Dec. 21-atrick County Schools are moving toward correcting issues per School Supt. Dr. Roger Morris. See page 1 Martinsville Bulletin

Source: Martinsville Bulletin, Dec. 21, 2012, page 1 Patrick county moves to correct issues Division issues draft of Corrective Action Plan Friday, December 21, 2012 By SAM JACKSON - Bulletin Staff Writer Patrick County Schools Superintendent Dr. Roger Morris said Thursday he considers the draft of the Corrective Action Plan (CAP) the division sent to the state to be “a very positive step” toward correcting any issues found by the Virginia Department of Education (DOE). Following a state probe of alleged irregularities in testing, diploma administration, communication and personnel matters, the DOE issued a report Nov. 21 of lapses it alleged and gave the division 30 days to respond. The division sent its draft response to the agency Thursday, Morris said. “I’m satisfied,” he said. The DOE wants the issues corrected, “and so does the (Patrick County School) board. If we’re doing something wrong, we need to correct it.” According to the CAP, the state sought improvements in “the need for more professionalism to develop a better environment of listening and respect” among employees. In its Nov. 21 report, the DOE also expressed a need for more training and better communication to prevent further lapses. To that end, the CAP outlined plans to set up several committees among administrators and faculty to address problems the state found with “inaccurate graduation data” that was reported in addition to lapses in teacher accreditation. Morris said the board intended to use the CAP as a “collaborative approach” to correct any problems. “We don’t just want to dictate a policy and have individuals not understand it or have input in it,” he said. He added that the board wanted to make sure the staff and possibly students have a say. After Patrick County High School principal Moriah Dollarhite was reassigned to the central school board office Wednesday, Morris said her role would ensure “we can have someone do a lot of research and do a lot of policy development” as the CAP is implemented. He added that the graduating class of 2013 already has been reviewed to prevent irregularities in degree awards.