Fayette County Schools - Information Packet

FAYETTE COUNTY S C H O O L B O A R D R E Q U E S T

WHEN

WHY

FROM WHOM

INFORMATION

November 9th , 2015

Fayette County officials and representatives

Consider proposal .

To aid in decision making process for reconsideration .

304 254 - 8115 | lcgraning @ nrgrda . org

CALL FOR ACTION FAYETTE COUNTY REQUEST: School Building Authority reconsider CEFP amendment for Fayette County.

School Building Authority allow superintendent to present project for funding.

THESE REQUESTS ARE TO BE CONSIDERED AT THE NOVEMBER 9TH SBA MEETING.

FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

FACTS & HISTORY Fayette County has a complex and vast network of educational facilities. The information below summarizes some of the facts that contribute to its current situation.

POPULATION DECREASE Fayette County schools served a population of only 45,000 in 2012, compared with the 82,000 they served in 1950.

STATE MANAGED West Virginia State Board of Education has managed the operation of the Fayette County school system since 2009, when the OEPA declared the county a "state of emergency".

COAL SEVERANCE TAX Distributions have decreased from more than $1 million in 2012 to $407,329 in 2015.

HIGHEST TAX RATES IN STATE As a result of supporting school, law enforcement, library, and fire protection levies, Fayette County currently has the 3rd highest tax rates in West Virginia.

POVERTY 21.2% of Fayette County residents are at, or below, the poverty level. That's 3.3% more than the state average and 6.7% more than the national average.

DECREASING YOUTH POPULATION Fayette County's population under 18 years old has decreased from 36% in 2010 to 20.8% in 2014.

POTENTIAL SAVINGS Fayette County stands to save $1.2 million if the proposed consolidation plan is approved and funded.

FUNDING PRIORITY Per West Virginia state code 18-2E-5(o)(2) (E), Fayette County's identified need warrants priority status when it comes to funding requests.

AT RISK COMMUNITY Appalachian Regional Council recently downgraded Fayette County to "at risk" status.

COMMUNITY DEDICATION Since 2010, Fayette County residents have spent nearly 2,000 organized hours county wide working together to improve the conditions of their schools and school system.

current

CONDITIONS: COLLINS MIDDLE SCHOOL (PARTIALLY CONDEMNED, PARTIALLY STILL IN USE)

MEADOW BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL (2ND FLOOR CONDEMNED, OTHER AREAS STILL IN USE)

MOUNT HOPE ELEMENTARY (PARTIALLY CONDEMNED, PARTIALLY IN USE)

ANSTED MIDDLE (STILL IN USE)

CURRENTFAYETTECOUNTY SCHOOLLOCATIONS ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS( 10) HIGH SCHOOLS( 5) MIDDLESCHOOLS( 2) CONDEMNED PROPERTY ( 2)

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current

BUS ROUTES:

PROPOSED ROUTE - MEADOW BRIDGE HIGH SCHOOL TO OAK HILL: 63 80 **Students will have option to attend Greenbrier West or Summers County schools if that arrangement decreases their commute distance.

AVERAGE ROUTE FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS: 47 minutes AVERAGE ROUTE FOR MIDDLE & HIGH SCHOOLS: 67 minutes

WV State Board of Education – Fayette County School System Takeover Notes from state board minutes IV. Education Performance Audit Report for the Fayette County School District and Follow-up Review of Nuttall Middle School, Mount Hope High School, and Valley High School Dr. Kenna R. Seal (distributed information), Director, Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), reported that the OEPA conducted an unannounced on-site review of the Fayette County School District November 14-16, 2006. The WVBE reviewed the OEPA report at its January 10, 2007 meeting and declared that extraordinary circumstances existed and issued the county Nonapproval status. According to W. Va. Code §18-2E-5 the WVBE appointed an Improvement Consultant Team (ICT) to make recommendations for correcting the emergency and gave the county six (6) months to correct the deficiencies in the OEPA report.

A Follow-up Education Performance Audit Team returned to the Fayette County School System November 17-21, 2008 to determine if the school district and schools had followed the recommendations by the ICT and if the issues and deficiencies in the OEPA report had been corrected. A progress report was presented to the WVBE February 11, 2009. The WVBE upgraded Fayette County from Nonapproval status to Conditional Approval status and gave the county six months (an October 31, 2009 Date Certain) to eliminate the remaining noncompliances.

The OEPA returned to Fayette County during December 2009 to examine the noncompliances remaining from the February 2009 report to determine if the county had eliminated them.

