Elementary School

The Washington County Board of Education voted 6-0 Tuesday to remove a vote on bids for the construction of a new Bester Elementary School from its agenda, delaying the decision about whether the board will go with nonprevailing wages for the project. Board President Wayne Ridenour said after the meeting that a couple of things need to be reviewed and the board wants to make sure it has all its “ducks in a row before moving forward.” Asked if there were concerns about going with nonprevailing wages for the project, Ridenour said “All our ducks in a row.” Nonprevailing wages are lower than prevailing wages.

A 6-year-old Burke Street Elementary School student was struck by a vehicle Friday morning in front of the school in the 400 block of West Burke Street in Martinsburg, according to Berkeley County school and emergency services officials. The girl, who appeared to have a cut on her chin, was treated at City Hospital in Martinsburg and released, according to police, school and hospital officials. The driver, Ashley J. King, 22, of Martinsburg, was cited for having no operator's license and speeding in a school zone, according to Martinsburg Police Cpl. Adam Albaugh.

The second round of bids for construction of a new Bester Elementary School again came in over budget, according to bid information and Deputy Schools Superintendent Boyd Michael. With the most recent bid information, which was being evaluated to make sure it meets requirements, school system staff plan to recommend the Washington County Board of Education approve bids with nonprevailing wages for the school project, Michael said Tuesday. The project was discussed during a Tuesday morning school board Facilities Committee meeting.

The newly renovated Mercersburg Elementary School earned an A-plus from students, teachers and parents on the first day of school Monday. “It made the first day way better,” said fifth-grader Syrus Maldonado, whose first word as he entered the building was, “wow!” The $7 million project upgraded all the mechanical systems at the school, placed the media center/library in the courtyard and revamped the building to accommodate relocating the central office from 118 E. Seminary St. in Mercersburg to the elementary school.

The Washington County Board of Education voted 5-1 Tuesday to close Winter Street and Conococheague elementary schools after the 2015-16 school year, upon completion of a new “West City” elementary school. Board member Justin Hartings said the board's decision to close Winter Street Elementary was not a decision to tear down the school, which might be used for another purpose. He said former school buildings are used throughout the county for other purposes, such as day-care facilities and karate lessons.

At the end of Tuesday's Washington County Board of Education meeting, board member Karen Harshman voiced her feelings about her inability to convince the school board president to change a meeting date, according to a video of the meeting provided by the school system. Harshman said she asked Board President Wayne Ridenour several times to reschedule the Aug. 7 vote for the proposed closing of Winter Street and Conococheague elementary schools because she could not make the meeting and it was not a good time of the year for many people to attend a meeting.

A public hearing about Washington County Public Schools' proposal to close Winter Street and Conococheague elementary schools will be held Tuesday night at the school system's central office. The school system is proposing closing the older schools after the 2015-16 school year and opening a new “West City” elementary in August 2016. This move could affect students at neighboring schools, as the new “West City” school would be large enough to relieve overcrowding at some of those schools.

Williamsport Elementary Magnet School for Science, Math and Technology is sponsoring a summer reading program. First-grade teachers Robin Smith and Stacie Hood have worked hard to start this program. Research has shown that students can lose two months of progress over the summer.  As a reading community, the school wants to encourage every student to read every day. The goal is to have every student read at least 20 books or chapters over the summer.  If students can show they have read 20 or more books over the summer, students will receive a prize.

A new “West City” elementary school not only would replace two aging schools in Hagerstown, but could be big enough to ease overcrowding at neighboring elementary schools through redistricting, according to a school system report and officials. Deputy Schools Superintendent Boyd Michael said Tuesday during a Washington County Board of Education meeting that school system officials would recommend the redistricting process begin around early fall 2014, with the board voting on redistricting recommendations in the spring of 2015.

Thousands of free breakfasts and lunches will be served this summer to Washington County youth as the public school system expands its summer food program to six more sites, according to a school official. Most of the schools that offer the meals are where summer school programs are being held, said Jeff Proulx, supervisor of food and nutrition services. But three schools are open sites for breakfast and lunch, meaning students do not need to be enrolled in a program at the school to receive a meal, Proulx said.