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Summers County Schools presentations highlight steep drop in discipline, growth in CTE and student achievements
Summary
At the April 28 Summers County Schools board meeting, school presenters reported large declines in disciplinary write-ups, growth in career and technical education (CTE) work-based learning to over 1,000 hours, and student successes including FFA state-degree recipients and powerlifting records; the board approved a procedural agenda change.
SUMMERS COUNTY, W.Va. — School officials on April 28 told the Summers County Schools board that recent efforts to strengthen behavior supports and expand career-technical opportunities are returning measurable results, including a large fall in disciplinary write-ups and more work-based learning for students.
An administrator leading the presentation said the school’s mission centers on three priorities: attend, perform and behave. On discipline, a staff member presenting the behavior data said the district recorded 2,831 write-ups in 2021–22 and 806 in the most recent year, calling the change “a decrease of 71.5% in write ups through 5 years.” The presenter attributed the decline to schoolwide PBIS (Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports) work, a cell-phone ban and reinforced expectations, and said the next focus will be consistent implementation across classrooms and additional supports for seventh through ninth grades.
The presentations also emphasized career and technical education. An administrator said CTE programs generally exceed national averages and meet state workforce-entry requirements; she reported that work-based learning hours increased from near zero last year to “over a 1,000” hours this year, adding that the school is pursuing industry-aligned curriculum and grant opportunities to expand programs.
Student speakers and program staff described hands-on projects, internships and community partnerships. A student identified as Lee Bragg said a CTE pathway led to a summer internship that paid $600 a week and provided workplace experience. Agricultural-education students discussed greenhouse work, mentoring younger students and upcoming events where students will showcase projects and sell goods to support programs.
A teacher introduced three FFA students who will receive their West Virginia state FFA degrees this July at the state FFA convention at Cedar Lakes, a presenter said. Separately, the board recognized the Summers County Comprehensive powerlifting team; the team coach listed multiple state and national marks across team members and said parents provide much of the travel and competition funding while students maintain high grades.
Presenters described a pilot senior-readiness program called Project Ready that defines three core milestones — registering to vote, completing the FAFSA and attending a wellness conference — with a May 7 banquet planned to honor students who meet them. Students who complete additional milestones will be entered into a $100 scholarship drawing, the presenter said.
Procedural business at the meeting included a motion to move the student-discipline agenda item to follow presentations and an approval of the adjusted agenda; the chair announced both items carried (the record shows approval "by 3 0 vote"). The board said it will hear the student-discipline matter after the presentations.
The presentations highlighted both academic and extracurricular outcomes and underscored continuing work: presenters said the district will push for consistent PBIS implementation, refine grade-level expectations and continue building employer partnerships to expand CTE pathways and student work opportunities.
