None of Halifax County's schools would receive full state accreditation based upon the results of state Standards of Learning tests administered last spring.
Only 39 Virginia public schools, just 2.2 percent of the state's 1,813 public schools, would have received full accreditation based upon the results of the SOL tests.
Thirteen of that number are in Fairfax County, 11 are in Henrico County, and there are two schools each in Arlington County, Campbell County, Chesterfield County, and York County.
One school each in Bedford County, Falls Church, Loudon County, Martinsville, Richmond, Roanoke County, and Virginia Beach.
By 2004, students will have to pass the SOL tests in order to graduate. By the 2006-2007 school year, schools will have to achieve a 70 percent passing rate in each of the four core academic areas to be fully accredited by the state.
All of the state's schools are "provisionally accredited" until the 2006-2007 school year.
The State Board of Education has not yet decided what the impact of a loss of accreditation will mean. That is one of the next tasks that the Board of Education will have to tackle.
Schools that don't make the 70 percent benchmark will remain provisionally accredited as long as they show signs they are making improvement.
Locally, Clover Elementary had the highest percentage of students passing the third grade English test with 66.6667 percent while Virgilina Elementary School had the lowest percentage with 33.3333 percent of its students passing.
Clover was tops in the third grade math with 79.1667 percent of its students passing while Meadville came in with the low mark of 31.5789 percent.
In third grade history, Wilson Memorial Elementary School had the highest percentage of students passing with 69.2308 percent while Meadville had the low mark of 10.5263 percent.
Wilson Memorial Elementary School had the highest percentage of students passing the third grade Science SOL test with 76.9231 percent while South of Dan had the low mark of 45.1613 percent.
Overall, 46.8384 percent of the county's third graders passed the third grade English test, 60.2804 percent passed the third grade math SOL test, 44.7307 percent passed the third grade history SOL test and 52.4590 percent of the county's third graders passed the third grade science SOL test.
None of those figures equaled state averages. The county fell about three percentage points shy of the state average in math, four percentage points shy in history, fell eight percentage points shy in English, and 11 percentage points shy in Science.
For the fifth grade, Volens Elementary had the highest percentage of students passing the fifth grade SOL writing test with 83.8710 percent passing while Meadville Elementary had the low mark of 39.2857 percent of its fifth grade students passing the writing test.
Clover Elementary had the highest percentage of fifth graders passing the fifth grade English SOL test with 80 percent passing it while Virgilina, which had 50 percent of its students pass the English SOL test, came had the low mark among the county schools.
On the fifth grade math SOL test, Clover was at the top with 73.3333 percent of its fifth graders passing the math SOL test. Virgilina had the lowest percentage of students passing the fifth grade math SOL test as only 10 percent of its fifth graders passed the test.
C.H. Friend Elementary School had the highest percentage of students to pass the fifth grade history SOL test with a figure of 67.9012 percent while Virgilina had the lowest percentage with only 22.2222 percent of its fifth graders passing the history SOL test.
Clover Elementary had the highest percentage of students to pass the fifth grade Science SOL test with 80 percent of its fifth graders achieving the passing mark. Meadville Elementary, which had only 32.1429 percent of its fifth graders pass the science SOL test, came in with the low mark.
In computer technology, C.H. Friend had the highest percentage of fifth graders to pass that SOL test with 84.6154 percent achieving or surpassing the passing mark. Turbeville Elementary, which had only 42.8571 percent of its fifth graders pass that SOL test, had the lowest percentage of students to pass that test.
SOL testing was not required for Halifax Elementary or Washington-Coleman Elementary School because they are both K-2 schools.
At Halifax County Middle School, 59.2593 percent of its eighth graders passed the eight grade writing SOL test, 53.1469 percent passed the eight grade English SOL test, 67.2414 percent passed the End of Course Alegbra I SOL test, and 60.2804 percent passed the eighth grade computer technology test.
However, only 28.7703 percent of the eighth graders taking the eight grade math SOL test passed it and only 23.5566 percent of the eight grade students taking the eighth grade history SOL test passed it.
Both of those percentages were significantly lower than the percentage of students across the state that passed those tests.
At Halifax County High School, 64.2500 percent of the students taking the End of Course writing test passed and 64.1414 percent of the students taking the End of Course English reading, language, and research SOL test passed.
Also at Halifax County High School, 59.8901 percent of students taking the End of Course geometry SOL test passed, 42.3313 percent of the students taking the End of Course SOL test in earth science passed, 63.5171 percent of the students taking the End of Course biology SOL test passed, and 50.2762 percent of the students taking the End of Course chemistry SOL test passed.
While those marks appeared to be relatively decent, there were some unusually low marks. Only 15.5378 percent of the students taking the End of Course Algebra I SOL test passed it, only 5.4795 percent of the students taking the End of Course Algebra II SOL test passed it and only 15.6164 percent of the students taking the End of Course U.S. History SOL test passed it.
Statewide students experienced the most trouble in fifth grade math, eighth grade math, Algebra I, Algebra II, and history in grades three, five, eight, and 11.

