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From YouTube: State of the Schools Address
Description
Superintendent Ryan Saxe updates the community on progress made during the last school year and where the district, working hand-in-hand with students, staff, parents, community members and valued partners, is heading in the future. #MyCabellSchools
A
A
In
addition
to
this
impressive
new
school,
we
are
also
building
a
state-of-the-art
all-encompassing
school
district
that
put
students
first,
Cabell
County
is
providing
all
students
amazing
opportunities,
as
they
progress
toward
graduation.
Graduation
is
an
exciting
time
of
year.
Caps
and
gowns
are
ordered,
invitations
are
sent
and
planning
for
nearly
1,200
students
to
walk
across
the
stage
is
nearly
complete,
as
mentioned
in
last
year's
address.
We
must
continue
to
work
to
ensure
every
single
student
in
Cabell.
A
County
is
afforded
the
opportunity
to
be
successful
and
graduate
with
skills
that
prepare
them
to
enter
college
or
to
begin
a
career.
I
am
proud
of
the
work.
Our
educators,
counselors
and
administrators
have
done
to
help
improve
graduation
rates.
Cabell
Midland,
High
School
is
commended
for
attaining
a
90%
graduation
rate
this
past
year.
In
addition,
our
Cabell
County
Career
and
Technology
Center
has
a
record
number
of
students
earning
a
certification
and
a
career
credential.
We
just
recognized
119
students
for
becoming
a
program
completer
this
in
and
of
itself
is
truly
awesome.
A
I
also
want
to
thank
our
students
for
their
hard
work
and
perseverance.
This
past
year,
many
of
our
students
face
issues
beyond
the
classroom
that
can
put
them
at
risk
of
dropping
out
of
school.
In
talking
with
these
students,
my
administration
has
identified
a
need
to
provide
expanded
opportunities
for
these
students
to
demonstrate
academic
success.
Not
only
have
we
added
more
support
services
through
the
employment
of
additional
social
workers
and
psychologists,
we
are
also
making
investment
and
to
expanded,
tutoring
and
credit
recovery
programs.
A
One
such
program
that
we
are
adding
this
year
as
a
new
summer
school
program
dedicated
to
high
school
seniors
that
may
have
fallen
short
of
graduation
requirements.
This
programs
aim
is
to
provide
students
who
have
not
met
requirements
for
graduation
summer
learning
opportunities
to
retrieve
academic
credit.
In
addition
to
showcase
these
students
efforts
and
achievement,
we
will
conduct
cabo
county's
first
ever
summer,
graduation
ceremony
in
late
august
to
recognize
these
students
and
award
them
their
high
school
diploma.
A
Last
year,
I
highlighted
my
belief
that
our
district's
future
is
highly
dependent
on
building
strong
partnerships,
as
our
district
and
schools
continue
to
engage
both
our
internal
and
external
stakeholders.
We
realize
that
these
relationships
help
build
a
strong
direction
for
the
future.
I
am
proud
to
announce
that
five
of
our
schools,
Central
City
Elementary,
guy
and
dot
Elementary
Spring,
Hill,
Elementary,
Huntington,
East
middle
school
and
Huntington
High
School
have
been
awarded
a
communities
and
schools
grants
which
provides
$400,000
to
provide
staffing
for
the
next
two
years
to
build
vital
partnerships
for
our
students.
A
This
grant
wouldn't
be
possible
if
it
wasn't
for
the
vision
of
our
district
administrators
in
the
division
of
instructional
leadership
services
and
support
from
the
West
Virginia
Department
of
Education
and
governor
Jim
Justice.
This
is
the
first
school
year
our
district
is
operated
under
a
realigned
central
office.
The
realignment
of
our
central
office
has
provided
a
sound
foundation
to
our
renewed
focus
on
putting
student
learning
at
the
forefront
of
every
decision
we
make.
To
that
end,
our
school
district
strategic
plan
was
created
around
four
specific
goals.
A
These
goals
were
achievement
and
growth,
governance
and
trusts,
communication,
engagement
and
organizational
excellence,
as
we
reflect
upon
these
strategies
and
initiatives
around
each
of
these
goals.
