Superintendent Temple retiring
chool Superintendent David Temple will retire on June 30. Assistant Superintendent David Banks was sworn in as the new Morgan County school superintendent at the June 5 school board meeting. Banks begins his new position on July 1.
Temple became superintendent of Morgan County Schools in May, 2003. Temple spent
his first 25 years as an educator in Preston County. He held positions there as teacher,
teaching principal, principal, director, assistant superintendent and associate superintendent.
Temple left Preston County in 1998 and served as administrative assistant in Mingo County. He became school superintendent there in 2001 during the state takeover of Mingo County Schools.
Temple moved to Upshur County Schools in September, 2002 and was administrator/ director there before serving as Morgan County school superintendent for the last four years.
Temple said when he arrived here the school system had been moving in a positive direction under the leader-
ship of former School Superintendent Dr. Steven Paine.
Temple felt he had been able
to build on that to continue
and improve the school sys-tem.
"What we have been about is providing the best educational program possible for the students of Morgan County," said Temple.
Recognitions
During Temple's time at the helm, Pleasant View Elementary and Greenwood Elementary have been recognized as distinguished state Title I schools. Paw Paw High School, Greenwood Elementary and Pleasant View Elementary have been recognized as West Virginia Exemplary Schools.
Pleasant View Elementary has also been recognized as a distinguished National Title I school. Widmyer Elementary was recently named a West Virginia School of Excellence.
Our school system has achieved state recognition, Temple noted.
"It tells me we're doing some things the right way," said Temple.
School staff chose the motto "No Mountain Too High" four years ago. They also focused
on "building on our progress while sustaining our success," he said.
System-wide initiatives have included pre-school, pacing guides, benchmark testing, writing across the curriculum, college entrance programs, 21st Century technology tools, the New Teacher Academy, math/ reading academies and a leadership academy. The school
system is also near the cutting edge of technology, said Temple.
Accountability
All Morgan County Schools are meeting or exceeding all state accreditation requirements, said Temple. Our schools met adequate yearly progress in 258 out of 259 accountability cells. The county has increased its college-going rate from 33.79% in 2003 to 48% in 2005. Temple said the 2006 figures might be around 60%.
The school system has been growing in population, rising to 2,693 students in the 2006-2007 school year from 2,557 students during the 2002-2003 school year.
Morgan County Schools successfully received $549,680 in funding through state officials since 2002-2003 for projects such as the Warm Springs Intermediate School road construction, the Berkeley Springs High School track, bleachers and press box, fencing, the piano lab, building and grounds maintenance, the Paw Paw distance learning lab and heating and girls' basketball at Paw Paw Schools.
School improvements
Since the 2002-2003 school year, many school facilities improvements have been implemented, said Temple.
These improvements have included the construction of Warm Springs Intermediate School and its entrance road, renovations at Widmyer Elementary and the Berkeley Springs High School Arts and Humanities building, Warm Springs Middle School
additions, a the new multi-
purpose room and bus loop at Widmyer Elementary, school board office renovations, replacing the coal furnace at Paw Paw High School, a new maintenance warehouse building and roof repairs, electrical/lighting upgrades and HVAC replacements to various schools.
This summer's major projects include renovating the Berkeley Springs High School maintenance area into classrooms, building classroom additions
at the high school, repairing
the ventilation system at
Paw Paw High School and replacing roofs at Green-
wood and Pleasant View Elementary Schools and the bus garage.
"Our goal has been to provide a positive and safe learning/ working environment," said Temple.
Extra Miler
The Extra Miler recognition program for outstanding service was one that Temple brought with him from Mingo County Schools.
Temple was honored as an Extra Miler by the school central office staff in March for
his leadership and vision, his ability to plan for the big picture and take care of the details and for inspiring and motivating others.
Temple is stepping down as superintendent for family reasons. He and his wife Colleen Temple will eventually return to their small farm in Preston County. Temple's wife is still employed with Morgan County Schools as a reading specialist at Widmyer Elementary. She is looking for work in Preston County, he said.
Both Temple and his wife have enjoyed their time here working in the school system. They are excited about moving back to Preston County, but will miss the many colleagues, friends and acquaintances they have made in Morgan County.
Temple said being superintendent here has been "a great job with great people to work with."
"It's the best job a superintendent could have right here in Morgan County and I truly believe that," said Temple.
Temple emphasized that the accomplishments in Morgan County Schools that have been made since he came here have happened because of teamwork.
Teamwork involves a very big team in the schools and it includes everyone, said Temple.
"To have success, you have to have everyone on board and working together," he said.
Praise for Banks
Temple was really excited that Dave Banks, who is a native and graduate of Morgan County Schools, would be the new superintendent.
"Dave is well-respected and has the right kind of skills and knowledge to be successful," he said.
Temple said his years in Morgan County would be remembered as very special.
"I've always believed that a school system is only as good as its people