Longwood College is seeking $538,325 this year to open a Continuing Education Center/public schools based institute here to combat the high drop out rate and promote completion of Standards of Learning graduation requirements through technology and new teaching strategies.
The Institute will be the first of its kind in the state and is a cooperative effort between the college, Halifax County Public Schools and business and industry.
The Longwood budget amendment to fund the project will be before the General Assembly in January. "I think the chances are good," said Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett yesterday.
The delegate said it is hoped the Institute will open in the fall of 1999.
"It is absolutely critical," said Bennett. "Teachers have never had to teach algebra, geometry and higher math to all the students."
Prior to new graduation requirements, Bennett said typically the higher math courses were only college-bound courses. "The teachers need all the help they can get."
"We will keep records to see how well we do," continued Bennett. "This also helps instructors at Longwood gain experience to teach students there how to be better teachers."
The project is viewed by officials as connecting higher education and teachers in the field in a way never done before.
The Institute proposal came from recommendations from the Commission on the Future of Public Education, chaired by Bennett, and meetings with Dr. Patricia Cormier, president of Longwood College, last summer.
"We need to provide some extra help in our area to improve educational achievement and to give an extra boost to our students and teachers by way of technology," said Halifax County Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt of the Institute.
The superintendent said it was important to establish "a collaborative program" with an institution such as Longwood College to be based in Halifax County so that "we can bring the programs where the services are delivered."
The Institute will use technology to establish innovative practices in teaching and learning," said Witt.
"We want to get computers into the hands of teachers, not just a classroom computer but access to laptops and computers at home, and truly try to establish how computers can improve learning for students. That would be the thrust of this Institute.
"We want this to be a model," said the superintendent. "Possibly taking some of the successful programs to share with other school divisions."
Halifax County - as is Southside Virginia - is characterized by high drop out rates, significant levels of the adult population without a high school degree, levels of unemployment above the state average and low per capita income.
In 1996-97 Halifax County had the highest drop out rate of any county in the Commonwealth at 8.39 percent, according to the state Department of Education.
Also, the 1998 Standards of Learning test results revealed that in several areas the Halifax County mean scores are seven to 11 plus points below the Proficient Passing Score.
With the requirement that students earn those scores in core areas before they graduate from high school, educators see it as imperative that new teaching strategies be employed.
If the student success rate is not improved, the school division could lose its accreditation.
The Institute will work with teachers K-12 in innovative teaching techniques to serve as a catalyst for change in the schools.
"We are excited about the potential of this program," said Witt. "And I want to recognize Ted Bennett for his leadership. He and Dr. Cormier have provided statewide leadership which you have to have to get a program like this in our community."
Assistance also will be sought from the National Science Foundation, the Southern Region Education Board, the Education Commission of the state, the Virginia Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development and other Virginia and national educational research organizations.
Longwood proposes the Institute have an executive director, an assessment director, a curriculum specialist and a secretary.
The facilities will include a fully equipped computer classroom/multimedia lab facility, including distance learning capabilities. Training, educational software and a portable distance education package that can be taken from school to school will also be provided.
The Institute will emphasize small group training and one-on-one training for teachers, according to Longwood officials.
The training will include workshops and guest speakers as part of the program.
A laptop computer will be available for each classroom teacher for quick and easy access to technology.
Computers will provide teachers the opportunity to design curriculum programs and perform research anytime, any place, without having to be physically located in the classroom or in a class lab.

South Boston Fire Department officials said yesterday that it is not known what caused a fire Friday afternoon that destroyed a bulldozer sitting in a wooded area off North Main Street near the Merritt Hills subdivision.
The bulldozer, owned by Snead Enterprises, was declared a total loss with damage estimated at $85,000.
A fire department spokesman said the bulldozer was located at a site just off of the 3000 block of North Main Street where construction had been underway on a road leading into the Waddell Woods subdivision.
There was nobody at the site when the fire was reported at 3:48 p.m. according to fire department reports. The bulldozer was fully engulfed in flames when fire fighters reached the scene.
Eleven firemen from the South Boston Fire Department responded to the call and took three trucks to the scene.
Firemen were at the scene for about an hour.
Also, fire department officials said an estimated $5,000 damage was done to the mobile home trailer occupied by Yvette Everette and owned by Johnny Ligon of Scottsburg in the Lakewood Trailer Park on Daniel's Trail (Route 729) as the result of a late Friday afternoon blaze.
A pan of grease that had been left on the stove was responsible for triggering the fire that damaged the kitchen and left smoke damage throughout the rest of the mobile home.
The fire department spokesman said that the actual fire damage was confined to the kitchen area.
Nineteen South Boston firemen responded to the alarm that came in at 5:35 p.m. and brought two trucks to the scene. They were assisted by a small handful of firemen from the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department who brought one truck.
Firemen were on the scene for approximately an hour.

