For today September 12, 2024 all extra-curricular activities, practices and games are cancelled.
Important Bus Information! Bus 147, which serves Glade Creek, SMS, and NCHS along with roads in the area of Route 41, Ritchie Farm Road, and Nile Road, will not be running on Friday, September 6, 2024 due to a lack of available substitute bus drivers. If your child cannot attend school due to the cancellation of this bus run, please send a note with your child the next day they attend school. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Important Bus Announcement! Bus 145 will not be running today due to the lack of available substitute drivers. This largely impacts student that attend Zela, SMS, and NCHS that live on Whitewater Road. If your child is unable to attend school today due to this, please send a note to school with your child stating this is the reason. Again, sorry for any inconvenience this may cause.
According to state code, all board meeting must be live. Here is the link to this weeks board meeting. You will be able to find these every meeting on our website. boe.nich.k12.wv.us. Just click board members and then it will be under the live board meeting links.
https://boe.nich.k12.wv.us/documents/board-members/meeting-links/698146
Attention Mt. Nebo Elementary! Due to a power outage, there will be no school today, August 30th.
There will be no school at Cherry River Elementary School on Tuesday, August 27 so that students and staff may attend the funeral services of one of our students. Employees are to report to work on the regular schedule but may attend the services if they choose.
Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and the entire school community of Cherry River Elementary School. May God comfort you at this time.
Terrence Beam, Superintendent
I need to make a clarification to the guidance concerning cell phones in our schools. I should be using the term personal communication devices because we are not just looking at cell phones. Personal communication devices also include air pods and smart watches. In other words, any personal device that distracts a student from paying attention in class. Each school will meet with their students on Monday and explain the policy and ramifications if the policy is not followed. Oce again, we need the support from our teachers, parents, and community in order to be successful with this endeavor.
Terrence Beam, Superintendent
Employees are to report to their home schools on Monday morning, August 12 at your regular schedule times. Principals will give you direction on the week's schedule. All other personnel need to follow the guidance of your direct supervisor.
Students report to school on Monday, August 19.
We look forward to seeing you!
As we begin another school year, I would like to take a moment to thank the citizens of Nicholas County for their support of the excess school levy that was passed in May. This will allow us to continue to offer programs and opportunities that would not be possible had it failed. The levy pays for student meals, admittance into ball games, dental and optical coverage for our employees, school safety funding, public library support, band and athletic team support, and many other things. The levy will be in effect until June 30, 2031.
I would also like to give a summary of our two building projects that are currently taking place. The Richwood project is approximately one year from completion. We are hoping to have it ready for students during the 2025-2026 school year. The Summersville Academic Complex at Glade Creek began construction on July 29 and is expected to take approximately three years to complete.
We received one million dollars from the School Building Authority for replacing the sewer system at NCHS and another 3.5 million dollars for additional funding for the construction projects. We are currently seeking School Building Authority funding for renovations to the Nicholas County Career and Technical Center also.
This year, we will be placing strong emphasis on three areas of concern in our school system. First of all, the use of cell phones for personal use during classroom instruction will not be permitted. We are losing too much instructional time when students are on their phones instead of learning what is being taught. At this point, we will allow students to keep cell phones in their lockers, book bags, or in pockets provided in classrooms. If the students do not follow this directive, I will ask the board to completely ban cell phones from our schools. This practice is taking place nationwide as schools see many problems arise from students on cell phones during the school day. Bullying, texting inappropriate messages and pictures, threatening comments, etc. all lead to discipline issues as well as causing emotional, social, and mental issues. I am asking that employees follow the same guidelines, set the right example, and show professionalism in this manner. Secondly, the dress code is being adjusted to be more specific in what can and cannot be worn. Too many students come to school dressed very inappropriately and this is a disruption to learning. Holes about the mid-thigh area, covering of body parts, and pulling the hoods over a student’s head are areas that need addressed most. The policy will be made available on our county website when it is approved by the board in September.
Attendance for both students and employees is unsatisfactory nationwide. That is no excuse for not addressing it as an issue. Our new slogan is Attendance Matters: 9 Days or Less for Student Success. We can’t educate absent students and absent teachers cannot educate students that are present.
I realize that some of these priorities are not popular, but I believe them to be imperative if we want students to be more successful in school.
In summary, you can see that we have some very positive things occurring and some negative areas to address. We have a very good school system with wonderful employees and students, but we could be better. We must all work together to make this happen.
Wishing you a great school year,
Terrence Beam, Superintendent
The Nicholas County Board of Education office will close at 12:00 on Fridays during the summer months. Office staff will be working extended hours to compensate for this early out on Fridays. This is a practice that occurs in many counties in the state.
Well, today is the last day for our students. Our students are our future, and we need to help them make that future as bright as we can. Sometimes that means making decisions in their best interest that they may not understand or agree with. That is what we as adults must do...both teachers and parents.
Changes are coming this fall. We must get back to teaching and learning and not spending so much time addressing issues that prevent that from happening.
I wish all of our students and parents a safe and enjoyable summer break.
To our employees, I of course wish the same. Much is expected out of our employees and much too often they are not thanked enough. Education is a very rewarding, yet challenging, profession. I praise you for your hard work and dedication. I have enjoyed visiting your classrooms or workplaces and getting to know you just a little bit better. I intend to visit all classrooms again next year and get to see some great interaction with our students!
Much has been accomplished this year, but I hope that this is just the beginning of making our school system better and more attractive to our community.
I appreciate you all so much!
Best wishes,
Terrence Beam, Superintendent
Reminder, today, Thursday, May 30th is a scheduled 3 Hour Early Dismissal. Students will be released three hours earlier than normal.
Attention Richwood Middle and High School! There will be NO School Wednesday, May 29th at Richwood Middle and High School due to a power outage. Staff does not need to report to the school.
Attention Zela Elementary! There will be NO School Wednesday, May 29th at Zela Elementary due to a power outage. Staff does not need to report to the school.
Richwood High and Middle School have no power nor phones. if you have an emergency or need to contact the school please contact the Nicholas County Board Of Education.304 872 3611
Attention Zela Elementary! There will be NO School Tuesday, May 28th at Zela Elementary due to a power outage. Staff does not need to report to the school.
Due to a power outage at Birch River Elementary, Birch River Elementary will be closed today, Friday, May 24th. Our apologies for any inconvenience this may cause.
Graduation for Richwood High School has been moved to the Red Gym in Richwood tonight at 7:00. due to weather concerns.
I would like to make a few quick reminders about the schedule for graduation and the last day for students. Graduation for Richwood High School will be held at 7:00 on Thursday, May 23 at Dean Memorial Field (weather permitting) or the Red Gym in Richwood in case of bad weather. The graduation for Nicholas County High School will be held on Friday, May 24 at 7:00 at the Summersville Arena and Conference Center.
The last day for students is Thursday, May 30. Students will be dismissed on a three hour early out schedule.
I would like to clear up any confusion about the levy results from this past Tuesday. One of the news stations is reporting that our levy failed because it did not have a 60% favorable vote. That information is incorrect. The excess levy was passed! An excess levy only has to have a simple majority vote to pass. Bonds, on the other hand, must have a 60% approval in order to pass. I hope that this clears up this issue. I have contacted the news station and asked them to correct their error.
Terrence Beam, Superintendent