Published: June 06, 2008 11:53 am      

Hampshire superintendent praised

ROMNEY - West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven L. Paine praised Hampshire County Superintendent Robin Lewis Thursday for the county's progress in overcoming a long list of deficiencies that led to the state board stripping the county system of its accreditation in 2005.

The state board eventually took over control of the Hampshire County School System because of a number of what the state Department of Education called "questionable financial practices and hiring practices."

Last July, Lewis took over the reins of the county school system, which remains on probation with the state board, and Paine said she has worked hard to keep Hampshire County's schools moving in a positive direction.

"The reason we intervened in the first place had to do with personnel and financial issues and these issues really have been corrected," he said Thursday as the state board of education met for the second day in Romney at the West Virginia High School for the Deaf.

"I'd just like to thank you for your diligence," he told Lewis.

Paine also commented that the superintendent receives high praise from her employees.

"I get e-mails from your teachers commending you for your leadership and the board's leadership," he said.

"You are definitely one of our success stories."

Todd Chicchirichi, state development coordinator with RESA VIII, also praised the county school system.

"I am so proud of Hampshire County and the things they've done," he said.

"They have done wonderful things with our program."

RESA VIII works with various staff development programs in the Eastern Panhandle counties.

The officials' comments came at the conclusion of a PowerPoint presentation on Hampshire County Schools presented by Lewis.

The presentation briefly highlighted each of the county's nine schools, including student population, faculty and staff, number of computer labs available and other programs of interest.

In a related comment, Paine also commended Hampshire County Schools for one of their teachers, Melinda Chambers of Romney Middle School, who has published two children's books and is in the process of writing a third one.

"I am so proud of her," he said.

"We wish her much success in the future."

Contact Liz Beavers at lbeavers@times-news.com.



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