MORGANTOWN – Monongalia County Board of Education member Shawn Smith is also a dad whose kids attend schools here, so he’s always making the rounds in the district in that capacity.
It’s been even more so since he was elected to the board.
He gave a quick rundown of his most recent travels during Tuesday’s BOE meeting, as he talked about attending a range of sanctioned showings this past weekend, from sporting events to school musicals.
“We’re blessed with all the opportunities here,” he said. “Through the levy.”
As in the district’s excess levy for education, which is again up for renewal on the May 12 primary ballot. Early voting is underway in the county.
The levy currently brings in close to $36 million a year additionally to district coffers, bankrolling all the extra academic and extracurricular activities that make Mon Schools, well, Mon Schools, he said.
Superintendent Eddie Campbell Jr. agreed.
“I just want to remind everyone that early voting has started,” he said.
When the BOE meets again on May 13, the tale will have been told.
The Monongalia County Technical Education Center is one of the district’s branches benefitting from the levy – it receives an additional $100,000 a year from the measure for its daily operation – and its students took up a big portion of Tuesday’s meeting.
BOE recognized said students for their top showings in recent statewide SkillsUSA competitions.
SkillUSA is the national, nonprofit workforce organization for students in career technical education, serving as industry barometer – as they go forth in their respective fields.
Call that a good set of coordinates for the future, said board president Mike Kelly, whose daughter teaches at MTEC.
It’s designed to empower students to become skilled workers, leaders and responsible community members,” said Kelly, who has long been a proponent of such instruction on the district’s menu.
MTEC students learn how to bake a cherry pie, operate a plasma cutter and all vocational points in-between.
“Empowerment” was the watchword for MTEC students who swept several categories during the recent SkillsUSA West Virginia State Leadership Conference.
They include Alicia Woodall who won a gold medal in the baking and pastry competition – and William Bowden, Austin Fonovich, Josh Mullen and Bryce Ruggles, who took top honors in the criminal justice, tactical, category.
Casper Cunningham’s logos and campaign won in advertising design.
The gold in extemporaneous speaking went to Calie Long.
Winning in the business category were Max Cabrera, Megan Johnson, Blake Hamerick, Willa Thayer, Ziera Lewis, John Rizado and Ziera Lewis.
Entrepreneurship students Timur Atteck, Sierra Umbler, Reagan Brandt and Bailey Willard all won the gold in their competition.
Aiyanna Stamper won the top prize for showcase photography.
Mon’s METC winners will compete against nearly 7,000 of their counterparts across the country in the SkillsUSA national gathering this summer in Atlanta.
