| By Bob Weaver
Calhoun Schools will continue a sixth year offering free meals to students under the CEP, Community Eligible Provision, according to Superintendent Kelli Whytsell.
"We have been free meals for at least 6 years and have provided breakfast and lunch for all students. We will be adding supper this year for all students," Whytsell said.
"We feel it is very important that our students have nutritious meals at no cost to our families. Calhoun County shares a Child Nutrition Director with Wirt and Roane County. Mr. Melonas works with the cooks to develop our menus," she said.
Melonas also secured a $10,000 grant to assist with sending backpacks of food home with students on Fridays.
Whytsell said these are a few of the wonderful services our food service department provides for our students.
Math teacher shortage is a major problem throughout West Virginia.
"Calhoun is like many counties in the state that is struggling to find certified math teachers and teachers in other certification areas. We have advertised on the state web site as well as on our Facebook pages," Whytsell said.
Calhoun offers an alternative certification option to allow persons that have content degrees non-teaching, a pathway to certification as a teacher.
"We have been very successful in filling positions through this method. We also have a career in an education program for high school students that are interested in teaching," Whytsell said.
This program allows students to earn seven college credits in the teacher education program at Glenville State College upon graduation.
"We are currently looking for two high school math teachers to fill open positions. When we are competing with business and industry for these students, the pay and benefits they can earn in the private sector far exceeds what a school system can pay," Whytsell concluded.
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