Dr. Seal recommended that the Board issue Nonapproval status to the Fayette County School System, declare that a state of emergency exists in the school system, and pursuant to W. Va. Code 18-2E-5(p)(C), intervene immediately in the operation of the school system.

Mr. Chris Perkins, Superintendent, and Mr. Leon Ivey and Mr. Leon Newman, members of the Fayette County Board of Education, addressed the Board regarding the OEPA report.

Upon recommendation by Dr. Seal, Dr. Johnson moved, and Mrs. Cook seconded, that the Board accept the Education Performance Audit Report for the Fayette County School System. Upon the call for the question the motion carried with eight members voting yes and one member, Mr. Linger, voting no.

Superintendent Paine addressed the Board regarding the OEPA report and issued the following recommendations to the State Board as a result of the recommendations of the OEPA: 1)

that the State Board find, based on the report from the OEPA, that extraordinary circumstances exist in the Fayette County school system

2)

that the State Board assign nonapproval status to the Fayette County school system

3)

that the State Board declare that a state of emergency exists in the Fayette County school system based on the information presented in the OEPA report

4)

that the State Board find that the conditions precedent to State Board intervention in a county school system are present in this instance

5)

that the State Board find that it would not be in the best interests of the students of Fayette County to delay intervention for any period of time

6)

that the State Board limit the authority of the Fayette County Board of Education as to the expenditure of funds, the employment and dismissal of personnel, the establishment and operation of the school calendar, the establishment of instructional programs and rules and any other areas designated by the State Board by rule and delegate decision-making authority to the State Superintendent regarding these matters 7) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to conduct hearings on personnel matters and school closure or consolidation matters and subsequently to render the resulting decisions, and the authority to appoint a designee for the limited purpose of conducting hearings while reserving to the State Superintendent the authority to render the resulting decision 8) that the State Board limit the authority of the Fayette County Board of Education as to the ability to conduct real estate transactions and delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to act in lieu of the Fayette County Board of Education in a transfer, sale, purchase or other transaction regarding real estate 9) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to replace administrators and principals in low performing schools and to transfer them to alternate professional positions within the county at his discretion 10) that the State Board delegate to the State Superintendent the authority to fill positions of administrators and principals with individuals determined by the State Superintendent to be the most qualified for the positions 11) that the State Board declare the office of county superintendent of schools of Fayette County to be vacant as of February 22, 2010

WV State Board of Education – Fayette County School System Takeover Notes from state board minutes 12) that the State Board grant the State Superintendent the authority to hire a county superintendent to begin employment in Fayette County Schools on February 22, 2010 and set his/her salary 13) that the State Board direct the Fayette County Superintendent and the State Superintendent, after consultation with the Fayette County Board of Education, to jointly develop and present to the State Board at a future meeting a set of standards and/or a strategic plan that must be implemented in order for the Fayette County Board of Education to regain control of the school system 14) that the State Board direct the Fayette County Interim Superintendent and/or Superintendent to provide written and/or oral progress reports to the State Board as requested.

Upon motion by Dr. Johnson, seconded by Mr. Dunlevy, the Board unanimously approved the motions presented by Superintendent Paine. Superintendent Paine indicated that, effective February 22, 2010, Dwight D. Dials will become Superintendent of Fayette County Schools and David Roach will become Superintendent of Mingo County Schools; a Superintendent for Lincoln County Schools will be appointed prior to February 22, 2010. (Copy appended to Official Minutes, Attachment A and addenda.)

Mrs. Manchin departed the meeting.

PROJECT FINANCIAL BREAKDOWN

$6 MILLION BEING CONTRIBUTED BY FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD

$9-11 MILLION BEING CONTRIBUTED VIA A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT WITH MCLINEY & CO.

$40 MILLION REQUESTED FROM WEST VIRGINIA STATE SCHOOL BOARD AUTHORITY

$1,271,119 ANNUAL POTENTIAL SAVINGS ON UTILITIES AND MAINTENANCE REDUCTIONS. FINANCIAL FIGURES PROVIDED BY FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD PERSONNEL.

PAST FUNDING AWARDED TOTAL FUNDING SINCE AGENCY INCEPTION 1989-JANUARY 2015 CONSTRUCTION FUND COMMITMENTS AND ALLOCATIONS

FUNDS AWARDED WITHOUT LOCAL BONDS

$634.327 MILLION HAS BEEN AWARDED TO COUNTIES WHO DID NOT PASS BOND FINANCING SINCE 1989.

