CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Superintendent of Schools and the Nicholas County schools superintendent stood together this afternoon and pledged to cooperate.
Jointly addressing reporters from a podium at the state Department of Education, state Superintendent Steve Paine and Nicholas County Superintendent Donna Burge-Tetrick said they had actually been together in productive meetings during the earlier part of the day.
“We stand together today — I sincerely mean that — to assure the public that we are working toward a resolution together and believe the best days of Nicholas County are yet to come,” Paine said from prepared notes.
Paine also said, “We have an opportunity to create a county school system together that is successful for years to come. It is time to put the past behind us so that we can work together as a team to be innovative and develop a plan for all students.”
Burge-Tetrick spoke right after that, publicly agreeing with what Paine had said.
“I am encouraged by the opportunity to have these discussions today,” she said. “And I’m hopeful that we can come together for a resolution that increases the opportunities for all of the students of Nicholas County while bringing economic opportunity to Richwood.”
Although both Paine and Burge-Tetrick described today’s discussions as productive, they did not elaborate on particular school building possibilities.
“We just had a very good discussion in looking at alternatives to serve the students of Nicholas County for generations,” she said.
Paine added, “I would emphasize, too, that they’re alternatives — plural. No decisions, no one plan. But I think together we explored some innovative options that had not been considered yet.”
The state Board of Education and the local board have been at odds for months, all the way to the state Supreme Court, over a consolidation plan for Nicholas County.
The issue took shape after devastating floods struck Nicholas County two summers ago, destroying Richwood High and Middle and Summersville Middle schools.
After a series of public hearings, the Nicholas County board decided on its consolidation plan, opting to use an alternative form of Federal Emergency Management Agency funding to pool all flood-recovery money into one pool to rebuild schools.
The local school board voted to combine five schools — Richwood Middle and Summersville Middle Schools and Nicholas County and Richwood High Schools, along with the Career and Technical Education Facility — at one campus in the Summersville area.
The state board twice rejected that plan — expressing concern that local board members didn’t adequately listen to concerns from Richwood residents and that alternatives might exist.
In late August, Kanawha Circuit Judge Duke Bloom ruled in favor of the county board and ordered the state board to let consolidation go forward. He concluded that the state board had overstepped its own policies and regulations and was overly swayed by community sentiment.
Supreme Court justices reversed the circuit decision on Oct. 10, ruling in favor of the state board.
Meanwhile, students remain in portable classrooms and a deadline has been approaching on drawing down money to rebuild from the Federal Emergency Management Agency.
The next step, Paine said Friday, is to work together to develop a comprehensive facilities plan. He said the collaborative format they intend is consistent with what’s been done by other counties, including Brooke, Mingo and others.
There’s a board meeting set for Friday evening in Nicholas County. Richwood residents have noted it’s roughly at the same time as the school’s homecoming football game.
Burge-Tetrick said she’ll update the Nicholas board about what happened today with the state board. But she said that will likely occur in private.
Paine said a state board meeting this coming Thursday will also include an update in executive session.
“We have discussed some alternatives that I think are very suitable alternatives, and so that’s what we’ll be representing to our respective boards,” Paine said.
Then on Nov. 7, a conflict resolution team from FEMA is set to take part in discussions with both the state Department of Education and Nicholas County Schools.
Paine said the Governor’s Office has asked FEMA for a deadline extension for funding, but it’s not yet clear if that will be granted.
“I think right now the important thing is for the citizens of Nicholas County and our state Board of Education and everyone that we serve jointly to have confidence that we’re proceeding in a very responsible manner and cooperative manner.
“I think that FEMA will watch to see if we’re able to do that, and if they believe that we’re engaging in this dispute resolution process to their satisfaction then they’ll consider an extension. But there are no guarantees.”