The writing was on the wall Tuesday night for the Monongalia County Board of Education.
Wait — change “was,” to “is,” if you don’t mind.
The word-tweaking relates to an 18-word vision statement, which is literally painted on the wall in the BOE meeting room at the school district’s Central Office on South High Street.
“ … To provide the community with an exemplary educational environment that promotes individual development, intellectual growth and responsible citizenship,” the statement reads.
The BOE said Tuesday night the above is ready for a makeover.
Its corresponding mission statement and “belief statements” document are, too.
All three documents were extensively worked on in 1998. The mission and belief statements were also amended in 2002 and 2011, respectively.
That’s ancient history, as Nancy Walker, who was on the board in 1998, said.
“We had an 80% graduation rate then,” she said.
“We were talking about trying to keep cellphones out of classrooms, then. We were wanting kids to go to college then.”
Now, that graduation rate is 95%.
Students do their work on Google Chromebooks.
And technical education is quickly becoming an alternative to a four-year degree.
In the next couple of years, it is also likely the district may face the challenge of a charter school within its confines.
There’s also the ongoing problem of the “challenge child,” Walker said — one dealing with drug abuse and domestic violence at home.
Mon Schools Superintendent Eddie Campbell Jr., who began his career as a teacher and coach, said things are simply different now.
“Different” is the word, he said.
“Kids are dealing with stressors that just weren’t around 21 years ago,” he said.
“At least not to the magnitude they are now.”
That’s why the board will spend the next several of its meetings rewriting the documents for changing times.
Board President Ron Lytle, who made that suggestion alongside the superintendent, said he’ll happily wield the red pen.
“Our mission statement is too long,” he said. “It needs to be concise, and it should inspire people to want to get better.”
Walker and Lytle, meanwhile, have been inspired to keep their seats on the board current.
Both their terms expire this year, and both have filed for re-election.
Lytle was first elected in 2012. Walker, a past BOE president, has served 22 years.
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