Source: http://www.sba.wv.gov/grantawards/Pages/FundingHistory.aspx

PROPOSAL November, 2015 A copy of this proposal is provided courtesy of the Fayette County School Board.

EXPRESSIONS OF SUPPORT PROVIDED

BY THE FAYETTE COUNTY COMMUNITY

LETTERS OF SUPPORT ATTACHED:

ADDITIONAL EXPRESSIONS INCLUDED IN SUPPLEMENTING DOCUMENT:

SENATE PRESIDENT WILLIAM COLE FAYETTE COUNTY PETITION OAK HILL CITY COUNCIL WEST VIRGINIA HOUSE DELEGATES STRONG MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES WEST VIRGINIA HEALTHY FAMILY AND KIDS COALITION CAEZ (CENTRAL APPALACHIAN EMPOWERMENT ZONE) FAYETTE COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE CITY OF MOUNT HOPE NEW RIVER GORGE REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY LOCAL IMPROVEMENT COUNCIL FAYETTE COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR PROSECUTING ATTORNEY - LARRY HARRAH FAYETTE COUNTY ASSESSOR FAYETTE COUNTY CLERK FAYETTE COUNTY CLERK OF COURT SHERIFF & TREASURER OF FAYETTE COUNTY

FUSE (FAYETTE UNITED FOR SAFE EDUCATION) PETITION COMMUNICATIONS/FEEDBACK AS RECEIVED BY THE FAYETTE COUNTY COMMISSION

ADDITIONAL LETTERS OF SUPPORT INCLUDED IN SUPPLEMENTING DOCUMENT:

STRONG MOUNTAIN COMMUNITIES, INC 1114 Quarier Street, 3rd Floor Charleston, WV 25301

October 25, 2015 Members of the State School Building Authority, On behalf of the Strong Mountain Communities Board of Directors, I am herby asking that the State SBA give consideration to the funding request for Fayette County’s Amended CEFP plan and provide funding for the new school construction.

The situation in those school facilities is deplorable and is clearly an environment totally non-conducive to delivering a good education.

It is the purpose of Strong Mountain Communities to work toward an improved economy in southern West Virginia. Clearly we count as most significant the youth we will depend upon to rebuild the economy which has been so decimated by the decline of the coal industry. Without an adequate education these youth in Fayette County have no chance to be competitive in a global economy. The challenge to educate these children is greatly hampered by inadequate facilities, certainly those that exist in Fayette County.

Your support is needed if these youth, our future, are to have any real opportunities once they are expected to become responsible adults.

Sincerely,

Matthew D. Wender President

October 26, 2015

Dear Members of the State School Building Authority:

It is my privilege to write this letter in support of investment in a new high school in Fayette County. Such an investment could transform the environment for Fayette County kids who want to learn.

Our organization, the WV Healthy Kids and Families Coalition, is interested in ending child poverty in the state.

Improving schools is one of the best ways to fight poverty. By building a new state‐of‐the‐art high school, Fayette County would create a true rising tide that lifts all boats. A new, consolidated high school would create a cascade where students across the county could move out of older, broken buildings into newer buildings. The result is that students at almost every level would move into better facilities.

Just as important, this building would provide a first crucial step out of the 6‐year struggle that has entangled the county and its families.

Sincerely,

Stephen Smith Director, WVHKFC

11/02/2015

Dear Governor Tomblin and members of the School Building Authority, As Executive Director of the New River Gorge Regional Development Authority I am acutely aware of the significant challenges my region faces in developing a strong economy and workforce. In Fayette County we are faced with a particular challenge that is beyond the ability of my office to resolve.

I implore you to do everything in your power to see that the Fayette County Schools CEFP amendment is accepted and that the School Building Authority request for funding is granted so that we can see the kind of regional economic growth that is impossible with a poor public education system. This issue effects our ability to retain residents and attract new residents, expand local businesses and attract or grow entrepreneurs, and seriously undermines our ability to develop a qualified workforce that has the skills to compete in our changing economy.

While the economic challenges facing Southern West Virginia are many, I believe it is well within our ability to solve the particular issues in the public education system of Fayette County and provide hope for the future. With your help Fayette County can reach its full economic potential and provide our region with a strong local economy.

Sincerely,

Chadwick Wykle Executive Director New River Gorge Regional Development Authority

116 North Heber Street, Suite B, Beckley, WV 25801 (304) 254-8115 ď Ź info@nrgrda.org

Martirano gets his hands dirty at Fayette schools; vows to work for better environments

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Saturday, October 31, 2015 3:00 am ANSTED — Cooks at Ansted Elementary were covering their utensils and equipment with plastic wrap when West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Martirano visited Friday. They must do this because coal dust from the coal­fired boiler in the next room covers the kitchen with a layer of dust overnight, they explained.