Halifax Town Council is expected to discuss refinancing for sewer bonds due 2017 during their regular council session Tuesday night.
Town manager Bob Greene said the action could save the town $140,000 in interest due to lower rates and the refinancing of the $1.2 million bond.
The annual audit for 1998 is to be presented and council is also expected to discuss a proposed schedule for boundary adjustment in the year 1999.
Council meets at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Halifax Town Hall on Main Street.

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Cutting taxes and college tuition, building schools and curbing the disposal of out-of-state trash in Virginia are among the top issues legislators will consider at a 46-day session that begins Wednesday.
Legislators are focusing on such citizen-pleasing issues for a reason: All 140 General Assembly seats are up for election in November, and partisan control hangs in the balance.
Republicans and Democrats generally agree on many of the major proposals, and there is plenty of money available to pay for them, so the debate is likely to center largely on the details - and later, on who gets credit.
For example, Democrats support Republican Gov. Jim Gilmore's proposal to cut the sales tax on groceries from 4 1/2 percent to 2 1/2 percent. In fact, they pushed a grocery tax cut last year as an alternative to Gilmore's car tax reduction. Some scoff, however, at Gilmore's plan to phase in the food tax cut over four years.
''I assume it will take effect when my grandchildren achieve their majority,'' Del. Clifton A. ''Chip'' Woodrum, D-Roanoke, said of Gilmore's plan. ''I would prefer if we are going to do it, we go ahead and do it.''
Also, the governor wants to give schools an additional $245 million over two years to spend any way they wish, but many Democrats want more money specifically for school construction and repairs.
Virginia Commonwealth University political analyst Robert Holsworth said a budget surplus approaching $1 billion makes this an unusual election-year legislative session.
''There's an old saying that to govern is to choose, but the choices are easier this time,'' he said. ''You can cut taxes and spend more money on schools. You can reduce tuition and spend more money on the environment.''
However, there certainly will be partisan fights as legislators jockey for position in November's high-stakes election. Republicans hold a 21-19 edge in the Senate, and the Democrats' once-formidable edge in the House of Delegates has been whittled to 50-49, with one conservative independent joining forces with the GOP to force a power-sharing agreement.
''There's going to be some small skirmishes, but nothing of the magnitude that we had in 1995 - none of the real volatile issues,'' said House Democratic Leader C. Richard Cranwell of Roanoke County.
Four years ago, then-Gov. George Allen orchestrated an all-out GOP effort to win control of the legislature but came up short.
''We're used to Republicans threatening to huff and puff and blow our house down,'' said Gail Nardi, director of the House Democratic caucus. ''Most have ended up in the pot on the fire, just like the Big Bad Wolf.''
Said Cranwell: ''This should be a more harmonious session. We've had the governor trying to co-opt issues he perceives to be Democratic. That game plan will make it easier.''
Gilmore's proposed 20-percent tuition cut and proposals designed to reduce the amount of out-of-state garbage flowing into Virginia have bipartisan support, although there could be disagreement over details.
Anti-crime legislation is usually popular in an election year. The assembly will consider bills to make it tougher for defendants to post bail, to create a state version of a federal law that cracks down on gun possession by felons, and to post criminal records on the Internet.
In the category of social causes, the annual debates over abortion restrictions likely will take a back seat to the right-to-die issue. The case of a severely brain-damaged man who died after his wife ordered his feeding tube removed prompted Del. Robert Marshall, R-Manassas, to propose legislation making it harder to withhold nutrition in such circumstances.
But perhaps the most sensitive election-year matter the legislators will take up is an advisory commission's recommendation that they raise their base salaries by 44 percent and double their office expense allowances.
''That will be very difficult to pass in an election year,'' Holsworth said.

