The Williamson City Council approved a resolution during their regular session meeting Thursday, Dec. 10 supporting Williamson High School’s application to be considered a School Innovation Zone.

The School Innovation Zones Act went into effect July 1, 2009. According to West Virginia legislature, an innovative school zone will give schools, principals and teachers greater flexibility and control to meet the needs of a diverse population of students by removing certain policy, rule and statutory constraints; improve educational performance, and provide for more accountability for the state’s public schools as measured by student achievement.

If Williamson High School is designated as an innovative school zone, it can be eligible for grants from $5,000 to $50,000 but totaling no more than $500,000.

“What a centerpiece it is for our community, this year being the 100th graduating class from Williamson High School. That in itself is a statement to its importance in our community,” said Mayor Darrin McCormick during the meeting. “However, we also know that the county has made plans for the consolidation of our school. The Innovation Zone application is not an application to save Williamson High School. It is an application to change the environment and curriculum to make certain variances from state policy.”

“We are excited about this as it’s an opportunity for Williamson, Mingo County, and West Virginia,” Mayor McCormick continued. “We don’t know what the future holds but we need to always try to do what is best for our children.”

The application and resolution will be submitted for approval to the Board of Education.

The resolution signed and approved by the Williamson City Council is as follows: “Whereas the citizens of Williamson believe the city’s future is enhanced through nurturing its children’s potential for learning, by providing an effective education; and whereas effective schools are those institutions who respond to the changing needs of students by creating thoughtful, disruptive change to the norms of teaching and learning. Whereas an act of the West Virginia Legislature provided for the creation of School Innovation Zones, making possible the implementation of new educational strategies; and whereas the leadership and faculty of the city’s 100 year old high school have defined their vision for a new innovative Williamson High School; and whereas the professional learning community has developed a plan for innovative, student-centered changes to the curriculum and learning environment offered at Williamson High School. And whereas the collaboration of educators, parents, students, civic government and community and business leaders are essential to the success of a new Williamson High School; and whereas the 21st century society and marketplace have become globally competitive, demanding a workforce of problem solvers possessing the skills necessary to adjust to the changing job market; and whereas the mayor and council of the city of Williamson have resolved to support efforts to create opportunities for the city’s students.”

Other topics during the meeting included a cost of living raise for city employees. The council approved the 3 percent raise after the motion was made by Councilman York Smith and seconded by Councilwoman Sherri Brown under the conditions that the raise would not be permanent. Councilwoman Connie Rockel abstained from the vote.

The council heard complaints from Dr. Diane Shafer regarding dog owners not picking up their pets’ waste and proposed waste removal stations to be placed throughout the city. Shafer explained the Williamson Rotary Club would provide the stations and sought approval and assistance from the council in the matter. The mayor and council felt the stations were a good idea and approved installing them at various places throughout Williamson to be designated at a later date.

The next Williamson City Council meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Jan. 14, 2010 as city hall will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 and closed for half a day Dec. 31 and all day Jan. 1.