In an emotional visit, Martirano promised the cooks he would continue to fight for better working conditions.

Cafeteria Manager Theresa Mullins quickly responded that she and the other cooks can handle it, but the kids deserve better.

Custodian Beverly Cole shovels 13 buckets of coal each morning to fill the 50­plus year­old boiler's automated chute, and estimates she shovels another 18 buckets over the course of the day.

At Ansted Middle School, Martirano put on work boots before heading down to the school's deteriorated locker room and furnace room, which smell overwhelmingly of mildew, mold and decay.

The superintendent was shocked to discover students still use the locker room before football games.

Outside, power to the school's main breaker is run inside a conduit along the top of the ground, an emergency fix that allowed the students to only miss half a day of school this fall, said Director of Operations David Keffer.

Martirano gets his hands dirty at Fayette schools; vows to work for better environments Sarah Plummer/ The Register­ HeraldAnsted Elementary Custodian Beverly Cole, right, gives State Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano a taste of how she keeps the more than 50 year­old boiler stoked with coal. Next to the boiler room, cooks must cover their appliances with plastic wrap each day to keep coal dust from settling on their clean surfaces over night.

Eventually the power company will bury the line.

"This just breaks my heart. We have to do better than this. It is hard to believe in 2015 in America we still have facilities like this," he said.

Of the 46 counties he has visited across West Virginia, Fayette County's schools, collectively, are the worst he has seen, said the superintendent.

"This is the fourth time I have visited Fayette County and the first time visiting these schools. The conditions are not what I would expect young people to be educated in and for teachers and staff to be working in," he said. "Cafeteria staff who have to wrap their appliances to avoid coal dust getting in is something I have never seen. It presents a whole new set of challenges in terms of health, in terms of safety, and in terms of conditions to educate kids. I've never seen anything like this."

In just more than a week, the State School Building Authority will reconsider Fayette County's amendment to the county facilities plan. If approved this time, Fayette, alongside other counties, will vie for a portion of a $50 million pot for school construction and upgrades across the state.

Despite the 11­member School Building Authority board rejecting the amendment at its September meeting, Martirano said his position on Fayette Superintendent Terry George's plan for a consolidated high school and community K­8 schools is firm.

"As State Superintendent, I am a member of the SBA, and I have been very clear about my vote on this, and I will continue to vote to support the efforts of Fayette County," he said.

But even if the proposal for a large consolidated high school is funded, Martirano said there are still immediate concerns for crumbling facilities.

"If things move forward and a project is approved, that is a very positive approach. That means there is long­term relief in sight, but that does not necessarily address the short term, and we have to continue to do everything we can to keep things together," he explained. "Equipment past its life expectancy, mold and mildew, water leakage. temporary electrical systems — those things can fail, and how do we respond to that? We still have to address the immediacy of the system failures.

— Email: splummer@register­herald.com

Senate leader to 'go to work' on Fayette County Schools

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Thursday, October 22, 2015 3:00 am OAK HILL — West Virginia Senate President Bill Cole was prepared to discuss the economy, drug addiction, workforce, the coal industry and other statewide concerns Wednesday during a visit to Oak Hill. Local elected officials and community leaders, however, kept the discussion centered on the Fayette County School crisis.

Cole, who visited Collins Middle School, said he was surprised at how quickly the School Building Authority of West Virginia dismissed Fayette County and said he would look into the “nonsense that went on there.”

Senate leader to 'go to work' on Fayette County Schools Sarah Plummer/The Register­HeraldSenate President Bill Cole, R­Mercer, speaks to school officials, legislators and concerned parents about the problems that plague the Fayette County Schools.

“From the outside looking in, it seemed like, ‘No one can get together.’ Some are for consolidation and some aren’t,” he said. “I was encouraged to find out there is a lot of local support for coming up with a solution” Cole is also an announced candidate for the governor’s race in 2016.

“I believe the legal action (against the School Building Authority) was warranted. Fayette is a takeover county, and we are supposed to go up the priority list, yet we aren’t even considered,” he said.

Commissioner Matt Wender said if the lawsuit is successful, all it will do is place Fayette County on equal footing going before the School Building Authority (SBA) to ask for funding for projects.

“It by no means guarantees how these 11 individuals will vote, but we need that school. Unless we educate these kids, we will continue to see declining population. It is the linchpin in the future of our county,” he said.

