G
ood morning. It's Tuesday, March 4, 2025. Here is today's Morning Report, the Kanawha Valley Update's audio news bulletin published most weekdays by 6 a.m.
Superintendent Salary: Members of the county Board of Education have agreed to pay new Kanawha County Schools Superintendent Dr. Paula Potter a $180,000 per year salary when she takes over the school system on July 1. The panel voted unanimously to approve the compensation package during yesterday’s regularly scheduled meeting in Charleston. Board President Ric Cavender explained that they reached that number after considering the size of the county's school system and comparing it with other local superintendent salaries. Potter will take the reins from outgoing Superintendent Dr. Tom Williams, who previously announced he would be retiring at the end of this school year.
Pratt Request: Pratt Mayor Andy Williams made a request on Monday asking the county school board to donate land to his community. The land he is asking for used to house the old Pratt Elementary School. It sits along the Kanawha River, across the street from the new elementary school. Fields says his community plans to use the property to house various cultural and recreation events and facilities. He envisions tennis courts, an amphitheater and a stage, and said the space could be used for festivals and other gatherings. Board members seemed receptive to the idea. This would not be the first time school property was donated. Just last year, Kanawha County Schools gifted the former Marmet Elementary School to the town for community use. Board members will vote on the Pratt donation at the next board meeting.
Woolworth Ceremony: Charleston is set today to mark the anniversary of a devastating fire that took place in the city 76 years ago. On March 4, 1949, a large inferno broke out at the former Woolworth Store on Capitol Street. That’s in the building where Rock City Cake Company now stands. Seven firefighters were killed in the blaze and 15 were injured, two critically. That was the biggest fire-related casualty count for a department in the United States at the time. Today’s ceremony is set to take place at 10 a.m. Members of the Charleston Fire Department will be joined by local officials for the wreath laying.
Note: An earlier version of this article misidentified the mayor of Pratt. It has been corrected.
