) to provide support for instructional leadership. Implement directives and feedback from the assigned WVDE School Improvement Coordinator to create and implement strategic improvement practices.
* Develop expectations and checklists for safety and cleanliness. Ensure custodians are trained and monitored. Contact the WVDE Office of School Facilities to assist with evaluating air quality within the building.