By Edmee CR Hasler
The Salem School Board met in February to discuss various agenda items, including recognizing outstanding contributions within the school system and approving modifications to the 2025 summer school and remediation calendar.
Recognizing Outstanding Service
February was School Board Appreciation Month, a time to acknowledge the dedicated service of school board members who work tirelessly to improve education in Salem. Superintendent Curtis Hicks emphasized their vital role in keeping the focus on student learning and success.
“A lot of times, people don’t understand, but I think we’re very fortunate in Salem that our City Council has the opportunity to appoint people with specific skills and relationships,” Hicks stated. “As a result, we have an outstanding school board that prioritizes students and learning above individual agendas. That’s why I appreciate working here in Salem.”
In addition to the board members, the meeting also recognized Tricia Rucker and Susan Young for their exceptional service.
Tricia Rucker: Region 6 Difference Maker
During School Counseling Week, Tricia Rucker, a long-serving school counselor at Andrew Lewis Middle School, was named a “Difference Maker” for Region 6. With over 20 years of dedication, Rucker has impacted countless students and families.
“It has been an awesome 20-some years,” Rucker said. “Of course, I could not do it as well as I do without support. I have a great staff at Andrew Lewis. This is truly a shock, but very exciting. I’ve never won an award in my life! This is so awesome!”
Susan Young: 2025 VSBA School Board Clerk Recognition
The Virginia School Board Association designated February 12-16 as VSBA School Board Clerk Appreciation Week. Susan Young, the 2025 VSBA School Board Clerk, was recognized for her behind-the-scenes efforts in supporting the board, superintendents, and local schools.
Approval of the 2025 Summer School and Remediation Calendar
Another significant agenda item was the impact of snow days on the upcoming school year calendar. Superintendent Hicks explained the need for adjustments due to February’s multiple closures and reviewed the state requirements for instructional hours.
When school was out due to weather during the second week of February, Hicks and his team immediately began reviewing instructional minutes. They found about 10.3 instructional days more than required, allowing them to adjust the calendar while remaining compliant with Virginia’s 990-hour instruction requirement.
The board approved two key adjustments:
- Adding five additional excess time days to accommodate for missed instructional days without requiring makeup days over spring break.
- Converting the March 21 early dismissal into a full school day, maximizing instructional value while maintaining flexibility for future closures.
These changes aim to enhance calendar stability and ensure families can plan for spring break without concerns over make-up days. Hicks noted that attendance and staff availability would likely suffer if spring break was used to compensate for lost time.
“We know that attendance would take a hit if we used spring break for make-up days,” Hicks explained. “Staff also make plans, and we already struggle with substitute shortages. This change preserves instructional value while keeping our calendar flexible.”
The board also discussed long-term calendar adjustments to proactively incorporate excess time days into future academic years. Chair Andy Raines supported the move, emphasizing the importance of flexibility.
“Why not take all ten of those days and build them in from the start?” Raines asked. “This change gives us ultimate flexibility without requiring additional board approval for adjustments in the future.”
The motion to approve the changes passed unanimously, and the revised calendar will be updated and communicated to families.
Other Key Updates
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Recognition: February is also Career and Technical Education Month. CTE teacher Sean McNeil highlighted the success of SkillsUSA competitions, noting that approximately 20-22 students are expected to advance to the state level.
- Job Description Updates: The board reviewed and approved updates for various job descriptions, including teachers, special education, gifted resource, library media specialists, and system administrators, ensuring they reflect current responsibilities and licensure requirements.
Following the discussion, the board moved into a closed session to review personnel matters.