Some of the key issues before the 1999 General Assembly, which convenes a 46-day session Wednesday:
- A proposal to cut the sales tax on groceries from 4 1/2 percent to 2 percent over four years.
- A 20 percent reduction in tuition for Virginia students in the state's public colleges.
- A proposal to funnel all lottery profits to public schools, which could use the money for construction or other purposes.
- Legislation designed to reduce the amount of out-of-state trash dumped in Virginia.
- Legislation to make it more difficult to pull the feeding tube of a brain-damaged person who is in what state law now calls a ''persistent vegetative state.''
- A proposed 44 percent increase in legislators' base salaries.

(Ed. Note: It is time (past time, really) for the Famous Fearless Forecast, a bonus offering annually by The Gazette-Virginian to provide its readers with a look at the year to come without having to wait around for things to happen.)

JANUARY: (Since the first major 1999 event has already happened, we won't waste time listing something you obviously already know about.).....The informal Faulkner & Lawson Men's Coffee Crowd, already aware that Faulkner & Lawson will soon close, goes into a state of mourning.....Town Council and Supervisors members set an example of good behavior by holding a retreat together and not even having their ires raised.

FEBRUARY: To fight a pressing need for additional revenues to fund Downtown Centerville, Biggy Boulevard is turned into a toll road.....Charlie Neece tries to open an IRA for himself, but has to back away when he discovers the bank won't do it for less than $5.....It's just a tad tardy, but Kenneth Cranford leads a select chorus in a rendition of his newest composition, "Happy New Year etc."

MARCH: Most of the rest of the town shares the sadness with the Coffee Crowd that Faulkner & Lawson no longer is with us; Crowd members wander aimlessly along the street.....The Weatherman pulls a shocker--he accurately predicts a stretch of weather that even includes a snowfall.....The busy Biggy Boulevard Business Community is excited over the announcement that another shopping center is to be opened there--that's four in Downtown Centerville.

APRIL: Chris Lumsden announces the start of a multi-million dollar campaign to raise funds for the expanded CEC, and challenges others to match his leadoff one mil.....South Boston Town Council impeaches Mayor Glen Abernathy for closing Faulkner & Lawson, but the whole idea is rendered moot when Council discovers there is no one to conduct the trial.....The AXA-Berry Hill construction and restoration project continues, and AXA announces a December Grand Opening.

MAY: Revving up its organizational motor, the CEC announces its top cadre of officers--Chris Lumsden is crowned Chancellor, Carlyle Ramsey is Ambassador to Southside Virginia Community College, and Addison Marable is Umpire-in-Chief.....Larry Clark has done such a marvelous job as president of the Virginia High School League this past year, North Carolina asks him to straighten out their problems also during the next coming school year.....Thanks but no thanks, said Larry.

JUNE: Owners of suitable property in Downtown Centerville confirm they will build a major shopping center, bringing the Downtown Centerville total to six.....Kenneth Cranford, to give his vocal chords a much-needed rest, goes into the jelly and pie-making business and makes a small fortune.....The Coffee Crowd is now gathering around a large table placed on the sidewalk in front of locked Faulkner and Lawson, and Mayor Abernathy is the waiter.

JULY: Traffic only gets heavier at Centerville as highway construction is coming to a conclusion, and Department of Transportation Resident Engineer Joe Barkley suggests that a subway under Biggie Boulevard would be in order.....Butch Cumbey shoots his highest golf round of the summer, largely because he already has his mind on the football season.

AUGUST: With Centerville traffic problems mounting, Jack Dunavant, using his own tools and a loan from John Cannon, builds a by-pass to Biggy Boulevard and names it Jackjohn Super Boulevard.....The community applauds the initiative.....The CEC, using a dab of the proceeds now flowing in, builds a wide front porch on its main building, where students can sit down, rest a while, and look at beautiful Downtown Dan River.

SEPTEMBER: Tucker Watkins and the rest of the Halifax County GOP family are delighted that Presidential candidate Elizabeth Dole has accepted an invitation to visit Halifax County and South Boston.....Del. Ted Bennett comes out to see what all the commotion is about.....South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel has solved a lot of the town's problems, but so far can't figure what to do about the Coffee Crowd across the street from him.

OCTOBER: Beth Robertson wins a Pulitzer Prize for--what else? writing--.....She won for her magnificent essay on the relationship of hogs and tobacco to each other and their communities and how they affect each other and their neighbors and the extension of philosophical roles with which they are identified in hog-tobacco circumstances here and there and outside the usual realm of the being, plus Clover's de-chartering, and everything.

NOVEMBER: Sold on this building thing, the CEC installs a boat dock out front of the main CEC building, to accommodate those students who will be traveling to and from classes via Dan River every day.....Biggy Hunt is giving serious consideration to building Downtown Centerville's first high-rise office building.....AXA-Berry Hill, in a more than year-long construction mode, is just about ready to throw itself open to the public for a big show-off.