I
have
continued
to
invite
open
and
honest
communication
with
all
of
our
stakeholders.
Through
multiple
approaches.
This
year,
I
initiated
our
first
ever
superintendent's
Student
Leadership
Council
made
up
of
6th
through
12th
grade
students
from
across
our
school
district.
We
met
and
discussed
what
is
working
for
students
in
capital
county,
but
also
ideas
that
help
improve
the
learning
experiences
for
all
students.
A
In
addition,
I
shattered
both
students
and
teachers
to
gain
a
refreshed
perspective
of
what
it's
like
to
be
a
capital,
County
student
or
a
teacher
and
I
have
to
add
I
had
a
blast.
The
students
and
teachers
were
so
accommodating
and
I
learned
a
ton.
In
addition
to
getting
this
type
of
perspective,
it
is
also
important
for
me
to
continually
monitor
and
assess
our
organizational
effectiveness
and
potential
communication
breakdowns.
A
Therefore,
I
continue
to
have
meetings
with
many
members
of
district
staff,
including
principals
teachers
and
service
personnel,
I
also
tremendously
value
the
everyday
personal
conversations
in
the
field.
My
administrative
team
also
distributed
a
major
follow
up
stakeholder
survey
called
the
technology
and
learning
survey.
This
survey
provides
essential
information
about
education
needs
and
technology
usage
they'll
be
utilized
as
we
continue
to
refine
the
district's
instructional
technology
and
staff
development
plans.
Now,
let's
dig
a
little
deeper
into
each
of
our
districts.
Four
major
goals,
achievement
and
growth.
A
Now
that
we're
at
the
capital,
County
Career
and
Technology
Center,
let's
dig
a
little
deeper
into
each
of
our
districts,
four
major
goals:
I,
absolutely
love
visiting
our
schools
and
classrooms.
In
my
visits
around
our
district,
one
thing
continues
to
be
abundantly
clear.
Our
teachers
and
employees
are
dedicated
to
the
success
of
our
students,
teachers
and
classroom
aids
work
tirelessly.
Ensuring
students
have
the
resources
and
learning
opportunities
they
need
to
be
successful.
A
Our
school
administrators
are
dedicated
to
supporting
teachers
and
a
meaningful
way,
and
our
students
are
highly
respectful
and
highly
motivated
to
do
their
best
in
reviewing
student
achievement.
Data
mathematics
continues
to
be
a
deficiency
in
our
district
and
the
state.
Improving
mathematic
proficiency
for
all
students
continues
to
be
a
major
focus.
Moving
forward
as
such
I
am
proud
of
the
fact
that
Campbell
County
Schools
has
joined
the
West
Virginia
math
for
life
campaign
cabals
own
math
for
life
initiative
is
ramping
up
to
provide
amazing
opportunities
for
students
and
teachers.
A
The
math
for
life
initiative
will
Institute
best
practices,
challenging
instruction
and
student
engagement
strategies
to
improve
students,
mathematics
achievement.
In
addition,
we
must
continue
our
initiative
to
ensure
all
students
are
able
to
read
on
grade
level
by
the
third
grade.
I
cited
last
year
in
a
national
study.
Students
who
don't
read
proficiently
by
3rd
grade
are
four
times
more
likely
than
proficient
readers
to
leave
high
school
without
a
diploma.
We
must
continue
to
make
literacy
a
top
priority.
Therefore,
I
am
proud
of
our
school
districts.
A
Investment
in
the
Dolly
Parton
Imagination
Library,
a
book
gifting
program
that
mails
free,
high-quality
books
to
children
from
birth
until
they
begin
school
no
matter
their
family
encounter
working
together
with
the
West
Virginia
Department
of
Education
and
Marshall
University's
June
Harless
Center,
our
school
district
has
dedicated
more
than
25
thousand
dollars
to
this
initiative.
Our
school
district
has
also
instituted
a
new
literacy
focus
across
all
content
areas.
Called
newsela
newsela
offers
current
event
stories,
which
are
tailor-made
for
classroom
use.
A
The
program
has
two
goals:
first,
it
helps
students
improve,
reading
comprehension
and
second,
it
helps
keep
students
current
with
national
and
international
current
events
as
an
added
benefit.
