Halifax County schools must show improved Standards of Learning test scores for the next three years to remain accredited after failing to make the grade during the first round of SOL testing administered last spring.
Like the majority of Virginia schools, less than 70 percent of the students in Halifax County schools passed the SOL tests in English, mathematics, science, and history (except at grade 3 - 50 percent in science and history), earning them a provisional accreditation.
According to the guidelines set by the state Board of Education, all provisionally accredited schools will be required to show improvement during the 1999-2003 school years to maintain their accreditation.
Those schools that fail to show improvement will receive warnings, and will lose their accreditation should they fail to show improvement for three consecutive years following the 2003-2004 school year.
This is just some of the information that will be mailed out to parents of Virginia school students in the first-ever state reports cards.
The report cards, also made available on the Internet last week, are part of the state's efforts to overhaul the public education system and make students, schools, teachers and administrators accountable.
The report card contains information ranging from SOL test results to absentee rates to school safety indicators.
Halifax County High School students scored way below the state average across the board in English, math, science and history SOL tests.
In High School English, Halifax County students earned an average score of 64.2, while the state average was 71.13. In math, Halifax students scored an average of 24.54, while the state average was 41.33. In science Halifax scored 51.38, while the state average was 62.83, and history scores at Halifax Senior High averaged 15.62, less than half of the state average of 41.61.
In student attendance, Halifax Senior High had an average of 57.13 students who missed 10 or fewer days compared to the state's average of 67.25. Halifax also has a higher dropout rate of 4.66 compared to the state average of 4.49.
In the number of violent or illegal incidents, Halifax Senior High School recorded five incidents involving physical violence against students, no firearms charges, no violent incidents against faculty members, two weapons (non-firearm) incidents, and 11 incidents involving drug or alcohol possession.
Halifax County Middle School also fell below the state average in every subject, with an average score of 56.21 in English (state average - 65.99); 33.33 in math (state average - 58.01); 51.63 in science (state average - 71.14); and 23.56 in history (state average - 35.78).
However, Halifax Middle School students who took the high school math SOL test performed above average with an average score of 67.24, compared to the state average of 41.33.
The percentage of Halifax Middle School students who missed 10 or fewer days of school was 62.82, compared to the state average of 70.99. No dropouts were recorded from the Halifax County Middle School, while the state dropout average from middle school last year was 0.58.
The total number of violent incidents against Halifax Middle students was 73, while the total for the division was 140, and the state 5,437. A total of 32 Halifax Middle students during the 97-98 school year were recorded to have possessed non-firearm weapons, but no firearm incidents were reported. Two incidents involving alcohol or drugs were documented at Halifax Middles School, while the state total was 3,089.
All 13 of the elementary schools in Halifax County were provisionally accredited, as well.
A number of schools recorded no violent episodes last year involving students, including Halifax Elementary, Scottsburg Elementary, Sinai Elementary, South of Dan Elementary, C.H. Friend Elementary, and Washington-Coleman Elementary.
The school with the highest number of incidents involving violence against students was Clays Mill Elementary.
Most of the Halifax County elementary schools had better attendance records than the state average for the 1997-98 school year, with only Meadville, Scottsburg, and Clover elementary schools falling under the state average, with an average of 71.57, 69.92 and 57.04, respectively, students missing 10 or fewer days.
South of Dan Elementary School had the best attendance record with an average of 86.63 students missing 10 or fewer days in the 1997-98 school year. Volens Elementary School was close behind with an average of 86.55 students who missed 10 or fewer days.
Attendance and violent episode data was not available from Washington-Coleman Elementary School

