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West Preston staff outline student gains, behavior supports and a $106,000 playground plan
Summary
Interim principal Darcy Barno and West Preston staff presented IEready gains in reading and math, described restorative and mentoring strategies for behavior, noted infrastructure and substitute shortages, and outlined a six‑phase playground renovation plan with fundraising targets and an estimated $106,000 cost (inflation adjusted from a 2019 design).
At the Preston County Board meeting on Feb. 27, West Preston interim principal Darcy Barno and assistant principal Chris Dicky presented the school improvement council’s priorities, highlighting recent diagnostic gains and programs they say are driving progress.
Barno told the board that IEready diagnostic snapshots show improvement: she said reading green (on/above grade level) increased from 17% to 30 on the latest diagnostic and math green increased from 8% to 24; the presentation credited these gains to small‑group instruction and targeted interventions. Barno summarized schoolwide priorities: clearer learning targets, frequent small‑group instruction, mentor supports for high‑need students, and an increased focus on parent involvement.
Staff also described operational challenges that affect instruction: repeated substitute shortages that require teachers to use planning or lunch time to cover classes, HVAC/temperature control issues in some wings (traced in part to a prior flood), a need for more administrative coverage to manage behavior incidents, and a pantry and clothing program used when playground conditions make outdoor recess difficult.
The school presented a six‑phase playground plan originally designed in 2019 by a landscape architect. Presenters said site excavation, stormwater controls and ADA work are part of the first phases; the plan’s estimated cost has risen (presenters cited a $106,000 figure adjusted from 2019 design costs). The West Preston community has raised a portion of funds through prior Bingo events and had $155,000 saved toward improvements; staff described a spring fundraiser and a planned school fun run to supplement local fundraising and grant efforts.
The council asked the board for continued logistical and, where possible, financial support for infrastructure fixes (doors, cameras, HVAC work) and noted that some items are already in the district maintenance queue.
Closing note: the LSC presentation emphasized that staff and community partnerships have supported measurable gains and that facility improvements are needed to protect instructional time and ensure safe, usable outdoor space for students.