Newsela
content
can
be
used
by
every
single
content
area
to
reinforce.
Reading
skills.
I
am
proud
to
announce
that
Cabell
County
students
have
read
more
than
two
hundred
and
sixty
three
thousand
articles
made
nearly
three
thousand
annotations
and
have
surpassed
forty-five
thousand
hours
of
reading,
utilizing
newsela
articles
and
stories
this
year
alone.
This
is
truly
amazing.
I
am
so
proud
of
our
students.
A
In
addition
to
our
focus
on
improving
academic
outcomes,
our
high
schools
have
been
working
diligently
to
improve
graduation
rates.
However,
there
is
much
to
be
done
to
ensure
all
students
graduate
in
our
college
and
career
ready.
I
am
continuing
my
challenge
to
our
high
schools
to
surpass
the
90%
graduation
rate
and
reached
95%
within
the
next
four
years.
We
can
do
it,
we
must
do
it.
Our
students
are
counting
on
us
in
addressing
our
graduation
rate.
One
theme
has
emerged
from
my
conversations
with
teachers
and
students.
A
We
need
to
expand
opportunities
for
real-world
application
and
life
skills
to
create
pathways
for
success.
Our
secondary
level
administrators
in
cooperation
with
district
leaders
have
been
working
diligently
to
provide
new
or
expanded
Career
and
Technical
courses
and
programs.
We
are
now
offering
more
advanced
career
options
and
certification
programs
than
in
previous
years,
and
we
are
working
hard
to
expand
adult
education
course
offerings
over
the
course
of
the
past
two
years.
A
Our
Career
and
Technical
programs
have
been
expanded
to
offer
aerospace
engineering
coding,
applications
and
game
design
and
to
be
introduced
in
the
fall
of
2019
cosmetology
over
the
course
of
the
past
two
years.
I
am
proud
to
say
that
our
CTE
programs
have
doubled
their
enrollment
and
are
graduating
more
students
than
ever
before.
This
is
a
testament
to
the
highly
skilled
teachers
and
dedicated
administration
at
our
Capitol
County
Career
and
Technology
Center
speaking
of
technology.
A
Our
school
district
is
committed
to
making
sure
all
our
schools
and
classrooms
have
up-to-date
technology
tools
that
are
essential
in
a
21st
century
learning
environment.
Last
year,
I
asked
our
technology
director
develop
a
comprehensive
five-year
technology
plan
that
will
put
appropriate
technology
tools
into
the
hands
of
our
students
and
our
teachers
as
such
and
through
meaningful
stakeholder
input.
The
Cavill
County
student
technology,
empowerment
plan
or
step
for
short,
was
born
through
the
step
plan.
A
We
can
enhance
instructional
delivery
by
equipping
educators
and
students
with
technology
that
personalizes
instruction
and
places
greater
emphasis
on
critical
thinking
and
analytical
skills.
What
does
this
mean
for
our
schools
within
the
next
two
years?
Every
classroom
in
Campbell
County
will
be
outfitted,
with
65
to
75
inch
display
screens
four
inch,
a
classroom
set
of
iPads
that
will
afford
students
the
ability
to
interactively
connect
with
each
other
and
the
display
screens
an
updated
teacher
laptops
and
other
connectivity
tools.
A
We
also
understand
that
the
backbone
of
our
network
infrastructure
needs
to
be
updated
to
keep
up
with
the
demands
of
these
technology
tools.
Therefore,
we
are
making
a
1.5
million
dollar
financial
investment
into
high-speed
Internet,
cabling
and
wireless
access
control
points
for
all
schools
and
classrooms.
A
Communication
and
engagement
as
superintendent,
I,
highly
value,
open
and
honest
communication,
as
discussed
previously
I
have
asked
all
stakeholders
to
provide
information,
feedback
and
perspectives
on
the
school
district
through
several
vehicles,
including
my
student
teacher
shouting
experience
and
the
superintendent's
Student
Leadership
Council.
In
an
effort
to
prioritize
efforts
to
remove
bullying
from
our
schools,
we
continue
to
utilize
a
reporting
app
called
stop
it
stop.
