Kate Shunney

On the tails of the swearing-in of new Superintendent of Schools David Banks, the Morgan County school board spent most of last Tuesday's meeting celebrating student achievements of the 2006-2007 school year.

Rising ninth graders at Berkeley Springs High School have a chance to invest in their college careers early through a school program that can earn them free in-state college tuition.

The program — Health Sciences & Technology Academy (HSTA) – has six slots open for the next school year and is a great opportunity for students willing to make a commitment, said local coordinator and teacher Susan McBee.

Morgan County School Board officials approved bids and awarded contracts on May 15 for several school improvements scheduled for this summer.

Officials chose the lowest bid of $37,500 from Allegheny Environmental Services for asbestos removal to be completed at the Arts & Humanities building at Berkeley Springs High School. That work must be done as part of a $268,000 window replacement project at the former junior high building.

Berkeley Springs native David Banks became the county's next school superintendent at the May 1 meeting of the Morgan County School Board.

School officials voted unanimously to offer the position to Banks, who is currently serving as assistant superintendent under David Temple. Temple will leave his post at the end of June after four years as head of county schools.

While the medical community is still unraveling the mystery of what causes Alzheimer's disease and how best to treat it, one thing is a certainty – the disease lays a heavy burden on family members and friends caring for loved ones.

State health statistics show that nearly 42,000 West Virginians have Alzheimer's disease, that 70% of those with the disease live at home, and that family and friends provide almost 75% of homecare for their loved ones with Alzheimer's.

Following its move last month to roll back the special levy rate and tap its capital fund, the Morgan County School Board unanimously approved a $21.4 million budget for the next school year, up $1.5 million over last year.

The budget received no public comment at the May 1 hearing.

In a surprise move, the Morgan County School Board voted 5-0 to drop their special levy rate for the next fiscal year by an additional 5% on Tuesday evening, April 17.

The meeting was called to officially set the special levy rate at 90% of its original level. Instead, Board President Laura Smith opened the meeting by asking school officials to cut that rate back to 85% and save taxpayers $250,000.

The Morgan County School Board set their tax rate for the next fiscal year at a special budget workshop last Tuesday, March 27,

In the absence of board member Larry Omps, the board voted 4-0 to keep their excess levy rate at 90%.

The Morgan County School Board swept through personnel and funding approvals during their Tuesday, March 20 meting.

In the absence of President Laura Smith, board member Margaret Zembower ran the meeting.