PETERSBURG, W.Va. — The state Board of Education granted local control back to the Grant County school system Wednesday.
“It always comes as a surprise. We were certainly hoping for good things and good things happened,” Grant County School Superintendent Deedra Bolton told MetroNews Thursday.
Five years ago, the state board stepped in when a 130-page report cited “serious deficiencies” within the school system including a break down in leadership, a lack of advanced placement and honors classes as well as individual schools failing to meet Adequate Yearly Progress, or AYP, five years in a row.
“When the state intervened, Grant County Schools was in a state of confusion,” explained Bolton.
Over the last five years, with the help of the state Department of Education, Bolton said the school system has made large strides to correct those problems and putting things back into focus.
“I think the state Board of Education realizes that Grant County Schools, especially the board of education, is 110 percent unified with it’s focus on students,” stressed Bolton.
The school system has continue to focus on three key areas: Increasing student performance with high expectations, implementing a 21st Century learning agenda and maintaining safe and healthy schools.
Bolton admits they’re still working on issues that still need improvement and everyone is on board.
“The leadership from the board of education to the central office, the administrators to teachers and all the way down. Everyone is focused on students. It’s very crystal clear what we need to do and what we’re about. That’s the kids,” said Bolton.
The state Department of Education has made it clear, the school system could be taken over again if any of the original problems crop up again in the next five years.