Based on data available from the West Virginia Board of Education's website, the average annual salaries of Webster County school personnel compares favorably with other similar Class AA schools in the area.
For purposes of this article, the Commentator compared Braxton, Clay, Ritchie, Roane, and Webster Counties, as each of those counties are Class AA schools and are relatively close in geographic proximity to each other. The data reported below is from the 2011-12 school year.
Salaries of the County Superintendents are as follows:
Braxton, $85,000.00
Clay, $91,000.00
Ritchie, $100,786.00
Roane, $92,000.00
Webster, $90,000.00
Webster County Superintendent Martha Dean's salary is the 51st lowest salary among the State's 55 County Superintendents. On a per pupil basis however, Dean's salary is the 13th highest salary among the 55 Superintendents. The average Superintendent salary in West Virginia is $111,280.00. Dean's current contract as Superintendent ends on June 30, 2014.
Average annual salaries of classroom teachers are as follows:
Braxton, $44,285.90
Clay, $44,298.80
Ritchie, $45,135.14
Roane, $43,879.07
Webster, $43,890.81
The average annual classroom teacher salary in West Virginia is $45,433.69.
Average annual salaries of principals are as follows:
Braxton, $66,169.85
Clay, $64,114.66
Ritchie, $63,411.57
Roane, $64,317.69
Webster, $62,350.77
The average annual principal salary in West Virginia is $73,237.15.
To see the full county by county comparison of Superintendents' salaries for the 2012-13 school year, please click on this link:
Data maintained by the West Virginia Board of Education suggests that the Webster County High School needs serious academic improvements compared to the County's other schools.
For the past five school years (from 2008 to 2012), the County's high school has met the Adequate Yearly Progress ("AYP") standards only once, and that was back in 2008. Only Hacker Valley Elementary has met AYP all five of the past school years. Diana Elementary and Glade Elementary have met AYP four of the five years, with both schools missing the standards in 2009.
Webster Springs Elementary and Glade Middle have met AYP only two of the past five years, with neither school meeting the standards the past two school years.
To meet the AYP standards, schools must achieve West Virginia Department of Education targets on the WV state assessment, the Westest 2, in Reading, Language Arts, and Mathematics. To meet these targets, a designated percentage of students must score at the proficiency level designated. To meet targets, 95% of students must take each assessment. In addition, schools must meet targets for graduation rate and attendance. All of these standards must be met by all students, measured as a whole, and by each subgroup. If just one subgroup misses just one target, the entire school does not make AYP. Only subgroups larger than 50 students count for AYP.
The information contained in this article can be accessed at this link:
A review of the most recent data available from the West Virginia Board of Education website shows what most already know: Diana Elementary has the lowest student per teacher ratio in the County, but not by much.
The most recent data (from the 2010-11 school year) shows the following (school, students per teacher ratio, and total students in school):
Diana Elementary: 10.2 (85)
Glade Elementary: 14.2 (325)
Glade Middle: 12.4 (214)
Hacker Valley Elementary: 10.9 (73)
Webster County High School: 13.4 (483)
Webster Springs Elementary: 10.6 (354)
According to the enrollment data, Webster County had a total of 1,534 students for the 2010-11 school year. That same enrollment data shows a decrease for the 2012-13 school year to 1,493.
The student/teacher ratio information contained in this article can be accessed at this link:
According to the WVSSAC website, the Regional Championship game between the Highlanders and North Marion Huskies scheduled for Wednesday has been postponed until Friday at 7:00 p.m. at the Highlanders' gym. See: http://www.wvssac.org/index.asp
North Marion has a 15 win, 8 loss record. The only common opponent that Webster and North Marion have played was the Grafton Bearcats. North Marion beat Grafton 61 to 41, and Webster beat Grafton 67 to 60. [above photo by Teri Given]
One of the Webster County Highlanders most supportive fans this season has been Craigsville resident Roger Frazer. Roger has not missed a single game this season, and can always be found in the stands entertaining folks with his humor and good wit. Roger is a graduate of the Cowen High School and a Vietnam vet.
