Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller Sets ‘SMART’ Goals for the Year
Joselyn King Trending
WHEELING -- Ohio County Schools Superintendent Kim Miller set forth her "SMART goals" for the 2023-24 school year, with some minor tweaks expected in the coming weeks.
Ohio County Schools will focus on improving student attendance, communicating better with families and the community, raising math and language arts scores, promoting achievement, and setting forth a plan for performance management this year, according to Miller.
The West Virginia Department of Education created the concept of SMART goals so boards can determine if their goals are "specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time bound."
Miller presented her SMART goals to the board during a work session Monday night.
Goal One: Attendance
Miller said the school district will work this year to "maintain or improve student chronic absence rates based on the state's official attendance summary." Data regarding student attendance is gathered monthly, she indicated.
Miller let Ohio County Schools Attendance Officer Amy Minch explain the strategy, which will involve monitoring those not coming to school and making calls home.
What will be different this year is, "I have help now," Minch said. The school district's Communities in School liaisons will actually go to the homes of those students with whom school officials have not been able to make contact.
"Home visits work," she said. "They know you mean business and can't ignore you."
The next step is court action if the student still doesn't come to school after the home visit.
Minch explained she often has to spend much of her day in magistrate court in these cases, and fines for parents can be $100 a day or more based on the number of absences.
She said a number of absent student cases were dismissed by magistrates at the beginning of summer because school was no longer in session.
Board member Erik Schramm suggested a sub-goal might be for Miller to arrange a meeting with the county's magistrates to discuss school absenteeism and how the courts can play a role.
Goal 2: Communication
Miller said stories about Ohio County Schools appeared in media 341 times during the last school year.
The school district will continue to send out press releases to the media, as well as information about school happenings home to parents via Schoology. Parents and the community also will be able to find information about the school on the Ohio County Schools website and on its social media sites.
But Miller also wants to create a parent advisory council that would meet four times during the school year. Members would provide input to Ohio County Schools, and address concerns and initiatives put for by the school system.
Board member Pete Chacalos said the communication he had with parents while a teacher was through one-on-one involvement. He added that sadly few parents attend parent-teacher nights.
In addition, teachers are not required to attend these events. Instead, teachers place a sign-up sheet on their door for parents to write their names and phone numbers with the intent of calling each one individually.
Board members wondered what could be done to increase parent-teacher involvement.
Board president Andy Garber noted last week's street fair at Ritchie School was attended by many students and their parents. The event included dissemination of school supplies and food vendors providing food treats such as pizza to the students and parents.
"These events build a relationship between parents and children you wouldn't have otherwise," Chacalos added.
Goal 3: Achievement
Miller said at each school and at each grade level students will receive at least three practice tests in math and language arts proficiency prior to West Virginia General Summative Assessment in March 2024.
She added the central office will provide direction and support for schools at least two times per year "to analyze data and make effective instructional decisions to promote student success."
Goal 4: Recognizing Achievement
To further promote the achievements of Ohio County Schools, programs and personnel will continue to be recognized at board meetings, on social meetings and elsewhere throughout the school year.
Board member David Croft noted this one was already done at length by administrators, and that Goal 4 "was checked off."
Goal 5: Performance Management
Miller said she will design and implement a performance management plan for central office staff and principals so that their goals are in line with the SMART goals approved by the board.
She will meet individually with county leadership "to review and gather evidence of progress toward goal attainment," she explained.
Board members indicated this goal also could be checked off the list as it appears to already be happening.
Board member Molly Aderholt suggested goals pertaining to student health -- both physical and mental -- be added.
The goals will be fine-tuned in the coming weeks, and will be presented to the board for final approval at a later date.