RAVENSWOOD, W.Va. — The 2017-2018 school year is underway for students, teachers and facility in Jackson County.
The first day of school was Wednesday.
Jimmy Fraser, principal at Ravenswood High School, takes over for former Principal Jo Hendricks who retired July 1. Fraser stepped up from being the school’s vice principal.
“I think one of the biggest challenges is going to be to continue with the great traditions at Ravenswood High School. You think you’re up to the challenge — I don’t think you think you really know until you get in that seat, but expectations here are high,” Fraser said on MetroNews affiliate WMOV Radio in Ravenswood.
School buses were out on the roads early Wednesday morning. Debbie Shinn, director of transportation for Jackson County Schools, warns motorists to be aware of the early pick up times.
“They’re out earlier than you think,” said Shinn, who was also a guest on WMOV Radio. “They don’t get to all the schools until right at 8:00, so that’s the prime time in the morning when it’s not fully daylight. From 6:30 to 8:00 they will be everywhere in the county — rural roads and main roads.”
Illegal bus passing remains an issue in the county, Shinn said. She is urging drivers to stop for the bus once the yellow lights come on.
“We still have people running our lights. We don’t have nearly as many in Jackson County as they do in Kanawha County where they have the divided highways, but we did have a couple people that got fined about $500,” she said.
Shinn said it’s also important for students to wait for the bus driver to signal them to cross the road.
This year, students will, again, be provided with iPads. Fraser said it’s important for schools in the county to keep up to date with technology.
“In our first year, we did some really good things, but that’s the world the students live in now,” he said. “It’s all about technology — how and when to use it. We want to get people to understand that it’s just a tool.”
As the new principal, Fraser said he wants his teachers to know how important their role plays in the classroom. He told his teachers he expects them to set a good example for their students.
“It think that’s the most important thing to understand that they’re the most important person in that classroom for student achievement,” Fraser said.
Wednesday was also the first day of school for Lincoln, Pocahontas, Raleigh, Randolph, Roane and Wood counties.