As reported back in October, 2012, Roger hand painted the signs on the windows and doors at the Courthouse. That story can be accessed at this link:
According to the West Virginia Regional Jail Authority's website, two Webster County residents were booked into the Central Regional Jail on Saturday.
Stephen Edward Lewis, age 31, was arrested for three felony counts of Failure to Register as a Sex Offender. According to the West Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry, Lewis was convicted on November 10, 2008 for Distribution and Display To A Minor of Obscene Matter With Intent to Seduce (Sexually Motivated). The Registry says he served approximately two and one half years in a correctional facility. Bail was set at $2,500.00.
Complete information about Lewis from the Registry can be accessed at this link:
David Allen Boggs, age 49, who spent part of last weekend in jail on Trespassing, Disorderly Conduct, and Assault charges for a disruption at the Cowen GoMart, was back in jail on a new charge of Possession of Marijuana More than 15 Grams. Although the Jail's website lists the charge as a misdemeanor, the Commentator has received information that Boggs was actually charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Deliver, and his bail was set at $25,000.00.
Our prior article on Boggs can be accessed at this link:
For the second year in a row, the Highlanders are Sectional Champions after a lopsided 74 to 48 win over the visiting 10th ranked Ritchie County Rebels in the Sectional Championship game Friday evening.
2013 Sectional Champion Webster County Highlanders
With the sectional title under their belts, the 8th ranked Highlanders are once again a member of the "Sweet 16" in Class AA. They will now host the North Marion Huskies next Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. for the Regional Championship and a berth on the line to be among the "Elite 8" at the State Tournament in Charleston. North Marion lost their Sectional Championship game to the Fairmont Senior Polar Bears. The Polar Bears will now host Ritchie County for the other Regional title in Region 1.
In the Sectional Championship game against the Rebels, the dynamic duo of seniors Brett Morris and Hunter Given combined for 49 points to lead the rout. Webster led at the end of the first quarter 18 to 10 and never looked back. Morris brought the crowd to its feet not once but twice during the quarter with slam dunks. In the second quarter, the Highlanders increased their lead to 39 to 23 at halftime, leaving Rebel fans quite quiet.
The third quarter was no different as the Highlanders outscored Ritchie County 20 to 11 to take a commanding lead at the end of the third quarter at 59 to 34. Webster then coasted in the fourth quarter to the final score of 74 to 48.
Brett Morris had a "triple-double."
Hunter Given had 24 points (photo by Teri Given).
Morris had his first "triple-double" of the season, as he claimed 25 points, 13 rebounds, and 10 blocked shots. Morris narrowly missed out on a "quadruple-double" as he added 8 assists, and also had two steals.
For the second game in a row when the chips were on the line, Given poured in 24 points, and added 8 rebounds, 5 steals, and 4 assists. Given carried the team in the relatively close first quarter with his inside and outside shooting.
Logan Taylor scored 8 points.
Logan Taylor, who was playing his first game after suffering a concussion in practice before the Braxton County game, added a surprising 8 points and 2 rebounds.
After the game, an obviously satisfied head coach Jerry Dean said of the big win that "our kids were really focused--I think our seniors had something to do with that." He added that "I thought every kid who stepped on the court [for Webster] played extremely hard ... and I'm proud of them."
Student fans at the Sectional Championship game (photo by Teri Given).
Other Webster players on the stat sheet include: Dalton Davis, 4 points, 1 rebound, 1 assist; Drew Green, 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; Stephen Cogar, 4 points, 2 rebounds; Robbie Cogar, 2 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 1 blocked shot; Jake Thayer, 2 points, 2 rebounds; Hunter Williams, 1 point, 2 rebounds; Guy Cowger, 4 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal; and Rick Holcomb, 1 rebound.
As a team, Webster made 30 of 66 shots (45%), including only 3 of 15 from three point range (20%). From the free throw line, Webster made 11 of 17 shots (64%).
Webster improves to 19 wins, 3 losses on the season. The Highlander gym will be rocking next Wednesday night for the Regional Championship.
