GRANT COUNTY SCHOOLS ON SHORT LEASH WITH STATE ED OFFICIALS
The Grant County school system is under the microscope of state education officials.
Another take-over of a West Virginia, county school system is on a fast-track.
State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine has issued a clear warning to Grant County school officials, calling for an immediate audit of the Eastern Panhandle school system.
Grant Superintendent Tina L. Edwards abruptly announced her resignation.
School board members are so “fractured” that their disagreements have disrupted the ability of students to learn, said Howard O’Cull, executive director of the West Virginia School Boards Association.
The problems in Grant County are also largely geographic, O’Cull says.
O’Cull said factions from Petersburg are butting heads with the western part of the county, indicating “They’ve been developing over a long period of time.”
Paine has said to avoid a state takeover, Grant school board members need to resolve their issues quickly, including the hiring of a strong superintendent and rallying around that leader.
Student achievement has hit the basement in Grant. Paine believes it’s because of leadership issues.
Former Braxton County Superintendent Carolyn Long has advised Paine of the deteriorating situation in Grant County. Long has been mentoring now resigned superintendent Edwards.
Paine said Edwards faced a lack of support from some staff employees at the Grant board office.
“Somebody needs to help resolve our problems,” Grant County school board member Dottie Riggleman said.
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