Hancock County School administrators continue to monitor how its students fare when compared to other counties in the State. The Board was presented with the West Virginia General Summative Assessement at Monday’s meeting.

In overall proficiency Hancock County’s schools rate 49.80% in Math. (State -35.50%). In ELA (English, Language Arts) all Hancock County schools rated 51.60% (State – 45.10%).

Science rating for all Hancock County Schools was 44.50% (State 28.70%)

“We’re above where we were before COVID,” said Bissett. The report compares every grade level in English, Language Arts, Science and Math.

She brought the Board positive news on how Hancock County fared in some areas; “In English we were 8th in the State. In Science we were 8th in the State.”

Allison Elementary achieved a 70 % overall in Grade 4 while New Manchester Elementary achieved a 75.8 overall making it the 19th highest in the State.

Individual schools scores can be located on the Board’s website.

“We could not achieve what we do without the hard work of our staff, both service and professional,” said Superintendent Dan Enich.

At the end of the meeting, Enich and Board Members discussed researching acquiring the Guardian Cap for football players. Since the death of a Boone County Middle Schooler, the State has focused on the safety of its middle school players when hard blows to the head are taken.

According to Board Vice Chair Ed Fields, the caps are $75 per cap and Hancock County has 60 Middle school players. While caps could become part of the football uniform, legislation expected to be introduced in the upcoming legislative session by Del. Mike Stuart would include funding for the caps. While NFL players wear them in practice, they cannot wear them in games according to Fields.

A great deal of research will go into the issue of how effective the caps may be. In an interview of WV Metro News Talkline, the company’s president said he is not sure the cap would prevented the death of the Boone County Middle Schooler. While student players often emulate their professional teams, the importance of requiring them in professional games is a factor. During upcoming months, the SSAC, local boards and legislative committees will be studying the issue.

In other business, the Board:

**Approved a leave of absence for Wendy DeAngelis;

**Accepted the resignation of Jennifer Musisko, art teacher, Weir Middle;

**Assigned Joseph Jimboy secondary teacher, alternative learning center’; Elissa Greathouse, art teacher, Weir Middle;

**Coaching assignments were approved for Matt Cashdollar, Asst. Boys’ Basketball, OGMS and Erica Bennett, Asst. Swimming, Weir High;

**Approved Pat McGilliam as Freshman Sponsor, Oak Glen High;

**Approved transfers for James Orr to Custodian II, Transportation, New Manchester Elementary; Casie Hebrock to Supervisory AIDE II-IV/ECCAT, Weirton Elementary; Lucia Pulice Lenhart to Supervisory Aide II-IV/ECCAT, Weirton Elementary; Meredith Adams to Supervisory Aide II-IV.ECCAT, Weirton Elementary; Rebecca Colaher to Bus Operator #214; Amy Purks to Cook III, Central Kitchen;

**Approved as substitute service personnel were Betty Mrozek, substitute custodian; and Courtney Shaw, aide.

**Memorandums of agreement were approved Soup Kitchen to donate any leftover food under legislative guidelines set forth and a renewal of a Natural Gas agreement with AK Energy.

The Board will meet for its next regular meeting on Sept. 23 at JDRIV Career Center.