by Kate Evans
Morgan County Schools Superintendent David Banks’s goals for the 2024-2025 school year were approved at the end of the September 3 Morgan County School Board meeting after the board went into executive session to consider them.
Banks’ goals encompass student achievement, facility and extracurricular improvements, reading initiatives and academic rigor.
Reading, math proficiencies
Superintendent Banks’ first goal is to improve students reading and math scores by 5% by June 1. Measurement tools will be beginning of the year and middle of the year assessment data, IReady assessments-Grades 3-5, IXL assessments-Grades 6-10 and Bluebook assessment-Grade 11.
Facilities improvements
Banks’ second goal is that Morgan County Schools will show improvements in school buildings and facilities and the quality of extra-curricular equipment by June 1.
Staff will be surveyed to determine a list of needs. The needs list will be given to the Buildings and Grounds/Athletic Committees to prioritize. Once priorities are set, the Superintendent will assign timelines for completion.
Building walk-throughs and project list outcomes will measure this goal.
Reading
Banks’ third goal is that Grades K-2 will continue to meet the goals of the West Virginia Department of Education Science of Reading initiatives by June 1.
Training in three specific areas-ECCAT (early childhood classroom assistant teacher)/teacher role training, LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) and classroom management-will begin in the 2024-2025 school year to best train staff on best practices for reading instruction.
The goal is a multi-year goal with all three areas to be completed by the 2026-2027 school year.
Rigor
Banks’ fourth and last goal is that Berkeley Springs High School and Warm Springs Middle School will show improvement in the level of rigor by June 1. This goal will be measured by IE Rigor Assessment at the end of the year.
School board president Aaron Close commented before the board’s vote that these four superintendent goals were the main items where the board spends a lot of taxpayer money and that they are definitely items that he believes the superintendent has the ability to impact.
“I think he will do a nice job and I want to wish him the best of luck. I look forward to seeing the outcomes,” Close said of Banks.
This is Banks’ first academic year as Superintendent of Morgan County Schools. He had previously served in the post and spent the last seven years in administrative positions in Berkeley and Jefferson counties.