Wender asked for Cole to speak with individuals on the SBA board to let them know that most of the citizens in Fayette County support Fayette Superintendent Terry George’s amendment to the county facilities plan.

He also asked them to let those members and the governor know that while Fayette County did not pass a bond, Fayette has the highest tax rate in the state of West Virginia. He said the county has passed a 100 percent school excess levy for 50 years and a 100 percent fire, law enforcement and library levy for 35 years.

“We are disappointed our bond failed, but nonetheless, that should never be taken as our commitment to education. I hope you will set that straight,” he said, as the 30 citizens in attendance burst into applause.

Delegate David Perry, D­Fayette, stressed that the SBA had never before rejected a county’s facility plan from a consent agenda. He also said that, even if funded, students in Fayette County will need help during the years it will take to build a new school and renovate others.

“It’s unconscionable what’s happening to this group of students in Fayette County,” he said. “Over at least a minimum of three years, the educational and emotional needs of the student population has to be considered by the State Department of Education.”

Fayette Board of Education member Leon Ivey asked Cole if he would push for legislation to fully fund education and help fix Fayette County Schools.

“If we don’t so something soon with the school system, we don’t have to worry about businesses and a workforce. We’ll be worried about more drug treatment centers,” he said.

Cole said that although he is directly under the governor, the Legislature can do very little to address the situation because all laws, emergency funding and dips into the state’s $850 million Rainy Day Fund are approved or initiated by the governor himself.

“Well, it’s raining inside our schools and we need help,” said Delegate Kayla Kessinger, R­Fayette.

“We Fayette Countians are pretty upset right now. We were told we weren’t competent enough to manage our school system, but the State of West Virginia has had control over our board for five years.”

Jennifer Bunner explained that if her car breaks down, she uses her credit or her savings to repair it so that she can continue to get to work.

“If the state must tap their savings or use their credit to fix our schools so our children can go to school, then we have to, but we have to act now,” she said.

“I will go to work and communicate with all these people,” concluded Cole. “I’ll do that because it’s the right thing to do.”

— Email: splummer@ register­herald.com;

Kessler tours 'deplorable' conditions

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Wednesday, October 21, 2015 3:01 am Standing water, crumbling walls, coal dust covered surfaces and caving in foundations were some of the images Senate Majority Leader and Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jeff Kessler took home with him Tuesday after visiting eight school across Fayette County.

“Facilities are being kept together with duct tape,” said Kessler. “The School of Hard Knocks is one thing, but this is something else. We have to do better for our children.”

Kessler tours 'deplorable' conditions

“We have a constitutional duty to provide a thorough and efficient education for our children. These conditions reflect the loggerhead that has happened between the State Board of Education and the School Building Authority (SBA),” he said.

Rick Barbero/The Register­Herald Parents Crystal Farley, left and Stephanie Thomas, hold up signs during West Virginia Senate Minority Leader Jeff Kessler's visit at Collins Middle School Tuesday morning.

In September the School Building Authority’s 11­ member board rejected an amendment to the Fayette County Comprehensive Facilities Plan which proposes community K­8 schools and a new consolidated high school. Under this plan, students would be moved out of the facilities in the worst conditions.

Kessler at Collins Middle School

The SBA rejected the amendment before Fayette was able to submit its detailed application for funding, which offers an $11 million local match through lease­purchase agreements to go toward a $53 million school, which would have likely been funded over three years.

The State Board of Education had approved the amendment, leaving Fayette County with an amended facilities plan which cannot be funded.

Fayette Superintendent Terry George said all he asks for is the “reasonable expectation to at least be considered for funding.”

“The SBA is punishing the citizens of Fayette County for not passing a bond and are unwilling to accept creative finance options,” said George. “The constitution required me to develop a plan to correct these issues and provide better education for students, and that’s what I did.”

Gov. Early Ray Tomblin, who appoints members to both boards and has authority over them, has refused to call a special meeting of the School Building Authority to reconsider the amendment.

“The two executive government agencies are not looking for a solution to provide facility repair and replacement for the kids of Fayette County so they have an opportunity to learn. I’d hope the governor would use his executive power to get both boards in a room and say, “Find a solution that helps the kids.’”

Kessler said he believes Fayette County needs immediate attention. If if a new project were funded immediately, it would still take three years for it to be constructed.

“Even if they went ahead and funded it today, you would still have students losing two to four years of valuable educational opportunities because they are being crammed into facilities and sixth­ graders are attending high schools. They are getting by the best they can, but it is clearly not an ideal

setting for many of these kids to learn,” Kessler said.