A
It
is
a
digital
tool
designed
to
deter
and
mitigate
bullying,
and
cyber
abuse
by
allowing
students
to
make
reports
via
the
app
administrators
are
then
able
to
respond
to
those
reports
in
a
timely
manner.
Students
and
parents
continue
to
have
free
access
to
the
stop
at
mobile
app
in
the
coming
school
year.
Our
goal
with
stop
it
is
to
create
a
safer,
kinder
school
community,
both
online
and
offline.
A
You
can
learn
more
about
the
stop
at
app
and
how
to
make
a
report
by
going
to
your
school's
website
or
visiting
the
capital
County
Schools
website,
Kabul
schools
calm
over
the
course
of
the
past
two
years,
my
administration
has
established
an
increased
focus
on
school
safety
districts
across
the
country
and
our
own
state
have
had
school
days
interrupted
because
of
threats.
The
threat
of
school
violence
is
arguably
one
of
the
most
concerning
issues
facing
this
generation
of
children
and
their
families.
A
As
a
result,
I
charged
our
district
safety
director
Tim
Stewart
to
conduct
the
safety
audit
of
all
of
our
facilities
to
identify
possible
improvements
to
our
buildings
and
campuses,
as
well
as
services
provided
by
contracted
school
security
personnel.
In
addition
to
the
safety
audit,
I
established
a
district
safety
committee
headed
by
Assistant
Superintendent
Kim
Cooper.
This
committee
meets
annually
to
examine
current
safety
measures
at
our
facilities
and
to
identify
areas
where
improvement
is
needed.
These
measures
include
our
Alice
intruder
evasion,
plans
and
the
more
familiar
fire
tornado
and
chemical
disaster
drills.
A
As
a
result
of
the
audit
and
recommendations
of
the
safety
committee,
we
are
making
a
significant
investment
into
updating
infrastructure
to
support
school
safety
needs.
First,
my
team
has
gone
to
great
strides
to
strengthen
our
emergency
response
plan.
As
a
result
of
this
improvement,
we
have
implemented
an
incident
command
system
also
led
by
Assistant
Superintendent
Kim
Cooper.
The
incident
commander
and
his
team
now
collaborate
monthly,
with
first
responder
members
of
the
Tri
State
Homeland
Security
Committee,
to
test
our
plan
and
suggest
needed
improvements.
A
This
year,
our
district
crisis
team,
in
collaboration
with
the
Tri
State
Homeland
Security
Committee,
participated
in
a
full-scale
exercise
at
Huntington
High
School.
From
this
exercise,
the
team
gained
valuable
information
which
has
been
utilized
to
strengthen
our
response
and
preparation
plans.
We
are
currently
planning
for
another
exercise
next
year
to
further
improve
our
response.
A
Second,
we
made
an
investment
into
a
two-way
radio
system
that
connects
school
and
district
administration
to
first
responders,
like
police,
EMS,
fire
departments
and
911.
A
crisis
occur
seconds
counts.
These
radios
enable
responders
to
become
aware
of
situations
immediately.
In
addition,
this
technology
allows
school
and
district
administrators
to
communicate
with
first
responders
during
an
emergency.
Third,
our
operations
team
is
updating
and
broadening
the
footprint
of
security
cameras
in
all
schools.
Up
until
the
end
of
this
current
school
year,
we
still
had
four
elementary
schools
in
Campbell
County
that
didn't
have
security
cameras.
A
I
am
excited
to
announce
that
we
received
a
grant
that
will
fund
state-of-the-art
camera
systems
in
each
of
these
schools.
Fourth,
we
are
beginning
to
install
safe
school
entrances
in
our
schools.
While
this
will
take
several
years
to
complete,
we
are
fortunate
that,
as
a
result
of
careful
budgeting
and
the
support
of
the
West
Virginia
School
Building
Authority,
we
will
have
safe
school
entrances
installed
at
five
additional
school
sites.
By
the
time
the
new
school
year
begins.
A
As
we
look
to
the
future
of
our
school
district,
we
are
approaching
a
significant
milestone,
the
conclusion
of
our
previous
ten-year
comprehensive
educational
facilities
plan,
otherwise
known
as
the
C
EFP.
