FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — Terry George has worked in the public education system for 40 years and served as the superintendent of Fayette County schools for the past five years. He’s made the decision to retire June 30.
“I’m 64 years old and I need to spend some more time with my family, especially my grandchildren,” George told MetroNews Thursday about his decision.
George splits his time. He said he lives from Sunday through Friday in Fayette County and on the weekends at his home with his wife in Randolph County. He said the time had come to close that gap.
“We’ve been having some very serious conversations, my wife and I, about being away from home so often and away all week long. We decided this was the right time for me to make a change,” George said.
However, he leaves Fayette County schools in better shape than he found them when he came on board. George took over a school system in a county with bitter and angry divisions over proposed school consolidation plans. He was able to navigate long-standing sentiment, animosity, and bitterness to do what needed to be done. He admitted, it wasn’t always easy.
“There were issues there that had to be addressed and they were issues that developed over a 20 to 30 year period and there was no easy fix for that situation,” he said.
But he was able to build support and consensus on the best way to move forward. He credited his Board of Education and the county’s staff for making the difference. He also credited a close working relationship with the state School Building Authority and the state Board of Education. According to George, the solution to the complicated mess was a simple answer…honesty.
“We were honest with everybody and we had multiple community meetings with representatives of every little community and all the schools. We asked them what they wanted to see in their schools, what kind of curriculum they wanted, what kind of travel times they wanted to see and what kind of opportunities they wanted for their children,” he explained
The most difficult task, according to George, was closing a high school. But Fayette County, like so many in West Virginia, had seen a drastic loss of population over the last five decades. The school structure from the 1950’s and 60’s was no longer functional. The schools built in that era were literally falling apart. Out of the difficult decisions came new schools and new opportunities for students. Those new projects have started to plant seeds of hope and anticipation, as George figured they would.
He will leave with two major projects underway. There will be major renovation and addition to four schools in the county and a new school for the Meadow Bridge community is entering the design phase. The only project left after those will be a new school for the community served by Midland Trail High School. George hoped he’ll be allowed to serve as a special consultant on the project.
“We developed a very long range plan with the School Building Authority and State Department on the reorganization of Fayette County and revitalization of their facilities. I would like to have some input on that final project,” he said.
The search will now begin for George’s replacement. He’ll retire June 30.