Central Office

Gael Butcher, principal of Marshall Street School and the Washington County Job Development Program at Marshall Street - both aimed at helping special-education students, will retire in February. Butcher said Thursday that at the time of her retirement, she will be just shy of five years as principal of Marshall Street and Job Development. Butcher, who lives in Middletown, Md., said she plans on spending more time with her husband and children. After retiring in 2005 from Frederick County (Md.)

There has been talk in the community about the possibility of Washington County Public Schools' administrative offices moving to downtown Hagerstown, but what do the elected school board members think of the idea? Several Washington County Board of Education members said last week they remain open-minded about whether to move the school system's administrative offices downtown, while others said they didn't like downtown as an option, in large part because of parking concerns. The school board has not discussed moving the Central Office - the main administrative office complex off Commonwealth Avenue - nor are there any immediate or long-term plans to make a move, several board members said.

Relocating the Washington County Board of Education central offices to downtown Hagerstown is “both physically and economically feasible,” according to a study released Tuesday by a Greater Hagerstown Committee task force. The study examined 12 potential sites before selecting its four preferred locations and presenting them to Mayor David S. Gysberts and the Hagerstown City Council on Tuesday at City Hall. The four highest-scoring sites, considered to have the best potential for both redeveloping the downtown as well as accommodating the BOE's needs, were three locations along West and East Washington streets (Sites titled F/G, A and J)

School renovations decided on a scientific basis WASHINGTON COUNTY -- Washington County Public Schools expects to spend more than $10.2 million over the summer on improvements to 39 school sites and two administration buildings. Of the 117 projects slated to be started over the summer, the most money is going to Greenbrier Elementary, with $1.36 million in roof, lighting and playground improvements, according to school system documents. Boonsboro High School is second with $1.36 million in improvements, including a new cooling system and new lockers.

The Hagerstown City Council made some tentative progress Friday toward what it hopes will be a kickstart for downtown commerce, inking a nonbinding agreement with the Sora development group that will allow the organization to formulate plans for future growth. It might be too little too late. Time will tell. But it conceivably could put downtown revitalization in the hands of professionals who have established track records in other communities. The agreement allows the Sora team to do some legwork and explore the redevelopment possibilities.

HAGERSTOWN Washington County Public Schools officials are considering using the former Allegheny Power building on Downsville Pike for a school or office site. Assistant Superintendent for School Operations Boyd Michael said the site could be used for a new Antietam Academy or for central office space. He said the building might be a good fit for a future magnet or academy program. Bids are being accepted for a feasibility study of the site, Michael said. Leland Group Commercial Real Estate LLC and TSC Realty Services LLC are the companies managing the lease and sale of the property.

CHARLES TOWN, W.Va. - State education officials on Tuesday launched a Web site that will give teachers across the state quick access to 21st century teaching approaches and offer them other resources like a blog and links to other useful sites. State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine launched the site in a Webinar meeting with all 55 county school systems Tuesday afternoon. At the Jefferson County Board of Education office on Mordington Avenue, a group of educators listened to Paine speak from West Teays Elementary School in the southern part of the state as a screen showed how the site will work.

When Washington County School Superintendent Elizabeth Morgan announced she would deal with a $4 million shortfall in part by cutting positions at the central office, she no doubt pleased those who have argued that the the system is top-heavy with administrators. But when a budget hawk like Commissioner William Wivell questions whether that's really the best approach for the long term, we have to consider his argument. Morgan said the cuts are necessary because the system got almost $4 million less than it requested from the commissioners this year.

In developing his proposed $246 million balanced budget for Washington County Public Schools' general fund, Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said he wanted to determine whether the school system was set up to deliver services effectively and efficiently. The resulting proposed budget shows tightening in some areas, including a restructuring of instructional supervisors at the central office. Instead of having separate supervisors for elementary and secondary schools for core subjects such as math, subject supervisors will cover kindergarten through 12th grade.

After hearing about long-term options to house Washington County Public Schools' operations during Tuesday's school board meeting, board members took steps to get more information and give people the opportunity to learn about the Commonwealth Avenue complex's condition. School system officials will develop specifications for office space for the operations now housed at the Commonwealth Avenue complex, Superintendent Clayton Wilcox said. Wilcox said, if the board sees fit, a work session will be scheduled, perhaps in February, for the board and staff to share what they think is needed for the office space.