The Wood County Board of Education recognized a group of educators this week for completing LETRS, an intensive two‑year professional learning program focused on the science of reading and advancing literacy instruction. Pictured from right to left: Cate Shuman, Melissa Morris, Stephanie Miller, Marley Jolly, Aubree Hughes and Alyssa Gump. (Photo by Douglass Huxley)

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Board of Education heard an update on snow days the district has used and how many they have left Tuesday from Superintendent Christie Willis.

She explained that students and 200‒day employees do not have to make up the first five

days that are missed when the district calls a Code A or Code C. The district enacted those codes on Dec. 2 and 15 and Jan. 22, 26 and 27. The state also allows up to five non-traditional instructional days (NTID), in which students do work from home and staff are required to perform certain tasks.

“As of today, we have used all five of our NTID days,” Willis said. Those were Dec. 16, Jan. 29-30 and Feb. 2-3.

She said because the district has gone over the allotted number of days it can cancel classes due to weather – 10 – it will need to start making them up.

Wood County Schools Superintendent Christie Willis and Board of Education President Justin Raber go over how many snow days the district has left Tuesday night. Willis said the Jan 28 snow day will need to be made up on June 3. (Photo by Douglas Huxley)

“So on Jan. 28, when that day was called, it was more than we are permitted over that five that they are forgiven,” Willis said “So Jan. 28 would then convert to June 3.”

Raber raised concerns after he said he received some inquiries about the recent state of emergency declared by the governor and whether any waivers might be available to mitigate the impact of those missed days.

“I’m not sure how the entire waiver process works,” Raber said. “Would you be able to brief us on that at some point when we come to approve that third date, and whether or not it’s applicable to submit a waiver or something to that nature? Because, you know, this has been a rather tough couple of weeks.”

Board member Ron Tice also questioned whether there is a cap on the number of two-hour delays permitted each year. Willis confirmed that there is no limit, noting that the school schedule has extra time built in so those delays do not have to be made up.

The board also recognized educators in the district who completed the Wilson Reading System 1 Certification Tuesday night in the Jefferson Elementary auditorium.

Ashlee Beatty, director of curriculum and instruction, said the lessons train educators to implement intensive, multisensory reading and spelling interventions for students with dyslexia or significant word-level deficits. She said to earn the credential, participants must complete a comprehensive course on intensive instruction for struggling readers and a supervised practicum that includes at least 65 one-on-one instructional lessons with students. The practicum also requires detailed planning and close supervision.

Beatty said trainees are also expected to build a sophisticated understanding of the English language system.

“The process is rigorous, demanding a full year of study, application and reflective practice to meet the high standards of the Wilson language training and its accreditation plus designation through the International Dyslexia Association,” she said.

Beatty said the true impact of this achievement is felt in classrooms across the district.

“It directly benefits our students who struggle with reading and language-based learning challenges,” she said. “With this advanced training, our teachers can more accurately diagnose reading difficulties, individualize instruction and track measurable progress in word attack, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.”

The board also recognized educators for completing LETRS, which Beatty described as a “significant and sustained commitment” designed to deepen teachers’ understanding of the science of reading and advancing literacy instruction across the district.

“It spans two volumes, and it’s delivered to them over the course of two school years,” she said. “It covers the essential components of reading and literacy. The work engages them in hundreds of hours of online learning. They attend in-person, facilitated sessions, have reflective practice and complete bridge-to-practice activities that bring their research into classroom applications, resulting in a deep, coherent understanding of how literacy develops for all of our learners.”

Board President Justin Raber thanked educators for their commitment to professional growth and to students.

“It’s definitely educators like those that are present here this evening that truly make the difference,” he said.

Douglass Huxley can be reached at dhuxley@newsandsentinel.com