BUCKINGHAM – Yes, Buckingham, the new Carter G. Woodson Educational Complex, which includes Buckingham County Primary and Buckingham County Elementary schools, will be ready for students on opening day, Thursday, August 23.

During the August 9 meeting of the Buckingham County School Board, Chip Davis, facilities director, noting that he has met with county officials, engineers, architects, and Blair Construction, reported, “We are down to the wire. School is coming and we are getting ready.”

Although the interior is ready for occupancy, there is a lot of work to be done on the outside, explained Davis.

He shared, “Anybody riding by can see that the outside is not complete and it will not be complete for a while.” Continuing, he said, “We have a lot of items to do with the siding-getting the siding on the outside of the building.”

According to Davis, as soon as school starts, Blair Construction will be moving to a 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. workday. “And the work will continue,” said Davis. He added that he was assured that the inside would offer a safe learning environment for the students.

Acknowledging the committed efforts of school employees and volunteers, Davis stated, “Everybody has been working together as a team.” He offered, “I think we should be very proud of one another.”

He shared, “I do want to give special recognition to the maintenance staff.” Davis explained that the three employees on the maintenance staff along with some high school students have done the bulk of the moving.

Noting that all those who have helped with the transition and moving effort, including the volunteers, have done a great job, Davis said, “We couldn't have done it without everybody working together.”

At the conclusion of the update, Joan Staton, interim superintendent, extended her appreciation to Davis. She told the audience, “Chip has done a remarkable job. It is amazing how he has handled the situations down there on a daily basis.”

Back to School

With schools opening to students on August 23, Superintendent Staton provided the board with a schedule for Open House on Tuesday, August 21, at the respective schools.

According to Staton, the hours at the Carter G. Woodson Educational Complex were scheduled in an effort to be more convenient to parents especially those who have more than one child enrolled in the division.

“I think it is a really good schedule that the principals came up with this year,” she added.

Open House at Buckingham Preschool, located in the former Buckingham Primary School, on High School Road, is scheduled from 4 to 7 p.m.

At the Carter G. Woodson Educational Complex, on Route 20, Open House for Buckingham County Primary and Buckingham County Elementary schools will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.; and, from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Buckingham Primary, which is located to the left of the central plaza area, includes grades kindergarten through second. Buckingham Elementary, to the right of the plaza, accommodates third through fifth grades.

Buckingham County Middle School will host Open House from 5 to 7:30 p.m. An orientation for sixth grade students and their parents is planned from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.

Open House at Buckingham County High School will be from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. However, ninth grade orientation will be earlier in the day, from 1 to 2:30 p.m.

Student Handbooks Will Be Online

During her superintendent's report to the board, Staton shared that she was recommending approval of the Student Code of Conduct as presented. She explained that only a few changes were made to the code.

“One is that we now have the (student) handbooks online,” said Staton, adding that forms would be sent home via the students to notify the parents.

“But if they prefer to have a written copy of the handbook they can come to the school and pick-it up or it can be sent home with their child,” she stated.

According to Staton, the other revisions include staff changes along with contact information for the schools.

Referencing page 48 regarding student records, Staton explained that fees for copies of records would be ten-cents per page.

Another change, noted Staton, is the increase in the BCHS parking fee for students, which the board, concurring with a request by Principal Roger Coleman, increased last month from $5 to $20.

After Staton's review of the revisions, the board unanimously approved the Student Code of Conduct as presented.

Crisis Intervention Plan: During her report, Staton also explained that the only changes in the revised Crisis Intervention Plan are updates to reflect the inclusion of the Carter G. Woodson Educational Complex and changes in staff and contact data. Subsequently, the board approved the plan as presented.

CTE Night Classes

Classes for adults will also begin next week. Concurring with Superintendent Staton's recommendation, the board unanimously approved a request from Kyle Bryan, principal of the Career and Technical Education Center, for four classes offered by Southside Virginia Community College.

Cosmetology Theory I, COS 81-98, is a four-credit course that will be offered on Monday and Tuesday nights from 5 to 9 p.m.; and Cosmetology Theory II, COS 82-98, a five-credit course scheduled for the second eight weeks, starting on October 16, from 5 to 9:55 p.m. on Mondays and Tuesdays.

COS 190-98, Coordinated Practice in Cosmetology, a three-credit course, will be offered on Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 8:55 p.m.

English 05-88, Reading Improvement, is a four-credit course offered on Wednesdays from 6 to 9:55 p.m.