West Virginia Deputy Superintendent Cindy Daniel also went on on the tour Tuesday alongside Sen. Bill Laird and Delegate David Perry, both D­Fayette, school officials and parents.

For Daniel and many of the visitors it was an eye­opening and emotional day.

“It’s very emotional. It’s unbelievable to me as a educator, as a parent and as a human being that we have conditions so deplorable in this state. Without a doubt, these are some of the worst conditions in the state. In 32 years of working in education, I have never seen conditions like I have seen today,” said Daniel. “It is a crisis. We don’t have one minute to spare to correct the deficiencies of Fayette County Schools.”

Many of those who toured the schools Tuesday took away the realization that the facility problems are county­wide.

Daniel said she and State Superintendent Dr. Michael Martirano fully support the plan set forth by George.

“My hope and prayer is that people will come together to understand the dire needs of this county, and we will all work together to make sure these students have the same educational opportunities as other students across the state,” she added.

Schools Kessler visited Tuesday were Collins Middle, Oak Hill High, Fayetteville High, Fayetteville Elementary, Ansted Middle, Ansted Elementary, Meadow Bridge High and Mount Hope Elementary.

Fayette County Schools has been under state control since 2010.

— Email: splummer@ register­herald.com; follow on Twitter @Sarah_E_Plummer

Classes canceled for Collins Middle fifth and sixth grade while plumbing assessed

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Friday, October 2, 2015 9:15 pm Fifth and sixth grade classes at Collins Middle School are canceled Monday due to plumbing problems, said Fayette Superintendent Terry George.

George said there appears to be a blockage or a crushed main sewer line running to the school, and sewage is backing up in the gymnasium that was condemned last winter.

School maintenance staff have been working to assess the issue, and the City of Oak Hill will bring a camera to look into the pipe Monday.

“We hope to be able to pinpoint where the problem is, and if it is a crimped line we can begin excavating and making that repair,” he said.

Director of Operations David Keffer confirmed this is not the same line that caused issues last year.

Last winter students in the fifth and sixth grade building shared one restroom while extensive repair work was done under the floor inside the school.

This blockage or crimped line is a main sewage line outside the building, he said.

George said he won’t know if school will need to be canceled Tuesday until the problem is assessed Monday.

— Email: splummer@ register­herald.com; follow on Twitter @Sarah_E_Plummer

BOE: 'Nightmare' not over for CMS

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Tuesday, October 6, 2015 3:00 am FAYETTEVILLE — With just two members of the public signed up to speak, Monday’s meeting of the Fayette County Board of Education was subdued.

Parent Chris Robinson said he decided to sign up to speak because “too many people are being quiet.”

Responding to State Board of Education and School Building Authority board member Tom Campbell’s call to reopen condemned schools and parts of schools before working on a longterm plan, Robinson said his kids will not go back into condemned buildings.

“A structural engineer, not a man who walked off the street, closed those buildings. And I don’t think my kids should be in a building that has condemned buildings around them,” he said.

While board members were glad Collins fifth and sixth graders would return to class Tuesday after repairs to a sewer main, they said problems are ongoing for those students.

“I was crawling the wall,” said Bush. “The fifth and sixth graders are put in a very difficult situation.

There is no other place to go.”

Seventh and eight graders from the school have been displaced to area high schools after the main building on campus was condemned last winter.

“The nightmare for CMS students is not over,” added board member Leon Ivey.

José Lorenzo Hunter, a 2014 Midland Trail graduate, said he was disappointed in the education he received.

“I believe I was not fully prepared, and I believe there are hundreds, thousands and millions of students who don’t know what they are signing themselves into,” he said.

He asked the board to hear what young students have to say about their education.

Fayette Prosecutor and county attorney Larry Harrah informed the Fayette County Board of Education about pending legal action against the West Virginia School Building Authority.

The Fayette County Commission voted Monday to retain Mountain State Justice law firm to represent them and other interested parties.

Fayette Board President Steve Bush thanked Harrah for his work.

“You have always been an advocate for children and the citizens of Fayette County. I’m so grateful,” he said.

All board members said they would like to see more parents attend meetings and show support for the county’s children. Last night around 30 were in attendance.

• • • Board Member Patsy Holliday said she hopes to create a fundraiser to help raise money for seniors who cannot afford class rings, senior pictures or yearbooks.

She also noted Fayetteville Baptist Church works to put together “snack packs” for students to take home Friday to ensure they have access to nutrition at home. She said donations or help with this project would be appreciated.

