HARMAN, W.Va. –Randolph County Schools Superintendent Terry George is urging board members to consider donating Harman School to the Harman Education Association for use as a new micro-school or another educational program.
George asked board members to consider entering into discussions with Dan Bucher of the association during their meeting Tuesday evening.
“I would like to see the board consider working with Mr. Bucher to see if, if everything can be done smoothly enough to transfer that property over to them, with the exception of stuff that is required by law to be removed from the building and see if they can start a school up,” George said.
He said Bucher and the association are currently working to obtain 501(c)(3) status, a nonprofit designation for organizations operated for charitable, religious, educational, or scientific purposes.
Harman K-12 School, which has 96 students enrolled, is set to close at the end of the 2025-2026 school year after the board voted in October 2025 to shut down the school. The decision followed the West Virginia Board of Education placing the county under a state of emergency in June, citing declining enrollment, staffing overages, and financial shortfalls. The board also voted to close North Elementary School at the same meeting.
With the school closing, students will be reassigned to Jennings Randolph Elementary School, Elkins Middle School, and Elkins High School.
George said the board could schedule a work session with Bucher to hear his position, as well as a separate session with the community to gather input. He said he believes the proposal would benefit the county.
“I think it would be a goodwill gesture for the county, a goodwill gesture for the board if we can put everything into place to facilitate that,” George said.
Board member Philip Chua expressed concerns about the legal process.
George said that once the board decides how to proceed with the properties at Harman and North Elementary, the board’s attorneys will review the legal aspects.
“We can start your attorneys to work on that as soon as you make the decision that’s what you want to do,” he said.
While the board could not vote on the matter at its Tuesday meeting, George said he wanted to start the conversation to give members time to consider the proposal.
“I think we need to start that discussion here tonight and give you time to think it over on what steps you want to take for those two properties, and what you want to see happen to them, especially Harman,” he said.
The board’s next meeting is scheduled for April 21.