The Shadow
MILLBORO — Steve Sizemore has resigned as principal at Valley Elementary School.
Sizemore’s resignation, along with several others, was accepted by the Bath County School Board during its June meeting, held Tuesday evening at Millboro Elementary School.
Sizemore has accepted a principal’s post at Harding Avenue Elementary School in Blacksburg. He begins his new duties on July 1. Sizemore served three years as the Valley principal, beginning his tenure in Bath County in 2016.
“I loved it here,” Sizemore said Wednesday morning. “We have a learning community. Bath County Schools has been so supportive.”
“This is an awesome place to work, an awesome place to live and an awesome place to learn,” he added.
Sizemore is a graduate of William Byrd High School in Vinton. He completed his undergraduate work at Roanoke College and received a master’s degree from Radford University.
He previously taught at the elementary and middle school levels in Roanoke.
In 2010, Sizemore received the McGlothlin Excellence in Teaching Award, given by the McGlothlin Foundation in conjunction with the Blue Ridge Public Broadcasting System and Radford University.
The school board also accepted the resignations of Sizemore’s wife, Code’, a third grade teacher at Millboro Elementary School; Carrington Robertson, a second grade teacher at Valley; Matt Callahan, a physical education teacher at Millboro; Sophia Benoit, a history teacher at Bath County High School; and Kathryn White, a science teacher at BCHS.
“They’ve all been wonderful,” Superintendent Sue Hirsh said. “We just want to wish them well.”
School board member Roy Burns echoed those sentiments.
“I hate to make a motion for resignations, especially when we’re losing so many fantastic people,” he said. “It is a bummer to see them go, but we wish them all the best.”
Also Tuesday night, the school board entertained a request from Sheriff Robert Plecker, who asked school officials to consider resurrecting the DARE program in Bath County schools.
Plecker said the last time the Bath County Sheriff’s Office had a certified DARE instructor on its staff was back in the early 2000s.
“I think it’s needed,” Plecker said. “I just thought I’d ask. I thought I’d plant the seed now that school is over.”
In other business Tuesday night, the school board:
— entertained a presentation on Title I, Part A, Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies, and Title III, Part A, Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students.
Both programs were found to be in compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965;
— by a 4-1 vote with Burns dissenting, approved continued participation in Project RETURN for the 2019-20 school year.
This initiative is a joint effort between several school divisions in Virginia that helps students graduate on time;
— approved Regulation GCE-R, part-time and substitute professional staff employment, and Form GBC-F1, written notice of how new 10-month employees are to be paid during their first year of employment;
— held first reading of various Virginia School Boards Association policies;
— approved an adjustment to the 2019-20 division calendar.
Schools will be closed on the Friday before Labor Day, Aug. 30. To regain an instructional day, Jan. 20, 2020, is changed from a pupil holiday/teacher workday to a one-half pupil day and one-half workday;
— approved a VSBA policy services agreement;
— approved school year 2019-20 dates for school board meetings.
The board will continue to meet the first Tuesday of each month, rotating meetings between the various schools and the School Administration Building;
— voted to allow the BCHS football team to attend camp at Emory & Henry June 17-19;
— approved a request for an additional distribution of National Forest Reserve receipts in the amount of $3,936.71;
— by a vote of 4-1 with Cathy Lowry dissenting, approved reappointment of classified and administrative staff for school year 2019-20;
— approved the appointment of Hannah Spencer as a science teacher at BCHS;
— approved the appointment of James Nelson as a summer custodian;
— approved summer school and extended school year staff;
— approved various coaching appointments
— authorized the superintendent to approve resignations and advertise and fill vacancies during the summer;
— postponed any changes to the grading scale until more consideration is given to the proposal.
The school board will hold its fiscal year 2019-20 closeout meeting on Thursday, June 27, beginning at 10 a.m. in the School Administration Building.