The church can be reached at 304­574­1074.

— E­mail: splummer@ register­herald.com; follow on Twitter @Sarah_E_Plummer

State Board of Ed approves two­high school plan for Fayette

By Sarah Plummer REGISTER­HERALD REPORTER | Posted: Thursday, September 10, 2015 3:00 am CHARLESTON — The State Board of Education approved Fayette Superintendent Terry George's plan Wednesday to realign the school district with a 6­3 vote after nearly two hours of discussion and much disagreement.

Those who voted against the plan were board members William White, Beverly Kingery and Thomas Campbell.

George's plan will consolidate Oak Hill, Fayetteville, Midland Trail and Meadow Bridge into one large $53 million to $58 million high school near the existing Oak Hill High School.

This will create a four­school complex in Oak Hill that houses 3,000, including New River Elementary and the Fayette Institute of Technology.

The large consolidated high school is expected house 1,500 to 1,600 students.

Collins Middle School will then move into the existing Oak Hill High School building and the district will pursue funding to replace Mount Hope Elementary. With the exception of Collins, because of its size, other schools in the area will be reconfigured into PreK­8 schools.

Montgomery area schools will not be reconfigured.

The plan is expected to sustain the school district for the next 20 to 25 years, said George.

Approving the plan was not an easy decision for the board. At one time, three open motions were on the table, including a one to postpone the decision for two weeks and remove Meadow Bridge from the consolidation plan.

Making a motion to approve the plan straight away, Board Member Gayle Manchin said the state can't continue to think about county lines as dividing lines.

"We have to get away from this idea that county lines are barriers or walls against each other. It is unfortunate that our population is shifting and we are losing population, but we have to think — not about protecting one spot — but building the best educational system possible," said Manchin.

The merger of Meadow Bridge High was, for the most part, the only point of contention among the board members.

Board Member William White said he and other board members get e­mails constantly from Fayette

County.

"We need to step back and make sure we are doing what is best for all the kids. Consolidation is not always the answer. It concerns me you want all or nothing," he said.

"I know after spending two months in Fayette County that many communities want to protect their areas," said George. "I respect that, but it is not about what we want. It is what we can financially sustain."

Board Member James Wilson said he experienced consolidation in his county, and while the students have been fine with it, parents are still fighting decades later. He shamed the county for not making tough decisions themselves.

"Nobody on this board wants to make this decision, I can guarantee you that. You forfeited the right to do that by not getting together many years ago. We are going to take a vote today and none of us are going to feel good about it. I wish it hadn't gotten this far," he said.

Board President Michael Green said most of the discussion has centered on facilities and transportation issues.

"I only hope and pray the community will come together and put the same amount of passion into the student achievement portion of this as they did the facilities portion," he stated.

"They are not two unrelated parts," responded George. "They work together, but right now citizens have tremendous concerns about students being safe at school. There has not been an emphasis on student achievement in the last five years."

Wilson asked George about his reasons for closing Meadow Bridge High.

In addition to the second story being deemed unsuitable for occupation, he said the oldest portion of the complex has a coal­fired boiler and the upper story, as well as where the boiler is kept, have significant water damage.

Board member Beverly Kingery asked about putting a consolidated school near Midland Trail High, which would shorten bus rides for outlying students.

George said the county already owns property at Oak Hill and the district would need to construct wastewater treatment facilities at the Hico location, which would be a significant cost.

George and White debated academic performance at Meadow Bridge. George said state data indicate the school is doing poorly, while White said he has seen reports showing students are excelling.

Board Member Thomas Campbell made a motion to remove Meadow Bridge from the plan, but George pointed out he would have to bring a completely different plan back to the board for its approval to amend the district's comprehensive educational facilities plan.

He would then be unable to meet an Oct. 1 deadline to apply for this year's School Building Authority funding, pushing construction back an entire year.

Board Member James Wilson made a motion to postpone their decision for two weeks, at which time George would need to bring two amendments for the board to consider, one with Meadow Bridge consolidated and one without.

Several board members said they felt pressure to act in haste because of the impending deadline for state funds.

Linger said he believes the county "purposely engineered" a timeline that would put added pressure on the board.

"Shame on you, Fayette County, for putting us in this position," added Wilson.

When asked why the school district is in such dire straits, George stated it has been due to "deferred maintenance" and finances strained by keeping 18 schools open and staffed.

Fayette County has been under state control since 2010 and has not passed a bond since 1973.

Attempts to pass a bond failed in 2001, 2009 and June 2015.

