Second Semester Virtual School registration opens today January 3rd and closes January 10th. If you have questions, please contact Dr. Kenny Bond at 304-675-4540 extension 49156
https://forms.office.com/r/tf4WtWC196
Board meeting is live at 6:00 PM via our YouTube channel. Use link below https://youtube.com/@masoncounty5862
Dear Mason County Parents, Staff, Students and Community Members,
I want to take a moment and explain a recent event and share my thoughts and actions. As many of you may know, there were scoreboards recently installed at Point Pleasant Junior/Senior High School with a business name and religious symbols. They were in place over the past weekend before I was informed Sunday evening. This led to a very difficult situation where I had to make a decision and take action that directly conflicted with my personal beliefs. If any of you have had to make such a decision, I am sorry as it is very difficult.
As superintendent of Mason County Schools, I have the responsibility to ensure the district follows law and policy. In this instance, the signs on the scoreboards as installed violated the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
The Courts have interpreted the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to mean that public schools cannot promote or endorse religious beliefs. Therefore, the question becomes; Is bringing religious symbols into public schools OK? We are directed to only use symbols as instructional aids, not as permanent display or decoration. Permanent displays of religious symbols on public school property violate current interpretations of the Establishment Clause. The Ten Commandments, for example, are unarguably religious in nature. Their permanent display in public schools communicates an endorsement for Christianity—just as hanging a Star of David in a classroom or gymnasium could make it appear that the school favors or endorses Judaism. Public schools are not permitted under the establishment clause of the first amendment to endorse or appear to endorse any religion. A cross is clearly a religious symbol. We are not permitted as a school district to endorse Christianity any more than we can endorse Judaism, Islam, or any other religious group.
Our students or staff can wear cross necklaces, they can pray over their lunch, etc.; however, the school system may not appear to endorse religion and to do so is a violation of the law. The courts have spoken to this a number of times under many sets of facts, and ultimately the premise remains that public school systems are not permitted to endorse or advance religion. I am working with our attorney and the business owner who supplied the scoreboard to place an advertisement there that will meet the legal requirements we must follow.
Why was this decision so difficult for me to make? I am a born-again Christian and the Chairman of the Deacon Board at Milton Baptist Church in Milton, WV. My personal faith wants to see such displays and allow such activities as prayer before games for the safety of the players. However, I am required in my role to ensure the stability and continued success of the school district, and I am required to follow these current laws, regardless of my personal beliefs. The current political climate on a national level is such that litigation ensues any time a public entity knowingly violates these current laws and court decisions, such as religious symbols at schools or prayer at a school event that is not spontaneous and student led. When the national political and judicial system changes to recognize the established principals which founded our nation, we may see such requirements change.
I want to thank each of you for taking a few minutes and reading this message and for welcoming me into this great community. My prayer is for God to bless each of you and your families with love, peace and happiness.
Merry Christmas!
Tim Hardesty
Superintendent
Mason County Schools will be closed for students from December 20, 2023-January 2, 2024. School resumes January 3, 2024. Have a restful break and Merry Christmas!
Due to slick road conditions Mason County Schools will be operating on a 2 Hour Delay tomorrow December 19, 2023. This delay is for students and staff
Wahama Jr/Sr High School will be dismissing early due to water issues. The buses will pick up the students at 2:00 PM. After buses leave, the other students will be released.
Board meeting is live at 6:00 PM via our YouTube channel. Use link below https://youtube.com/@masoncounty5862
Come join your friends from Mason County Schools at the Mason County Community Christmas. Today 10-1 at Trinity UMC Family Center
The Point Pleasant High School Soccer Team was recognized by the Board of Education for being the 2023 WVSSAC AA/A State Champions #MasonProud
Board meeting is live at 6:00 PM via our YouTube channel. Use link below https://youtube.com/@masoncounty5862
This week volunteers across the community paired with United Way Read across the River Cities and visited our 3rd grade classrooms. Each volunteer read the first two chapters of Charlotte’s Web while the students also had their own books to follow along. The students also got to keep their own copy of Charlotte’s Web #MasonProud
Reminder-Friday November 17, 2023, is a scheduled 2 Hour Early Release for students for PLC Meetings
Congratulations to Roosevelt 1st Grade Teacher Rachel Blankenship for being named WV Reading Teacher of the Year #MasonProud #WVRA
Bus route information for Thursday 11/16/2023- Bus #131 will not be running tomorrow 11/16/2023. Schools affected are Leon Elementary and Pt. Pleasant Jr/Sr High School
Board meeting is live at 6:00 PM via our YouTube channel. Use link below https://youtube.com/@masoncounty5862
November is Family Literacy Month! Check out the Ready, Read, Write resources provided by the WVDE at this link https://wvde.us/ready-read-write/
Mason County Schools will be closed November 10, 2023 for the Veteran's Day Holiday
Make GREAT memories today - Read with your family!
#FamilyLiteracy #MasonProud
#ReadyReadWriteWV
2023-2024 Mason County Schools County Science Fair Winners
First Place Winners
Grant Gillispie, Jacob Danford, Chloe Preston, Jaelyn Williamson, Coen Durst, Lane Dill, Kaelynn Haynie, Ady Woodard, Breyann Rickard, Ava Kirkpatrick, Riley Daugherty, Cooper Withrow, Elianna Martindale, Lilly Ingels, Addison Withrow, Elissa Hoffman, Kobe Moore, Mary Brinkert, Fiona Vanmeter, Brooke Denkenberger, Raighanne Fields, Brylee Roe, Jenna Bowles, Kate Reynolds, Phoebe Richardson, Shelby Roush, Heidi Cade, Ella Edwards, Cole Sigman, and Jace Cyrus. Not pictured are Hannan High School winners Serenity Putney, Brayden Collins, Miranda Smith, Isabelle Gillispie, Austin McDade, Avery Wilson, Andrew Parker, Gabrielle Jefferson, Lily Finley, Lilyanne Nance, Yanara Gonzalez, and Emma Deal.
Second Place Winners
Weston Stein, Kolby Blake, Anna Duff, Brantley Jividen, Eric Ventura, Natalie Canterbury, Kabella Fisher, Emma Clark, Cody Davis, Kendrick Barton, Emily Beekman, Isabella Nance, Skylar Murdock, Raylee Zirkle, Reagan Johnson, Emma Northup, Marissa Roush, Kinsey Roush, Kalyn Christian, Cadence Gerlach, Diego Aguirre, and Blake Henry. Not pictured are Hannan High School winners Della Gibson, Emily Gibson, Ally Kauf, Macee Patterson, Cameron Wright, Ian Chaffin, Ean Jenkins, Kelsey Buch, Jaelynn Shrock, and Ariana Wayne.
Third Place Winners
Elizabeth Milhoan, Nirvana Pearson, T. Rush Brinager, Kylie Arrington, Marlie Fetty, Tevan Long, Bentley Trippett, Hunter McCallister, Hylton Lipscomb, Willow Ingels, Qwenton Starkey, Lucas Woodall, Logan Rhodes, Weston Starkey, Weston Jones, and Kayde Russell. Not pictured are Hannan High School winners Laken Canterbury, Braxton Fortner, Braiden Price, Haley Bynam, Cheyenne Cambridge, Blake Adkins, and Makenna Hull.
Board meeting is live at 6:00 PM via our YouTube channel. Use link below https://youtube.com/@masoncounty5862