Tag: Gilmer County Schools

Tomblin Approves Two Minor Education Bills

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed two education bills Thursday, one meant to give some teachers a pay raise and another to put some restrictions on the state…

Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin signed two education bills Thursday, one meant to give some teachers a pay raise and another to put some restrictions on the state Board of Education when they take over a county school system.

House Bill 2381 gives pay raises to about 135 teachers across West Virginia. The bill affects educators who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, a rigorous national training program.

Those teachers must also teach at a low-performing school in West Virginia and serve as mentors for fellow educators.

The bill gives the small group of teachers a one-time $2,000 pay raise beginning in July of this year. When fully implemented, the raises will cost the state about $272,000.

Tomblin also signed House Bill 2140 which is specific to take over counties, or county school systems in which the state Board of Education intervenes because of low student performance, poor finances, or a variety of other deficiencies.

The bill requires any county board of education taken over by the state establish goals and an action plan to improve performance within five years, subject to the state Board of Education’s approval.  

The state Office of Education and Performance Audits is required under the bill to review the county board’s progress each year and report back to the state Board. After five years, the state must hold a public hearing on the county’s progress and if they remain in the county, must hold a public hearing every three years.

“Much of the work laid out in HB 2140 is occurring at some level,” West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michael Martirano said in a written statement. “We look forward to continuing the progress. Ultimately, the students of intervention counties are the benefactors.” 

Currently, the state Board of Education is in full control of Fayette County Schools, which it took over in February 2010. The state has also been in control of Gilmer County Schools since June 2011, but returned partial control in December 2013.

The bill goes into effect on June 11.

State BOE Approves Purchase of Land at Four Times Appraisal Value

The way a county handles the actual maintenance of existing and building of new schools is one of the major areas the state considers before taking over a…

The way a county handles the actual maintenance of existing and building of new schools is one of the major areas the state considers before taking over a county school system.

In June of 2011, the state decided Gilmer County wasn’t doing a good job handling not just their facilities, but also personnel, finances and curriculum, among others. The board declared a state of emergency in Gilmer County and voted to intervene.

Since, the county has been progressing, including taking part in the first inter-county school in the state. Facilities have been a major focus and it was in that area the state board voted to move a new project forward.

Gilmer County is looking to consolidate three elementary schools into a more centrally located, brand new Cedar Creek Elementary. Current County Superintendent Ron Blakenship and a planning committee visited 15 sites in the county and chose an 8,5acre tract of land at cost of more than $446,000.

At about $5,400 an acre, some members of Gilmer County’s Board of Education weren’t happy with the choice and shared those concerns with the state board at their monthly meeing Wednesday.

 “When land is appraised at $1,400 per acre and we’re offering $5,400 for hillside land that raises a lot of questions,” county board member William Simmons said.

Aside from the fact that the county is paying nearly four times more than what the land is worth and that most of the land is on a hillside, Simmons and Gilmer County board member-elect Norma Hurley shared concerns over the lack of information shared with the county board and the public about the decision.

“We live under a dictatorship,” Hurley said. “Our people are told nothing. I don’t think anyone here intended that, but that has been the result.”

Blankenship, however, defended the decision before the state board saying this land was truly the best option.

Of the 15 sites visited, this site was the most centrally located helping to limit the amount of time children will spend on the bus. Another site located nearby, Blankenship said, would have also been a good option, but would’ve cost an additional $1 million to connect it to water and electric systems.

In the end, the board unanimously approved the proposal and the site.

Blankenship expects the school to be completed for the 2016 school year.
 

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