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June 5, 2009
Deaf school works with students to resolve concerns
Superintendent Patsy Shank met with staff, students and interested parents at the West Virginia School for the Deaf recently to discuss the list of grievances from students.
Shank said Monday that she was eventually provided a copy of the list, which allowed her to go through the students’ concerns and discuss how they could be resolved.
“Well, the first thing we discussed was the need to get the students back to class; our main concern needs to be education of the students and their need to be in class,” she said. “The issues the students had are being addressed and taken care of because we don’t want minute issues getting in the way of their learning.”
On May 4 and 5, students camped out in the school’s multipurpose room trying to get a meeting with the superintendent to voice their concerns.
After the May 4 sit-in, students were asked to return to class or risk getting suspended; students who protested May 5 were suspended for three days. However, Shank did tell students to get her a copy of their list and a meeting would be scheduled to discuss them.
The list asks for improvements in the cafeteria, dorm, school and gymnasium. Requests include requiring cooks to wear hair nets while preparing and serving food as well as changing their gloves more often and not eating while serving; installation of air conditioners in the girls’ dorm and newer washers and dryers in the dorms; installation of doors on all bathroom stalls; an upgrade to the gym; and installation of a light system to alert sports players.
Shank said that she feels everyone is very positive with the outcome of the meeting as well as what the future holds.
“One thing I do have for next year is to create an advisory Cabinet from each (of the) schools here on campus,” she said. “They will be comprised of staff, students, parents and administrators,” she said. “They will meet on a regular basis so I’m kept up to speed on issues and concerns of students, parents and the schools. My goal is, hopefully, once I’ve got past some of these things — like what we eat in the cafeteria — we can focus on the bigger picture of improving our educational programming and student achievement.”
Betty Watson, mother of a student at the school, said she was not able to attend the meeting because she did not know about it, but has heard from students they are satisfied with the outcome.
“They have already put in air-conditioning units in the girls’ dorm,” she said.
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_138120448.html
Posted by 4HL on June 5, 2009 11:12 AM
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