Challenge West Virginia

by Alice Coleman

Democracy that embodies the will of the people does not apply in Fayette County.

During the last eight years, Fayette County citizens have overwhelmingly voted against two bond issues for consolidation of our schools. In 2001, 88 percent of our citizens voted against the bond issue. In 2009, 78 percent voted against the bond issue.

Today, less than a year later, our citizens are facing the fact that their steadfast vote against consolidation and the fundamental principles and rights that are guaranteed in our Constitution hold very little significance to nonelected officials in charge.

The nonelected officials in the State Board of Education have already stripped the power from the five elected members of the Fayette County Board of Education. To add insult to injury, they continue to shove their will down the throats of our citizens.

A 10-year educational facilities plan has been retrieved from the Fayette County Board of Education, and an appointed committee has been working on revisions to the plan for restructuring of our Fayette County schools. This appointed committee met on July 12 with a group of about 150 Fayette County citizens supposedly to give our citizens the opportunity to review the plan and the opportunity for input.

Our citizens interpreted the plan for exactly what it is: another attempt to consolidate schools. To put it mildly, the citizens’ unswerving opposition to the plan was quite apparent.

The good citizens of Fayette County voted for and are supporting a levy that now finances their schools to the tune of approximately $8 million a year. Nonetheless, these same citizens have reached their limits in negotiating with the bureaucracy of the nonelected.

If the nonelected state officials want to control and finance the restructuring of the Fayette County school system, our fine citizens will oblige them with a “no vote” on any and all future levy bond issues for consolidation of our schools.

Alice Coleman is a resident of Glen Jean in Fayette County.