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THURSDAY, JUNE 4, 1992
Schools get an 'A'
Another school year is wrapping up for Rappahannock Public Schools, and all things considered, it’s been a very interesting nine months.
On the administrative level, the number and types of grants the school division has received have supplemented the budget in these tight times, causing the schools to grow even as the economy has contracted.
Although the six-figure RJR-Nabisco grant was the most dramatic (providing computers built into desks to make better use of sometimes cramped conditions), in fact there has been a series of grants coming into Rappahannock. The superintendent saw the potential, then motivated the staff to pursue the grants.
This year saw the first graduations of the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) students, and the formation of the Community Coalition.
Working for Healthy Youth (CCWHY) group, both of which are steering our children away from drug abuse.
The Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO) got new life this • year, drawing on the enthusiasm of elementary school parents to participate in their kids’ education. Both CCWHY and the PTO are tangible examples of parents being active in the schools—and that occurs less ,and less frequently these days, in most places.
Scores on standardized tests continued to rise for county children this year, and part of that increase is due to a better and better educational system (and yes, part is due to changing demographics). Test scores aren’t the whole ball of wax when it comes to education, but when they’re going up as dramatically as they have been, someone’s doing something right.
Teachers, administrators and the School Board continue to show a reasonable and responsible approach to the annual budget-making. With so few taxpayers footing the bill here, : it’s more important that the planning and budgeting - processes are handled well. Successful budget negotiations with the Board of Supervisors are the best sign that communication and realism are alive and well.
The schools’ extra-curricular programs saw healthy • participation this year, and the numbers of high school students on varsity and junior-varsity sports teams rose . significantly. The girls’ volleyball and softball teams were the : highlight of the sports year, showing that Rappahannock’s tiny enrollment doesn’t mean it can’t compete with the ; valley’s perennial sports powerhouses.
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