UL hears improvement plans
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BELMONT -- The school year has started and the Union Local School District has plans for an eventful year.
Superintendent Zac Shutler reported on them Thursday.
"The start of the school year's been solid. We have new administrators at the high school and the middle school. Mr. Thomas Daley doing a find job piloting the high school, Mr. Ray Rateno, he's a new principal at the middle school. He's done an excellent job engaging the staff. He's brought a high level of enthusiasm. He's been a great teammate to add to our Jets squadron."
Daley had served as Bridgeport High School principal before taking over at Union Local High School. Rateno was originally from the Cleveland area and has served as Magnolia High School principal in New Martinsville.
"We were very fortunate, very blessed, to be able to bring two experienced administrators on board. I think that allowed us to really accelerate on that runway quickly to start the school year," he said.
Shutler also noted the district has received a score of 3.5 stars on the state report card for last school year, meeting state standards.
"We were encouraged by our results this year. We definitely improved in a lot of areas. There's also a lot of areas where we need to improve, but I commend the efforts of our administrators. I commend the efforts of our teachers and our staff. We talk a lot about one of our core values being coachable and willing to coach, and we've seen a pivot in that area where we've moved toward that, and I think it's evidenced by the line going up when it comes to our test scores. I think it's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to good things we're going to do at UL."
He added that there is room for improvement.
"We need to work on our early literacy scores. We've put a new curriculum in place -- the Success for All Curriculum -- that we believe will address that. We need to continue to work on improving our attendance rates. We obviously know students in school learn better," he said.
The board heard from Gabe Hays, planner with the National Road Association, seeking funds from the Appalachian Community Grant Program. The grant program is directing $500 million to local projects in the Appalachian counties.
Hays said the National Road Association hopes to improve the road with walkways and bike trails. This includes a possible trail project to connect the school to the walking and biking trail on the other side of U.S. 40, toward Morristown's Lynn Hunkler Memorial Park. He hopes for the school district's support.
"Would you want public sidewalks and public walkways coming to the front entrance of the school?" he asked.
Board member Shaun Roe approved of the project.
"We have a nice campus, but it's not a really walkable campus. It's not really accessible by anything but cars," Roe noted.
In other matters, thanks also went to area businesses Total Sports Connection, Thomas Auto and ERB Electric for sponsoring the district's Jet Setters staff appreciation program.
"We have teachers and staff nominating teachers and staff that exemplify our core values. We wanted to have sponsors for the program," Shutler said. "Their donations and their discounted gear are what made it possible for us to have this excellent staff recognition program."
He said the first award-winners will be announced in October and will include an elementary, middle school and high school teacher and one member of service personnel.
District parents also turned out Thursday for the annual Homecoming Parade from Morristown to the campus.