State BOE Declares ‘State of Emergency’
By ANTHONY GAYNOR, Staff WriterArticle Photos
The West Virginia State Board of Education has placed Randolph County Schools in non-approval status and has declared a state of emergency in the school system. The decision stems from the findings in the West Virginia Office of Education Performance Audits progress report for Randolph County Schools.
"I believe when I read the report you did not take the first audit seriously," Elkins resident and state board member Jenny Phillips said during the state board meeting Wednesday in Charleston. "There was intimidation and political pressure used to discredit the auditors and the audit."
During the meeting, WVOEPA Director Dr. Kenna Seal gave an overview of the progress report and talked with the state board about the findings. The WVOEPA originally conducted an Education Performance Audit of Randolph County Schools in February. The state board reviewed the report in May and directed Randolph County Schools to submit a plan of correction for the areas identified. WVOEPA later conducted a follow-up audit to check on the progress of the system.
"The Randolph County School System has made limited progress since the last onsite review," Seal told the state board. "Newly emerging non-compliance in personnel and finance, coupled with many lingering issues, point to the conclusion that the system does not currently have the capacity to correct their deficiencies and provide a thorough and efficient school system. It is recommended that the school system be placed on non-approval status for extraordinary circumstances and a state of emergency be declared in the school system.
"This will trigger a team of improvement consultants to make recommendations to the West Virginia Board of Education within 60 days to correct the deficiencies," Seal said. "The county would then be given six months to make progress in correcting the deficiencies before intervention would be considered."
Seal described the findings in the progress report as "serious issues." He said the local school system's graduation rates met state standards, but had a downward trend. He also cited the lack of Advanced Placement Classes at the outlying high schools of Pickens, Harman and Tygarts Valley. However, he noted the classes are being offered at the schools through virtual school and that no student at those schools is enrolled in the classes. He said neither of the issues were noted in the local school system's five-year strategic plan.
"We had an analysis of the five-year plan," Seal said. "They have submitted revisions in their plan that address some of the issues, but there are more issues that need addressed."
Seal said several problems in finance, personnel and facilities still needed corrections and the audit team found numerous new non-compliances.
"We noted some progress, but there are still a lot of needs in the county," Seal said. "The facilities are not a major issue with us in Randolph County."
Seal said several issues relating to personnel had been corrected while new issues continued to rise.
"We credited them for trying, but there is a lack of knowledge," Seal said.
Seal said evaluations for personnel were not being conducted in accordance to state code and errors continue to be made in the hiring process.
"We think the school system has made limited progress," Seal said.
State board member Lowell Johnson asked Seal if most of the problems were at the county level.
"That is our thought about it," Seal said. "We feel the schools could be given a better support system. Most of the problems could be fixed by developing leadership."
Johnson said from reading the report it seemed the local board president, Ed Tyre, was trying to rule the school system.
Seal said the WVOEPA progress report cited Tyre for micromanaging.
"In defense of the board president, sometimes when there is a lack of leadership someone has to step up," Phillips said. "I think Mr. Tyre has stepped up."
Board member Priscilla Haden asked how many counties did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).
West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Dr. Steven Paine said 51 counties did not meet AYP; however, those scores are not the issue in Randolph County.
"We gave them a 90-day period to correct the problems from the first audit," Johnson said. "I do not see anything that substantially improved. I support the concept of non-approval."
Johnson made a motion to accept Seal's recommendation and the motion was seconded by Phillips. The state board unanimously voted to issue the non-approval status and declare a state of emergency.
Following the decision, Randolph County Superintendent Sue Hinzman, Assistant Superintendent for Secondary Education Terry George, Assistant Superintendent of Elementary Education Pam Hewitt, Superintendent Secretary Donna Auvil, local board member Lisa Wamsley, Elkins Middle School Principal David Roth and Randolph County Technical Center Principal Don Johnson immediately left the meeting.
Board member Bruce Haddix said the decision does not address the needs of the school system.
"Randolph County is doing a good job of educating the students," Haddix said.
Phillips said the improvement team will help correct a lot of the problems.
"We have great teachers and they do a great job of educating students," Phillips said. "What seems to be messed up is the board office."
According to Phillips, the state board does not often declare a state of emergency. The last time one was issued was in Fayette County in 2007. The team came back with a three-page plan on how to correct issues and the county complied.
Tyre said the local board will work with the state to "do what they want us to do."
