(Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)
WHEELING — The West Virginia Board of Education has stripped the Tyler County Board of Education of its decision making powers, and directed State Superintendent Michele Blatt to find and hire the county’s next school superintendent.
The state board met Wednesday in Charleston.
“The West Virginia Board of Education has declared extraordinary circumstances exist in Tyler County Schools that warrant immediate intervention pursuant to West Virginia Code,” Blatt read from a prepared statement. “Non-approval status shall be assigned to Tyler County Schools, (and) the conditions pursuant to WVBOE intervention in the school district exist. Delaying the intervention would not be in the best interest of the students or staff of Tyler County Schools.”
The authority of the Tyler County Board of Education shall be limited in areas that comprise the delivery of a thorough efficient education to its students, Blatt continued, and decisions will instead be delegated to the state superintendent. That will include decisions to fill vacant administrative positions “with those most qualified.”
Blatt is granted the authority “to correct extraordinary circumstances.” In doing so, the WVBOE voids the authority of the Tyler County board in areas of finance, personnel, federal programs and other areas designated, she said.
The Tyler County board voted 3-2 in January to not renew the contract of its former superintendent, Shane Highley.
Board members voting in January not to renew Highley’s contract were Diane Stender, Larry Thomas and Andy Shreves, while Katrina Byers and board member Scott Strode voted to keep Highley.
Highley’s contract expires at the end of business on June 30. At that point, Blatt has the authority to appoint a new superintendent.
On May 5, the Tyler school board unanimously voted to promote human resources director Tricia Feldmeier to the position of superintendent, but that decision is now left to the state.
Blatt will also have the authority to transfer principals and staff from low performing schools to elsewhere in the county, according to the statement.
Tyler County board members will be able to conduct hearings regarding personnel matters, and the board must appoint a designee to report back to Blatt any decisions that are rendered. The board also will not be able to conduct real estate transactions .
The WVBOE also directs any future Tyler County superintendent, Blatt, and the Tyler County board to jointly develop a set of standards and strategic plans that must be successfully implemented in order for the board regain control of its school system, according to the statement.
In addition, the future Tyler County superintendent will have to provide reports back to the state board as requested.
Earlier in the meeting, Alexandra Criner, director of accountability for the West Virginia Department of Education, presented a special circumstance report regarding the Tyler County Board of Education.
She said the West Virginia Department of Education began conducting its investigation of Tyler County Schools on March 3. The work included on-site observations, interviews and reviews of pertinent records.
Criner added it has been confirmed that some allegations of board member misconduct are under investigation by other agencies with the jurisdiction over such matters “because they are beyond the scope of this process.”
She noted that during the investigation there was “considerable” support expressed for Highley during board meetings after his firing, with many calling for board member resignations. Her office then began to receive as many as 100 emails regarding issues in Tyler County.
Findings by her office related to board member effectiveness, board policies, the Open Governmental Meetings Act, student information, and knowledge of West Virginia Board of Education policies.
She reported that during the 2021-22 school year until the present, the county board members spent more than 30 hours in executive session discussing personnel matters, property matters and issues considered sensitive. There were 53 separate executive sessions during that time period, not including those to discuss superintendent evaluations or student expulsion hearings.
The numbers represent an overuse of executive session, according to Criner. There were also allegations the meetings were being used to discuss issues other than what was announced or listed on the agenda.
“Information discussed during executive sessions has allegedly been shared outside by the board, and superintendent on many occasions,” she said.
Only one member said the “welfare of”students” was the reason for their serving on the board of education, and none could articulate the overall purpose of the board, according to Criner.
At the start of the meeting,Tyler County Education Association President Kelly Myers addressed state board members, urging them to take action in Tyler County Schools. She said many employees fear retaliation by the board at this time, and that many employees already have quit to take jobs elsewhere.
The WVBOE also acted Wednesday to similarly take action against Nicholas County. The move called for the current superintendent and assistant superintendent there to be terminated. A circumstance review was also heard regarding Mingo County Schools, but no action was taken by the board on that report.
Berkeley County Schools were present, and were lauded for improving the overall environment at Martinsburg North Middle School.
The state board released Berkeley County Schools from its state of emergency status providing it agrees to maintain the protocols and practices necessary to support continued improvement at Martinsburg North Middle School.
Among the changes at the school was appointing Kevin PIttsnogle as principal.
“We are holding kids accountable, setting expectations and following through with those expectations,” PIttsnogle said. “With those things, we were able to establish a better culture.”