Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 308 President Troy Varney spoke to the Logan County School Board last night at its regular meeting to ask if the organization can start up the Vets Against Drugs program in the schools. The program would educate students about the dangers of drug abuse. Also pictured are Board President Phyllis Adkins, Superintendent Wilma Zigmond, Board Attorney Leslie Tyree and Board Member Bill Davis. (Photo | Michael Browning)
Members of the VVA made a presentation to the Logan County Board of Education yesterday evening at the regular monthly meeting. The organization wants to start its Vets Against Drugs program in Logan County Schools. They also hope to monitor students’ responses to the program to help prevent drug abuse.
“I think it’s a problem we need to address in our communities,” Troy Varney, VVA president, said. “You can’t make changes unless you start at home.”
The VVA brought a book that outlines the group’s plan to work with fifth graders and seniors in schools to help educate them on the dangers of drug abuse.
“It gives our mission statement, the core values,” Varney said. “It’s like a lesson you’d learn in school and everything goes step by step. It lasts approximately five weeks and every week the kids are given a homework assignment to encourage them to remember to do things and to make a commitment.”
Varney said there are 40 pages in the book that contain various names of drugs.
“I never realized there were so many drugs out there,” Varney said.
The program is also for the employees at the school, Varney said.
“There’s a statement in there that says that each worker at the school won’t take drugs, smoke on school property in front of the kids nor use swear words so that they can set an example that they don’t have these things in their lives, either,” Varney said. “Then, when they graduate, we give them a certificate.”
Varney said the organization wants to work with the board to identify other areas of need for the students.
“We want to reach all the kids,” Varney said. “I hope it’s something we can keep (going) in our community.”
Logan County Schools Superintendent Wilma Pastor Donnie Wells had called the BOE office recently and they had talked about the program.
“We’re going to work together and see what we can do,” Zigmond said.
Board Member Moss Burgess asked if there was any way to reinstate the ROTC program in the schools.
Zigmond said the school board would love to have the ROTC program back in schools, but it was dropped several years ago due to lack of participation by students.
Board Member Dr. Pat Joe White said he thinks reinstating the ROTC program should be explored.
All the board members wished the Logan High School Wildcats and Man High Hillbillies the best of luck in their upcoming appearances in the state basketball tournament.
Burgess and Board President Phyllis Adkins commended Bus Supervisor Mark Adkins for maintaining the buses and taking care of all problems so that the county doesn’t have to borrow buses from other counties. Adkins said there were two buses that were red tagged recently, but the problems were fixed and they were operational the next day.
Adkins said she participated in Read Across America Day by dressing up as a Dr. Seuss character and reading to students in the schools.
“I hate green eggs and ham and it was delicious,” Adkins said.
Adkins also said the Regional Math Field Day competition is set for Friday morning at Southern West Virginia Community and Technical College. She said she plans to attend and will be giving out awards.
Board Member Mark McGrew was unable to attend the meeting.
The BOE approved the minutes of the regular meeting from February 23. It also approved a bus and drive request from Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church Pastor Rev. James Mosley Jr. and members who asked for a bus and drive to take 30 of its members on a trip to Charleston on March 18. The board also approved a bus trip request by Man Middle School to take 10 staff and 80 students to Sandusky, Ohio, to visit Cedar Point and the Columbus Zoo on May 30 and 31.
The board approved a parent volunteer list for Buffalo Elementary School and financial statements.
The next Logan County BOE meeting will be held on March 22 at 5 p.m. at the Central Administrative offices of Logan County Schools in West Logan. The public is invited to attend.
To contact Staff Writer Michael Browning, call 304-752-6950, extension 309, or email him at mbrowning@loganbanner.com.
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