The
current
plan,
which
is
set
to
expire
next
year,
set
the
stage
for
the
construction
of
several
elementary
schools
and
the
consolidation
of
our
middle
schools.
As
we
look
to
the
next
ten
years,
it
is
imperative
that
we
take
inventory
of
our
facility
needs.
We
need
to
develop
expectations
for
what
our
classrooms
should
look
like
to
facilitate
the
highest
standards
of
learning.
A
What
student
capacity
issues
we
could
be
facing,
what
maintenance
needs
we
may
have
and
what
our
wish
list
contains
for
facility
and
campus
improvements.
Of
course,
we
can't
do
all
this
alone.
We
need
your
input.
Stakeholder
and
community
input
on
the
future
of
our
schools
is
paramount.
We
are
preparing
to
kick
off
our
C
EFP
2020
process
in
the
fall
with
an
educational
futures
conference.
A
The
educational
futures
conference
will
set
the
foundation
for
our
CEF
P
2020
work
and
will
be
the
first
of
several
community
meetings
designed
to
give
all
stakeholders
input
into
our
new
CEF
P
2020
plan
governance
and
trusts.
I
would
like
to
take
this
opportunity
to
thank
our
Board
of
Education
members
for
their
time.
Energy
and
dedication
to
ensuring
Cabell,
County
Schools
is
headed
in
the
right
direction
and
thinking
about
governance
and
trust.
A
Our
goal
continues
to
be
the
establishment
and
continuation
of
a
productive
and
trusting
working
relationship
between
district
administration
and
our
Board
of
Education
members.
We
have
made
great
progress
through
consistent
communication,
clarification
of
board
member
and
superintendent
goals
and
transparency
in
all
interactions.
I
am
very
blessed
to
work
with
a
board
that
is
truly
engaged
and
strives
to
meet
the
learning
physical,
social
and
emotional
needs
of
our
students,
organizational
excellence.
A
My
fourth
goal
has
been
to
improve
the
delivery
of
services
so
that
students
receive
the
most
benefit.
One
year
ago,
we
relined
the
organization
of
the
district
central
office
by
streamlining
services
and
eliminating
duplication.
A
greater
focus
has
been
placed
on
the
district
challenges
and
opportunities,
such
as
improving
mathematics
performance
and
allowing
students
to
participate
in
more
career
and
technical
education
classes,
while
simultaneously
completing
college
preparatory
courses.
A
Finally,
through
the
cooperative
effort
of
my
cabinet
level
administrators,
we
have
started
to
reflect
on
our
work
and
identify
what
continues
to
drive
us
as
we
work
to
make
Campbell
County
Schools
a
world-class
school
district.
Within
these
discussions,
we
have
started
the
task
of
establishing
our
district's
core
beliefs
and
revising
our
mission
and
vision
statements
based
upon
these
renewed
values.
A
These
new
core
beliefs,
mission
and
vision
statements
will
help
communicate
the
values
of
our
school
district
as
we
helped
establish
the
future
direction
of
our
work
as
we
strive
to
make
all
Cabell
county's
public
schools
places
where
every
student
is
cared
for
and
given
the
tools
they
need
to
succeed.
I
would
like
to
close
by
quoting
to
you
the
last
stanza
of
a
poem
written
by
Carson
Elkins,
a
fifth
grade
student
and
Explorer
Academy
Carson
recited
his
poem
in
a
presentation
that
he
provided
to
me
this
morning.
A
His
poem
I
am
demonstrates
the
tremendous
potential
for
greatness
that
lies
in
each
and
every
one
of
our
students.
Carson
said
through
his
poem
I
now
understand
that
success
isn't
easy.
I
say
there
are
no
shortcuts
for
success.
I
dream
of
proving
doubters
wrong.
I
try
my
hardest
every
day
to
do
something
amazing,
I
hope
to
change
the
world.
If
we
as
a
community
continue
to
work
together
to
reach
each
and
every
child,
Carson's
hope
that
he
can
someday
change,
the
world
will
become
a
reality.
I
truly
believe
there
is
greatness
in
every
child.