DECEMBER: There are persistent but disturbing rumors floating about that a new shopping center is in the works at Centerville for early in the new year.....Council members , Supervisors and just plain citizens send Christmas cards to one another; they are serious about it, too, because they send the very best, and you know what that is.....Ted Daniel acknowledges it really is Jane Jones who has run the town office during his first year as Town Manager--and therefore it was she who hasn't solved the Coffee Crowd problem.

Brenda Love Lowery Gravitt of 1040 Bold Springs Road, South Boston died Thursday, January 7, 1999 at her home. She was 52 years of age.
Mrs. Gravitt was born September 12, 1946 in Halifax County the daughter of Herbert Lowery and Melissa Conner Lowery and was married to Randolph Lloyd Gravitt. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church, and a sales rep. with International Industrial Fan.
A funeral service was held at Black Walnut Baptist Church Sunday, January 10 at 3 p.m. with Rev. Grover Stevens officiating. Burial took place in Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Gravitt include her husband; one son, Shayne Dillard Gravitt of South Boston; one daughter, Lindsay Sydney Gravitt Ferguson of Vernon Hill; three sisters, Hazel Conner of Bay City, TX, Kathryn McDowell of South Boston and Sandra Blanks of Roxboro, NC; three brothers, Alvin Lowery and Wallace Lowery, both of Smithfield, and Danny Lowery of Bay City; and one grandson, Jacob Sneed Ferguson.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston.

John Barksdale Sr. of South Boston died Tuesday, January 5 in Richmond at the age of 48. He was born in Halifax County on April 2, 1950.
His survivors include his daughters: Phyllis Sweeney and Joann Hamlett of South Boston, Johanna Ferrell of Danville, Tonisha, Betsy and Priscilla Barksdale of Naruna; son: John Barksdale Jr. of Naruna; mother: Annie Chaney of South Boston; sisters: Rosa Walton of Halifax, Annie Edmonds and Patty Barksdale of South Boston; brothers: George Barksdale of Rustburg and David Barksdale of Staunton.
A funeral service was held Saturday, January 9 at the New Vernon Baptist Church in Vernon Hill. The Rev. Roger Ford officiated. Interment was in the church cemetery in Nathalie.

Mae Bane Puryear of 3051 Mountain Road, Halifax died Saturday, January 9, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 84.
Mrs. Puryear was born in Halifax County on May 6, 1914, the daughter of Matthew William and Lula Miller Bane. She was married to Andrew Puryear and was a member of the County Line Baptist Church.
Her survivors include her husband; brother: Aylor Bane of Java; nieces: Nancy Wilborn of Halifax, Jean Shapard of Nathalie and Margurite Caruso of Ayden, NC.
A funeral service will be held Tuesday, January 12 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Joey Cantrell officiating. Burial will take place in the County Line Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight from 7-8 p.m. and at other times at the home of Nancy Wilborn, 3071 Mountain Road. Those wishing to give memorials are asked to please consider the County Line Baptist Church or your favorite charity.

James Wesley Jones of 4130 Pleasant Grove Rd., Halifax died Friday, January 8, 1999 at Durham County Regional Hospital at the age of 75.
Mr. Jones was born in Halifax County on July 12, 1923, the son of Obie Lee and Annie Ruth Burton Jones. He was a member of the Aarons Creek Baptist Church.
His survivors include a sister: Dorothy Louise Jones of Halifax; brothers: Roy (Billy) Jones of Halifax and Charlie Henry Jones of Bachelors Hall.
A funeral service was held Sunday, January 10 at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. John Wilder conducting the service. Burial took place in the Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ cemetery.

Narvis Puryear Seate died Saturday, January 9, 1999 at her residence at the age of 71.
Mrs. Seate was the daughter of Thomas Stradley and Kate Lee Jones Puryear. She was a member of Nelson Baptist Church where she taught Sunday School, Vacation Bible School and was active in the Baptist Women's Missionary Union.
Her survivors include her husband: Sylvester Faye Seate; sons: Jackie Seate of Clarksville and Frederick Seate Sr. of Virgilina; daughter: Anna Hall of Nelson; grandchildren: Jackie Seate Jr. of Nelson, Chad Seate, Frederick Seate Jr. and Wendy Seate of Virgilina and Amy Seate of Gilman, IL and great-grandchildren: Jarred and Jessica Seate of Nelson, Kelly Wilson of Gilman.
She was preceded in death by a great-grandson: Calvin Bowman.
A funeral service will be held today, January 11 in Nelson Baptist Church with the Rev. James McAlister officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.