Hagerstown Elementary second graders Ellie Meeks and Ruby Gilley were the Superintendent Spotlight at the March 11 Nettle Creek Schools board meeting. Both students achieved perfect scores on their IREAD assessments, a statewide test that measures reading proficiency. The girls were joined by their families and their teacher, Courtney Hobbs.
Testing remained a focal point of the hourlong meeting as Hagerstown Elementary School principal Belinda Locke provided the latest IREAD results. Fifty percent of second-graders and 84% of third-graders tested at proficiency. For students that did not pass the first time, there are two opportunities — at the end of May and during summer school — to improve scores. Locke credited the Every Child Can Read program and strong literacy intervention support for helping students reach their goals.
At the high school, Superintendent Emily Schaeffer praised the junior class for its 100% attendance rate for SAT testing. She also applauded Tiffani Hokey and Jamie Claywell for preparing students with the SAT boot camp.
Later, Schaeffer provided updates for all testing, from IREAD and ILEARN goals to PSAT and SAT benchmarks for upperclassmen. Her report emphasized strong points as well as room for improvement. These goals are addressed during weekly Cluster meetings. Here, teachers analyze data, pinpoint problem areas and develop lesson plans that make the best impact for all students.
Other business
- Forty-six students have pre-enrolled for the Discovery Preschool program; 20 have signed up for summer daycare.
- After being a local finalist, fifth grader Luke Kelly will compete at the state Elks Lodge Americanism Essay Contest
- Seven middle school students competed in the Civics Bee.
- The meeting praised state wrestling competitor Gus Golliher and the junior high wrestling team’s county tournament victory.
- Senior Kaden Ervin was named Whitewater Career Center Student of the Month.
- Hagerstown junior high and high school jazz bands earned gold and silver at competition, respectively.
- Hagerstown hosted seven others schools for the annual ISTAR Awards on March 12.
- Senator Jeff Raatz visited to honor fourth grade science teacher Peggy Muller for her Wayne County Educator of the Year award.
- A one-year contract with Hagerstown Police Department’s Student Resource Officers was approved; it includes a $1,000 salary increase for 2026-27 school year.
The next school board meeting will be April 8 at 6:30 p.m. in the Hagerstown Elementary School LGI Room, 299 N. Sycamore St., Hagerstown. The public may attend.
A version of this article appeared in the March 18 2026 print edition of the Western Wayne News.