• • • Fayette County will apply for School Building Authority funds, which will be allocated in December.

If funding is awarded, George said construction should begin by September 2016 and the school should open by fall 2018.

— E­mail: splummer@register­herald.com; follow on Twitter @Sarah_E_Plummer

Collins Middle School parents remained concerned after open house

By Wendy Holdren Register­Herald Reporter | Posted: Tuesday, August 4, 2015 3:01 am The beginning of a new school year is usually an exciting time, filled with new class schedules, new teachers and the familiar faces of friends.

But for students at Collins Middle School, the beginning of the 2015 school year is “chaotic,” “hectic” and “disappointing.”

Students did not receive class schedules or homeroom teacher assignments at an open house session Monday evening, and several displaced students said they are disappointed all their friends won’t be at one school this year.

After a number of failing facility issues were discovered last year, half of the school’s students were displaced in January to Oak Hill and Fayetteville high schools.

Collins Middle School parents remained concerned after open house Chris Jackson/The Register­HeraldCarrie Gravley with her son Caleb, who will be going into 5th grade at Collins Middle School, outside of the school following an open house on Monday in Oak Hill.

Students who remained at Collins were left without a gym, a band room, a cafeteria and a place for specialized classes that were normally taught in the main building.

Few solutions were found since then; this year, Collins’ eighth graders will be placed at Fayetteville High School and seventh graders will attend school at Oak Hill High.

Several parents who attended Monday’s open house confirmed an old shop building was converted for use as a combined cafeteria and gym.

“As a parent, I’m scared to death,” said Carrie Gravley, whose son Caleb will be entering 5th grade when school begins Aug. 13.

She described the situation as chaotic, especially for her son, who is diagnosed with ADHD. “It’s hard for special needs students. The staff are doing what they can, but I would like to see something more stable.”

Gravley has even considered alternate solutions, such as enrolling her son in Nicholas County

Schools, the county where she and her husband work, or even taking a financial hit to send her son to private school.

Jeremiah Light, who was a sixth grader at Collins last year, said when the school was condemned, he missed the seventh and eighth grade friends he made while playing football.

This year, Jeremiah will be at Oak Hill High School along with his seventh grade classmates.

“I’m pretty upset,” he said.

His mother, Sharon Light, said she is disappointed about the state of the Fayette County School system.

She said she’s considering home school for Jeremiah and her daughter Sarah because she is concerned about the type of education her kids will receive at Collins, a school currently with 11 vacant teaching positions.

Some parents, like Christa Hodges, are considering supplemental educational tools for their children, such as Jump Start programs, to ensure they’re progressing as they should be.

But for other parents, supplemental programs, home schooling and private schools just aren’t financially feasible.

Michelle, a single mother of four students in Fayette County schools, said those just aren’t options for her family.

“It’s kind of sad,” she said as she looked up at the building surrounded by orange construction tape.

“This is where I went to school.”

Her daughter, Kaylan, was an eighth grader last year who was displaced to Fayetteville High School, but she said it felt “more like prison than school,” as the students were forced to use former storage spaces for classrooms.

Michelle said she hopes new Superintendent Terry George can get the school back on track and bring all the kids back under one roof.

Courtney Vargo, the mother of an upcoming fifth grader, shares that hope as well.

“My son is coming from New River Elementary. He’s leaving a brand new, gorgeous building, going to a building surrounded by orange tape.”

Vargo commended the teachers who have remained at Collins for sticking around, but she, too, shared concerns about the more than 40 vacancies in the county, as well as the remaining facility issues.

“My son is a kid who loves school. He thrives on learning... It’s hard to explain to a 10­year­old that

you’re important and you’re valued when you can’t build them a new facility.”

— E­mail: wholdren@register­herald.com and follow on Twitter @WendyHoldren

NUMEROUS ACTION GROUPS HAVE BEEN FORMED TO EFFICIENTLY USE THE SUPPORT OF PARENTS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS .

FAYETTE

COUNTY THE ALMOST 2 , 000 ORGANIZED HOURS FAYETTE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE PUT IN TO IMPROVE THEIR SCHOOLS IS A TESTIMENT TO THIER DEDICATION .

SINCE 2010 , FAYETTE COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE BEEN ORGANIZING AND WORKING TO IMPROVE THE CONDITION OF THEIR SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL SYSTEM

FAYETTE COUNTY SCHOOL BOARD MEMBERS WORK TO ENGAGE THEIR COMMUNITY MEMBERS AT EVERY STAGE .

UNITED