A Halifax Woman's Club proposal to raise funds for a War Memorial Park site was unanimously accepted by the War Memorial Monument Steering Committee during a Friday meeting.
The Halifax Woman's Club proposes giving the site "extending the courthouse green" to the county as a War Memorial Park.
The War Memorial Monument Steering Committee set a three-month report deadline, July 1, for the Club to raise 75 percent of the $125,000 funds to buy the property at the Main Street location, site of the old Halifax Hotel in the early part of the century and later home to a series of businesses.
A monument has been designed by the War Memorial Monument Committee as a tribute to Halifax County men and women who died in wars from the American Revolution to Desert Storm.
War Memorial Park would permanently feature the six-sided black granite monument listing the names of those killed in war. Light gray granite columns will hold a weathered copper roof with a granite lintel tying roof and columns together producing "a Greek ruins effect," according to a member of the War Memorial Design Committee.
Paula Edmunds-Preskett is heading the fund-raising drive for the Halifax Woman's Club and Ruth Smith is overall chairman of the War Memorial Park Committee.
"It is a task I am very proud and happy to do because I am passionate about the cause," said Preskett. "And I love this town. My grandparents lived here, my parents and, of course, I grew up here. So any energy I can put into this cause I am more than happy to give."

The Finance Committee will recommend a $59.3 million county budget to the full board of supervisors tonight, kicking off the annual budget process.
The proposed fiscal 1999-2000 budget reflects a 5.42 increase over last year's budget but carries no proposed tax rate increases.
Water/sewer rates, however, are expected to increase in Riverdale and Clover due to upgrading of those systems.
Two public hearings are scheduled, beginning at 8 p.m. One hearing solicits public input on the proposed Community Development Block Grant application to be submitted to the Virginia Department of housing and Community Development on the Halifax-South Boston Continuing Education Center project.
The second is an application for rezoning by Seymour and Fannie Barnes of an 0.9 acres parcel from A-1/R-2 to B-2 located at the northwest corner of the intersection of Routes 501 and 360 a the north corporate limits of the Town of Halifax. The Halifax County Planning Commission recommends rezoning of the parcel.
The Barnes plan to develop a convenience store and possibly additional business facilities at the site.
In other business, Nancylee Bagwell, president of the Halifax Woman's Club, will address the Memorial Park proposal.
Draft rules of procedures for the Board of Supervisors also are listed for discussion. The proposal includes agenda, a time-limit (with a signal to alert speakers) coming before the Board. Also, proposed Board policy would be not to vote on new matters arising at a public hearing at the time of the public hearing, instead having the item placed on a future agenda for action - unless the Board unanimously consents to bring the matter to vote at the public hearing.
In other business:
---The Southfax Sertoma Club has filed an application for an Outdoor Amusement Permit for a one-day circus scheduled Thursday, April 15, at the South Boston Speedway grounds.

There was an air of celebration as Southside tobacco supporters and growers came together Thursday night in Danville for the Concerned Friends for Tobacco Annual Membership Meeting.
"It was a night of celebration," said Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett said. "Everyone was very happy over the passage of the (tobacco) bill."
Approximately 300 individuals attending the dinner meeting applauded the recent passage of legislation aimed at providing some relief to farmers and tobacco dependent communities squeezed by the recent Master Settlement Agreement between the states and the cigarette companies.
Governor Jim Gilmore recently signed legislation that established two groups to oversee the distribution of 60 percent of the approximately $4 billion Virginia expects to receive from the $206 billion Master Settlement Agreement (MSA) over the next 25 years.
The Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission and Fund (TICRC and TICRF) will oversee 50 percent of the state's portion of the settlement and use it to protect growers and quota holders from quota losses and lost income associated with reduced quota and a shrinking demand for tobacco products, and help revitalize tobacco-dependent communities.
Ten percent of Virginia's portion of the MSA will be administered by the newly formed Virginia Tobacco Settlement Foundation to finance efforts to restrict the use of tobacco products by minors.
Virginia Attorney General Mark L. Earley was joined by Delegates Whitt Clement and Bennett, and Sen. Charles Hawkins in expressing their pleasure with the tobacco bills final outcome.
"This has been one of the most significant years for tobacco growers and farmers since John Rolfe introduced tobacco as a cash crop to the Jamestown colony," Earley said, praising the cooperative efforts between tobacco lobbyists, growers and members of the health community in establishing the commission to distribute the funds.
However, Earley had harsh criticism for the federal government's stance during these negotiations.
"Into this situation stepped the federal government, with an effort to impose an over-reaching, heavy-handed nationwide settlement. Fortunately, this effort failed when Congressional legislation turned into nothing more than an anti-business, tax-increasing assault on the tobacco community, which would be used to finance all types of federally-controlled social programs," he said pledging to take "whatever steps are necessary' to fight such a development.
"Let me make this clear: we will take whatever steps are necessary to make sure that the executive branch does not take one red cent of the funds away from Virginia," he said.

