School board member accused in cash-for-GED scheme
MASON COUNTY, W.Va. — The Mason County Board of Education passed a resolution Tuesday asking member Teresa Warner, 51 of Point Pleasant, to leave office immediately.
Warner, an adult education teacher working at the Lakin Correctional Center in West Columbia, was arrested in Mason County on July 1 on one felony count of “fraudulent schemes.” She posted a $20,000 bond the same day in Magistrate Court.
After convening a 45-minute executive session, the board returned with a resolution requesting Warner’s immediate resignation “for the integrity and welfare of our entire school district.”
Members Michael Cottrill, Randy Searls, Dale Shobe and Tom Nunnery then indicated their support for the resolution.
Warner told board members that resigning would be a premature move since the investigation is still in its early stages.
According to a criminal complaint, Warner accepted money in exchange for passing grades on General Education Development tests from 2002 until this year, causing the Department of Education to issue fraudulent GED diplomas.
Warner was authorized to administer GED tests and teach GED classes during that time.
The complaint also alleges that Warner made arrangements with fellow test examiner Ray Boggs to fix students’ grades by having Boggs fill out their answer sheets.
West Virginia State Police Cpl. K.M. Gilley said there was “possibly some misconduct” on Boggs’ part but he doesn’t face prosecution yet.
“At this point, there’s been no criminal charges brought against him,” he said.
Gilley said he started working on the case about a month ago when a friend of a friend said they tried to buy a passing GED grade from Warner.
He said others may be involved in Warner and Boggs’ GED scheme, but can’t confirm that yet. State police are still investigating that matter, he said.
The State Police corporal said he’s hesitant to release any more information about the case since Warner hasn’t had her preliminary hearing yet.
“I don’t want to put that out there until the courts make me,” he said.
Since Warner posted bond immediately after she was arrested, her preliminary hearing must occur within 20 days of her arrest.
Warner refused to comment on the allegations, deferring all comments to her lawyers Mike Shaw and James Casey. Calls to Casey and Shaw were not immediately returned Wednesday.
Though Warner works at Lakin, she is employed by the West Virginia Department of Education, which allows her to serve on Mason County’s school board.
West Virginia Department of Education spokeswoman Lisa Cordeiro said declined to comment on Warner’s employment status, citing a personnel issue. Craig Roberts, Lakin’s associate warden of programs, said he can’t confirm if Warner still works at the prison.
Contact writer Zack Harold at 304-348-7939 or zack.har…@dailymail.com.