CEOs Highlight Needs Of State’s Education System

West Virginia’s new State Superintendent of Schools has been reaching out to CEOs across the state. According to a recent Associated Press article, Superintendent Stephen Paine called on CEOs recently to inquire into how the state’s school system was doing and what changes may be needed. Paine, appearing before a recent legislative interim committee meeting, was quoted as saying the CEOs urged him to improve how the state’s students tackle problem-solving and critical thinking. Paine noted that he is a supporter of the Manchin administration’s push toward harnessing the Internet and videoconferencing to offer more to students in smaller and poorer counties. According to the AP article, Paine said the state’s “virtual classroom” program is second perhaps only to Florida, noting that state considers nearly half the children in its program to be at risk. “That means they don’t have to be the brightest or come from well-off households,” Paine said. “Technology can be used in a major way to bring curriculum to rural schools.”