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ELKINSLOL
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12-12-08 10:24 AM
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To quote a1educator “can you say CONSOLICATION?” No, but i can say consolidation...If you cannot effectively run your organization with the amount of money given to you. Then step aside or be moved aside and let someone who can do it. This is the hallmark principal of business management. All government organizations are businesses; albeit, the "profits" are much more valuable than money. Maybe, you and the people who say "we just cant do it" are the problem. Fedup said it correctly, I will not invest in a dying business, I'll just take my business elsewhere. is the key
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a1educator
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12-12-08 9:55 AM
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I also have two children. One in high school and one who graduated and went on to college on a scholarship where she is still excelling. For all you naysayers who think that the state taking over is going to be such a delight, can you say CONSOLICATION? That is exactly what is going to have to happen because we only have so much money to work with. Do you ever think that people will complain if there is a delay or there isn't one? The Road Dept. says whether or not the roads are safe. If you voted NO for the levy then you are part of the problem, not part of the solution. Better do some more thinking if you believe this isn't politically motivated. Stand up and support our county!
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fedupas1canbe
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12-12-08 9:44 AM
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I am sick and tired of people saying dont be negitive. Ok I know what the facts are, bottom line, if they were doing such a wonderful job the state wouldnt have declared an emergency. NO I VOTED NO FOR THE LEVY I wasnt about to give them more money to mismanage. And i agree about the weather this morning, what are they doing in that office? TIME TO CLEAN HOUSE or at least an office or two
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ELKINSLOL
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12-12-08 9:36 AM
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No A1, I do not I do not believe this is all politics. I do however believe that this is the result of poor decisions made by an under qualified staff that believe nothing is their fault. Keep blaming everyone else and it will be alright as long as you’re on the payroll. I have a child in the Randolph County School system and I am personally amazed at the lack of organization, communication, and quality of education he receives. Thank god I can teach him what he should get out of his courses. Also, please explain to me why our children were subjected to treacherous roadways this morning when the counties around us canceled schools and RCBOE didn’t even have the common decency to have at least a two hour delay?? Are they so far behind that they would risk our children’s lives, or is just another faulty decision made by our educators?? Are the office trailers were our children are educated warm?? I bet the BOE offices have very little deficiencies.
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a1educator
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12-12-08 9:13 AM
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I wonder how many of you posting negative comments voted for the levy. How are we to expect the BOE to bring facilities up to par when there is no money?? I graduated from Tygarts Valley went to an exclusive private college and had no problems. In fact, I was on the President's list every time. So maybe instead of focusing your lack of educational skills on the Board, maybe you should take credit for your own shortcomings. I think that instead of being critical, we should be supportive and excited to have a Randolph County native as our superintendent. As for our Board members, we elected them so if the state takes over, don't you think that says something for our citizens? Are we too stupid to even elect officials? Miss Hinzman has always had an open door policy, done what is best for our students, and worked hard to make Randolph County Schools excel in every position she has held. Does anyone out there not believe that this is all politics? Get real!
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audyhaze
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12-11-08 8:57 PM
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What are we saying here today? What is the message the BOE has received? I think its loud and clear! Right now its a clear field of candidates that can fullfill these positions. I would start advertising or fill within the County 1st, Adjoining 2nd, State 3rd, Nation last! Coach Smith, your post is on target! Next is also well said about the lockdown and kids come home and tell it but its par for the course. We have a bunch of ignorant,flippent,educators in the County! I graduated from the county and can tell you that when I went to college I had to take "bone head" courses to just come up to par. English Zero! Not a credit either! What a bunch of idiots we all are allowing BOE to relagate us even further down into the ditch! The head of the BOE should be made to serve time at Alderson!
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CoachSmith
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12-11-08 7:19 PM
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I can count on one hand, the number of teachers that have gone on to become good adminstrators. We have several former teachers in the Board Office that have proven their ineptness as administrators. If the State of West Virginia and the State BOE wants to do everyone a favor, require that Superintendents have backgrounds in Business or Management. Let the assistants to the Superintendent have backgrounds in education. It will work much better than our current system. As far as the RC BOE, if a teacher were to exhibit their behavior at a meeting at the BOE, they would be reprimanded or lose their job. Most prudent adults would recognize their failures and step aside to allow more competent people to run the school system. Perhaps arrogance will not allow that to happen. How said for our teachers and children. By the way, my comments about teachers making poor adminstrators applies to principals as well.
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gail5601
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12-11-08 6:47 PM
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I have a daughter at Elkins Middle school and when she came home on wednesday she told me about the lock down . I think the school should let the parents know about it. I wonder if there was a shooting, if would they even let the parents know.
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audyhaze
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12-11-08 4:44 PM
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Now that the jury has spoken, its time to clean out this nest of idiots and naysayers! The County of Randolph is full of these types. The Assessor's office is another! The Sheriff and Assessor's office are both the same and in cahoots with each other. Getting back to BOE, clean this mess up and get rid of them all like I wrote before. More emphasis was placed on pay increases than shaping up. The pay increases can come from Randolph BOE management. If you eliminate these do nothings, contract it out and give the money saved to the system to be used wisely. The current BOE managers should be fired and pensions denied! Like Virginia states below, how embarrassing to the residents and students and teachers to have a bunch of losers for leadership.
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Virginia
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12-11-08 3:09 PM
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How embarrassing for residents of the County and the students!
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