Marion County Board of Education made the decision today, February 24, 2021 to follow West Virginia Department of Education Motion Adopted Regarding In-Person Instruction for West Virginia Schools.  We are applying for the waiver which will allow us to use Wednesday for addressing distant learners.   
 
Students coming in-person will attend four full days (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday). 

Schools will communicate individual school schedules to parents.
 
Distance learners who want to come back in-person for the four full days may do so starting March 4. 
 
If any student who is currently coming in-person wants to move to distance learning, they may do so by March 3. 
 
Students in the state’s virtual school must remain there until the end of the year. 
 
Wednesdays will be used to address distance learning. 

Buses for Marion County Schools will begin the regular Bus Schedules on March 4.  

 Many are aware the school system focused on “re-entry” during the first semester. As we begin the second semester our precision intensifies towards “recovery”. We recognize that our students, families, teachers, school staff and administration have had their lives, learning, and social emotional security impacted during the last 11 months. COVID-19 recovery efforts center around illuminating and addressing the regression or loss of skill experienced by some students due to missed or disrupted instructional opportunities. Interrupted instruction, interrupted attendance, interrupted engagement are all realities for our school population during this pandemic. 

The Curriculum and Instruction Department has been working in collaboration with the Title 1 and Special Services Departments to plan instructional supports currently and for the summer that will help heal some of the learning gaps and regression concerns. The Curriculum and Instruction Department continues to offer homework help on Tuesday. Forty-six of our students are taking advantage of the Science Class CLUB Invention on Thursdays with Mrs. Suder. These afterschool opportunities have been popular and afford our students supports and enrichment outside of the school day. 

Marion County learners have traditionally been attracted to academic competition opportunities. We are proud that this pandemic situation has not dampened our students desire to strive for academic excellence and engage in friendly competition. The WV Golden Horseshoe competition starts in February. Marion County 8th grade students in Cohort A and distance students will begin the competition on February 16, 2021. Cohort B is initiate the competition on February 18, 2021. The WV Young Writers Contest for grades 1-12 is also going on this month. Marion County students continue to display academic excellence in both of these competitions. 

February is a month of exciting events. Marion County Schools proudly supports The American Heart Association for a “Healthy Heart” campaign during the month of February. Laura Laratta, a graduate of East Fairmont High School, and Tina Shaw, Marion County Chamber of Commerce presented a compassionate appeal to the Marion County Board of Education this month. Marion County Schools is participating in “Paint Marion County RED” in efforts to spread the word about heart healthy practices. 

February is Black History Month. Creative and dedicated teachers across the county recognize this annual celebration of accomplishments of Black Americans in every area of endeavor throughout history. Lessons from various content areas i.e. Music, Art, English, History reflect the many ways contributions of Black Americans are highlighted in classrooms across Marion County. 

National School Counseling Week was February 1-5, 2021. Marion County Schools recognizes the valuable role our school counselors play in supporting students, families and school staff. School counselors are using various data pieces to assess needs in their own buildings. Physical mental health spaces are offered in most buildings, and many counselors also offer virtual calming spaces. In addition to addressing individual counseling needs, counselors are offering groups and guidance lessons through in-person classroom visits and through Google Classroom for distance learners. They are planning transition activities for students moving to the next programmatic level. High School counselors are trying to reach seniors to ensure opportunities for the Promise Scholarship and other scholarships and awards are possible by FAFSA completion. Counselors use letters, phone calls, LiveGrades and other means to reach out to students and families who are struggling or at-risk. They participate in Student Assistance Team meetings to problem-solve and make referrals to community agencies and resources. They support families by communicating topics such as how to talk to their child, stress relief, and anxiety. Counselors are providing support and resources for staff to address compassion fatigue and self-care. They coordinate with principals to train teachers in crisis response and provide training on mandatory reporting. 

We continue to appreciate the collaborative efforts between Marion County Schools and Marion County Health Department. Our school nurses and LPN Aides have stepped up to the challenge of contact tracing, and providing a necessary presence at each school during this most challenging time. Our school nurses and LPN Aides have assisted in operating vaccine clinics throughout the community. Improved communication between our nursing staff, school staff and administration is certainly a positive outgrowth of this pandemic situation and has a significant role in recovery efforts. 

School athletics have been impacted by cancellations. We recognize that our athletes use sports to help reduce stress, control anxiety and depression, earn college scholarships and build social connections. These losses should not be minimalized. Both winter and spring sports begin their return this month with the first day of practice for both high school and middle school starting February 8. The first date for the girls winter sports both from high school and middle school is March 3 and the boys follow with a start date of March 5. The start of spring sports practice for high school begins on March 15 with middle school starting March 22. The WVSSAC protocol for attendance is limited to parents, grandparents and immediate household members. The WVSSAC also reminds us that if our county is remote learning due to Covid related matters there can be no practices or contests until face to face and/or blended model resumes. 

In-person instruction limited to the blended model continues to be implemented on a consistent basis while following the six key mitigations strategies: consistent and correct use of masks, hand hygiene and coughing /sneezing etiquette, social distancing to the largest extent, cleaning & disinfection, elimination of large gatherings, contact tracing in collaboration w/local health department. The entire community following the mitigation strategies will continue to support the reduction of the risks we face. Stay well, be safe. 

As we move into the second semester of the 2020-2021 school year, the following information is subject to change along with guidance from the Governor’s Office, the West Virginia Department of Education, the West Virginia State Board of Education, the Local Health Department and the Marion County Board of Education. The West Virginia State Board of Education has the constitutional authority to make decisions governing West Virginia public schools.

In-Person Instruction will begin on January 25, 2021 according to the student’s cohort at individual schools.

• PreK-8 Schools: Students will attend blended in-person instruction regardless of Marion County’s color on the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) County Alert System Map.
• High Schools: Students in grades 9-12 will attend blended in-person instruction unless Marion County’s color is red on the DHHR County Alert System map.
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The second semester began on January 21, 2021.

• Marion County Schools will operate on the two-day blended instructional model with a 75 minute daily reduced schedule for students upon return January 25, 2021 and continue on that model until further notification. Marion County Schools utilized this same model the first semester with Cohort A attending Monday and Tuesday and Cohort B attending Thursday and Friday.
• Individual schools have completed their own registration for the second semester regarding blended, distance or West Virginia Virtual School. Please contact your respective schools for information regarding registration.

In order to give us time to make the transition from new developments and have confirmed plans in place, Marion County Schools schedule for the next few days will be:

• Jan. 18 - Holiday - No School
• Jan. 19 - Students in all grade levels will be in remote/distance learning at home.
• Jan. 19 - Marion County BOE will meet to determine any changes for the Second Semester Schedule.
• Jan. 20 - Marion County's plan for moving forward on Jan. 21 for second semester will be shared.  (Our plan moving forward will more than likely be a two-day blended model. Other details will be shared in the plan released on Jan. 20.)
• Jan. 20 - Students in all grade levels will be in remote/distance learning at home as they have been on Wednesdays.
• Jan. 20 - Marks the end of the first semester.
• Jan. 21 - New guidance will be applicable as Jan. 21 is the first day of the second semester.

To clarify some confusion in messages received today:  Marion County Schools will still offer distance learning with local teachers to the end of this school year.

All is subject to change if new developments arise to require change.
Thanking you in advance for your patience and understanding, stay well, be safe.