Covington Middle School faces ongoing delays following carbon monoxide leak
The Virginia Department of Emergency Management, Covington Emergency Services, and local first responders confirmed that a gas oven and a ventilation system were not working to standards leading to the release of carbon monoxide.
The oven and ventilation system were removed from the school, and the board of supervisors hired independent contractors to assess the building before students and staff return.
'All of those involved are working to be very thorough, and we appreciate the patience and grace of our students, staff, and community,' said AHPS leaders Kim Halterman and Melinda Snead-Johnson.
'Important Information' on the main page, AHPS features 'CMS January 31 FAQ and other Documents.' Of particular interest is 'Frequently Asked Questions Regarding the January 31st Evacuation.' The document is updated regularly as part of AHPS' efforts to keep the community informed. Questions can be submitted to AHPSinfo@ahps.k12.va.us.
'We thank our community for its support as we continue to move forward with our investigations. We appreciate the support and help,' Halterman and Snead-Johnson said.
Students will continue remote instruction until the school is cleared to open.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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6 days ago
- Chicago Tribune
Indian Prairie School District 204 to pilot weighted grading system this school year
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The committee looked at grading-related topics like re-takes, zero's, formative and summative assessments, the role of homework and extra credit in grading and resources for students with 504 plans and Individualized Education Programs, or IEPs, and multilingual students. Formative assessments are 'low-stakes,' Johnson said at the school board meeting on July 7, and show students 'exactly where they are, what their strengths are and the areas in which they need to grow.' Summative assessments, on the other hand, are meant to measure the knowledge and skills that a student has learned. The rationale for the weighted grading system includes a focus on more equitable grading, Johnson said, since the grading system looks at students' mastery of topics and skills and lets students know what they're aiming for and what their grade represents. It also standardizes grading practices, Lee told the board. 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Johnson said these percentages were common in looking at neighboring schools, and said that the committee felt the percentage for summative assessments couldn't be more than 80%. Board vice president Supna Jain asked if the idea is for this grading system to be a guideline or a requirement. Lee said the long-term plan is for it to be a requirement, but that there would be flexibility as to, for example, how assignments are categorized and how they're designed. Board member Mark Rising expressed concern about the weighting of formative and summative assessments. 'We have very different learners across our district,' Rising said. 'And when we're setting an 80/20, formative-summative (system), we are automatically setting up kids for failure, in my opinion. There are kids that their homework, their extra credit sustains their grade. There are some kids that have test anxiety. I fear we are creating not a more equitable system, I fear we're creating a more inequitable system.' To the board's questions, Talley noted that this sort of grading already exists in the district, meaning it's not an entirely new system, but it isn't standardized across district schools and classrooms. He said he asked this work to be done over three to five years because 'of the questions that people are asking' and that this is the beginning of the process for the district. Lee, too, pointed to the timeline as board members shared their questions and concerns. 'We want to provide a long runway for this,' Lee said. Meanwhile, the sub-committees are continuing to work on grading and implementation, Lee said. Re-takes, for example, are one point of concern. Lee noted that re-takes are common in college, for standardized tests and post-graduate examinations, and said they are evaluating what role they should have in classes in the district going forward. 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Chicago Tribune
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- Chicago Tribune
Elgin News Digest: State to hold fishing clinics at Kane County forest preserve; U-46 School Board meetings moved to welcome center
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American Press
01-07-2025
- American Press
Tommy Richard Hymel
Tommy Richard Hymel, 95, of Lake Arthur, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, in Lafayette. Born on June 23, 1930, in Lake Arthur, he was the beloved son of the late Willie and Melissa Richard Hymel. A proud graduate of Lake Arthur High School, Tommy furthered his education at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, receiving a bachelor's degree, and McNeese State University, receiving a master's degree in education. He honorably served in the United States Air Force and is a Korean War Veteran. Tommy dedicated his life to learning and education. He was Principal of Lake Arthur Elementary School, Assistant Principal at Lake Arthur High School, served as a guidance counselor, and taught adult literacy. He was a skilled gardener like his father and an avid genealogist who was always proud to share a story about his family's origins. Tommy was preceded in death by his parents, Willie and Melissa Hymel, and his siblings, Willie Hymel Jr., Sidney Hymel, Joyce Stagg, and Gloria Crochet. Tommy is survived by his sisters, Patsy Gauthier and Roberta 'Bobbie' Wade, and generations of nieces and nephews who will cherish his memory. In accordance with his wishes, no formal services are scheduled. Cremation has been entrusted to Johnson & Brown Funeral Home of Iowa. Words of comfort may be shared with the family at Facebook: Johnson & Brown Funeral Home.
