The Martinsville City school board met on February 10 to discuss the upcoming to the school year calendar and learn about the school wellness plan to get in line with Virginia’s plan.
The board addressed the recent snow days and noted it has extra days scheduled in case of snow. We “will have to make sure, especially at the high school level, that the students get their required hours,” Schools Superintendent Dr. Zeb Talley said.
Unless the schools are closed two more weeks, students are still in “great shape,” he said, adding that means extra days will not be added to the school calendar to make up for the snow days that have already happened.
Talley also said that he appreciated the efforts that he saw in the city schools for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. King’s “life and his legacy will live on,” Talley said, and encouraged anyone traveling to Atlanta to visit the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historical Park to learn more about the historical figure’s life and his impact on modern day civil rights.
Yvonne Givens, board chairman, recognized Black History Month during her comments.
Talley also encouraged teachers to speak to the board. “I encourage you to continue to send the hard questions,” and keep communication channels open.
He also encouraged school personnel to spend more time with students to help negate negative influences. “We need to spend more time counseling students.”
Joyce Staples, chairman of the Fayette Area Historical Initiative (FAHI), gave a presentation on the new supply closet. The class of 1982 worked together with other alumni to create a supply closet kept at the FAHI museum for city school teachers.
“Teachers work tirelessly to support their students, often using their own funds to provide necessary supplies for the classroom,” Staples said, adding the closet is designed to help support local teachers and ensure that all children have the supplies that they need.
Supplies will be packed into book bags and distributed on a first come first serve basis to teachers who visit the museum after March 1. The goal is to distribute 100 backpacks. Organizers at FAHI also hope local students will volunteer to help pack the bags.
The supply closet is an ongoing initiative, with future pick-up dates announced at a later time.
In other matters, the board:
*Approved the 2025 and 2026 school calendar.
*Heard a reminder from the United Way of Martinsville Henry County about VITA, the free tax preparation program for those households which earn less than $67,000. Last year, volunteer workers completed more than 1,800 returns. To enroll or make an appointment, call (276) 403-5976.
*Recognized VSBA School Board Appreciation Month.
*Recognized School Board Clerk and Deputy Clerk Appreciation Month.