Troy Wade Davis, 62, of 12157 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill died Thursday, April 1, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was the husband of Betty Hamlett Davis.
Mr. Davis was born in Lunenburg County on October 6, 1936, son of James Henry Davis and Mattie Perkins Davis. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and a former member of the Chesapeake Gun Club. He was a retired yard master for the Norfolk and Southern Railway.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one brother, James Everette Davis of Drakes Branch; one sister, Evelyn Davis Kittrell of Tacoma, WA; a number of nieces and nephews; and faithful companions, Thunder, Lightning, Dakota and Big Foot.

A memorial service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today, April 5 at the old Ferrell Farm in Oak Level by Revs. Bill Wilkins and Dr. Glen W. Small. Casual dress.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Humane Society, PO Box 969, South Boston or your favorite humane society.

Thomas Hunter Holland Jr. of Rome, GA died Thursday, April 1, 1999 in Floyd County Medical Center. He was 41 years of age.
Mr. Holland was born November 8, 1954 in Richmond the son of Thomas Hunter Holland Sr. and Annetta Lovelace Holland. He was a graduate of Hargrave Military Academy, and employed by Zartic Corporation as Safety Officer in Rome. He was of the Methodist Faith, a Veteran of US Army, 82nd Airborne Division and was a member of the National Guard.
Survivors include his mother of Danville; three sisters, JoAnne Holland of Charlottesville, Susan H. Scott of Rome, and Martha H. Bohannon of Halifax; one brother, Paul H. Holland of Christiansburg; one niece and three nephews.
Graveside services for Mr. Holland will be held today, April 5 at 2 p.m. at Highland Burial Park in Danville with Revs. George Neas and Curtis English officiating.

Robert Sims of Halifax died Monday, March 29, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 87.
Mr. Sims was born in Halifax County on July 6, 1911.
Survivors include one sister, Nelvin Easley of Hampton; nephews, and nieces, one devoted Frances Hubbard of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Sims were held Saturday, April 3 at 2 p.m. at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Louis Leigh Sr. officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Talmadge Mosley of 621 Easley Street, South Boston died Friday, April 2, 1999 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Mosley was born in Red Oak on March 22, 1911 the son of Jennings and Sadie Mosley and was married to Marie Mosley. He was 88 years of age at the time of his death.
Survivors include his wife; three sons and two daughters, Leon of Willingboro, NJ, Edward, Ellen and Larry of South Boston, and Adaline Davis of Washington, DC; eight grandchildren, Darryl Kent, Sharon Mosley Harris, Maurice Mosley, Sherron Mosley, all of South Boston, Dallas Mosley of Richmond, Yolanda Owen Smalls of the U.S. Air Force in Japan, Leon Owen Jr. and Monica Owen of Willingboro; five great-grandchildren; one sister, Ellen Mosley Chandler of Troy, NY; two brothers, Veasly Mosley of Brookneal and Hebert Mosley of Detroit, MI; three daughters-in-law, Diane Owen, Virginia Mosley and Gwendolyn Mosley; and one son-in-law, Benjamin Kent. He was preceded in death by one sister, Hattie Barksdale, and four brothers, Howard, George, Clarence and Richard Mosley.
Funeral services for Mr. Mosley will be held Tuesday, April 6 at 2 p.m. at Ebenezer CME Church. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight, April 5 from 7 until 8:00 at the chapel of Kent, Ballou and Crowder Funeral Service.