We had Superintendent
Phil Dobbins pegged wrong. As we reported in the above
article, we thought Dobbins would come on strong during
the Feb 27th School Board meeting held at Clay High.
We also thought a bunch of parents would be up in arms
over the dismal failings of the County Clay School system.
We were wr..... Wrooo.... wrong.
Between that first public meeting and Feb 27th, Dobbins assembled the firing squad and held the come to Jesus meetings with both principals ahead of time. Our best idea, something along the lines of, straighten up this mess, show a bunch of improvement, or off with your heads! IF that's not what he told his administrators, he should have.
For this meeting both Clay High Principal Allen Tanner and Clay Middle School Principal Leslie Goe came prepared with high techno presentations. Neither dodged the math failure rates.
Keep in mind, during last year's SAT testing cycle, less than 15% of the kids were proficient in math. Now during this 2024 practice test, just 7% of high school kids were at grade level. After spending over $20M+ in the last school year, it couldn't get much worse. Phil Dobbins had taken over the reins at absolutely the wrong time.
Principal Tanner took a full 47 minutes to lay out his game plan which includes: doing more practice tests; redressing those failings the following week; and assessing the problems every two weeks.
Tanner, "We got to fix it now... Something is missing here.... Something fundamental is missing..."
What Tanner got around to saying was, we're going to be teaching the test to get better performance. It wasn't so long ago that teaching a test, that was a no no. Of course back years ago, teaching the test was practiced just never mentioned in public.
From the Board, from Chair Nichols, what happens when kids and or teachers are absent?
We didn't hear a good answer to those questions.
Mr Tanner listed a whole range of improvement strategies. (See below panels)
Between that first public meeting and Feb 27th, Dobbins assembled the firing squad and held the come to Jesus meetings with both principals ahead of time. Our best idea, something along the lines of, straighten up this mess, show a bunch of improvement, or off with your heads! IF that's not what he told his administrators, he should have.
For this meeting both Clay High Principal Allen Tanner and Clay Middle School Principal Leslie Goe came prepared with high techno presentations. Neither dodged the math failure rates.
Keep in mind, during last year's SAT testing cycle, less than 15% of the kids were proficient in math. Now during this 2024 practice test, just 7% of high school kids were at grade level. After spending over $20M+ in the last school year, it couldn't get much worse. Phil Dobbins had taken over the reins at absolutely the wrong time.
Principal Tanner took a full 47 minutes to lay out his game plan which includes: doing more practice tests; redressing those failings the following week; and assessing the problems every two weeks.
Tanner, "We got to fix it now... Something is missing here.... Something fundamental is missing..."
What Tanner got around to saying was, we're going to be teaching the test to get better performance. It wasn't so long ago that teaching a test, that was a no no. Of course back years ago, teaching the test was practiced just never mentioned in public.
From the Board, from Chair Nichols, what happens when kids and or teachers are absent?
We didn't hear a good answer to those questions.
Mr Tanner listed a whole range of improvement strategies. (See below panels)
CCHS Principal Allan Tanner
It was
obvious, much work was put into the presentation. He did
mention many of the failings at Clay High. That's a good
start.
CMS Principal Leslie Goe
Aided by
sidekick Josselyn Kiser, Ms Goe spent 30 minutes at the podium
explaining her game plan. Her comments mentioned
acceptable improvement at the Middle School. For
Language arts, she wants to see a 3% improvement; a 5%
improvement in math; and 3% up in science.
Chair Nichols questioned : Do you know what works and what doesn't. Goe went thru much of the Tanner plan but for CMS. Her attack plan included checking lesson plans, walk thru of classes, and, as for teachers, "Hold em accountable".
And then something slipped out.. or we think it slipped out. Goe said they really didn't have a way of checking success until standardized test results become public in the Fall of each year.
Chair Nichols questioned : Do you know what works and what doesn't. Goe went thru much of the Tanner plan but for CMS. Her attack plan included checking lesson plans, walk thru of classes, and, as for teachers, "Hold em accountable".
And then something slipped out.. or we think it slipped out. Goe said they really didn't have a way of checking success until standardized test results become public in the Fall of each year.
Look at those fine print numbers and you will notice, performance in ALL areas at Clay Middle is dismal.
Both
administrators went thru their game plans in much detail. They
spent a bunch of time getting prepared.
In the way of improving things in all schools, some things were not mentioned.
Like all the wasted time students and teachers spend playing on their cellphones and other electronic devices during class time.
Like what about all the lag between when the bell sounds and when class time really gets started. It doesn't matter if it's a lengthy block schedule or the 50 minutes or so now in use. If 15 minutes is wasted till both parties get in gear, how can edumacation occur?
We heard no mention of rewarding the wittle brats if things improve. That's been done in the past with good results. Remember when students were paid real $$$ to improve? How about providing extra time to socialize IF grades go up.
Between happy dogs, massaging chairs and someone to hold their hands every time someone farts, they need no new enhancements. What they need is time on task. Actually provide teaching.
And if things aren't bad enough for the lad in charge. With all the COVID $$$ disappearing mid year and all the extra slots now covered now covered with those funds, Superintendent Dobbins made public, major cutbacks are coming at the end of June 2024. He was talking about cutting back close to 27 positions as required by State formula guidelines.
Are the cutbacks going to happen, Super Dobbins: I plan to cut back to the formula."
W VA schools receive right at $6,312.00 per student from the Gold Dome. With fewer kids now and in the future, that should compound the financial shortcomings.
If Dobbins doesn't run off naked and screaming from stress, by this time next year, Dobbins will have no hair left and the school system will have a much smaller foot print.
From Ralph Waldo Emerson: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
In the way of improving things in all schools, some things were not mentioned.
Like all the wasted time students and teachers spend playing on their cellphones and other electronic devices during class time.
Like what about all the lag between when the bell sounds and when class time really gets started. It doesn't matter if it's a lengthy block schedule or the 50 minutes or so now in use. If 15 minutes is wasted till both parties get in gear, how can edumacation occur?
We heard no mention of rewarding the wittle brats if things improve. That's been done in the past with good results. Remember when students were paid real $$$ to improve? How about providing extra time to socialize IF grades go up.
Between happy dogs, massaging chairs and someone to hold their hands every time someone farts, they need no new enhancements. What they need is time on task. Actually provide teaching.
And if things aren't bad enough for the lad in charge. With all the COVID $$$ disappearing mid year and all the extra slots now covered now covered with those funds, Superintendent Dobbins made public, major cutbacks are coming at the end of June 2024. He was talking about cutting back close to 27 positions as required by State formula guidelines.
Are the cutbacks going to happen, Super Dobbins: I plan to cut back to the formula."
W VA schools receive right at $6,312.00 per student from the Gold Dome. With fewer kids now and in the future, that should compound the financial shortcomings.
If Dobbins doesn't run off naked and screaming from stress, by this time next year, Dobbins will have no hair left and the school system will have a much smaller foot print.
From Ralph Waldo Emerson: Progress is the activity of today and the assurance of tomorrow.
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