| By Dianne Weaver
Lincoln County superintendent of schools William Grizzell placed what amounted to a gag order on the elected members of the local school board, requiring them to sign-up to speak at their official meeting.
Lincoln board president Carol Smith said "Our students are being left behind. When will help arrive?"
Grizzell's "gag order" followed a statement by State Superintendent of Schools Steve Paine, who was angered that the Lincoln board criticized the superintendent after test scores and academic performance has plummeted since the state took over the system about five years ago.
"Our school system is worse off under Grizzell's mis-management and the state take-over," said Smith. She expects Paine to come through with a better plan for Lincoln County.
After five years, three out of four Lincoln schools did not meet Adequate Yearly Progress.
Paine blamed the local school board for the mess, saying members are going to have to learn to work with their superintendent. Until that happens, he said he may look for ways to further limit their authority.
The Lincoln board, which has been fighting school consolidation and long bus rides, had requested the state department to return partial control of the system to the local board.
Paine told state school board members in Charleston that he has received two letters from the Lincoln County Board of Education asking the state to restore some of its authority.
Paine says he has no intention of returning any power to the Lincoln County Board of Education because the board has been uncooperative with state efforts to improve the school system.
Board president Smith said "It's a far stretch to blame our school board. About the only decisions we make (since takeover) is field trips."
The state board cited a low college-going rate and poor academic performance when it seized control in 2000.
The local board alleges the state-appointed superintendent has abused his power, mis-managed and focused on the construction of a new consolidated high school at the expense of existing schools.
Linda Martin, Coordinator of Challenge WV, said the tampering with community schools and the construction of one of the most expensive consolidated high schools at Hamlin, could thrust the county system into bankruptcy.
Grizzell, who is paid over $90,000 by the state and county, was using a county school vehicle to drive to and from work to another county, and central office workers complained he is often absent from the county office.
Lincoln residents signed a petition asking for his removal.
Small schools activist and member of Challenge WV, Thomas Ramey, said "Mr. Grizzell is incapable of sparking the progress we need and he should be removed from his position or resign."
"The state has promised to reduce costs through consolidation and improve the quality of education for our kids. They have told us a lie in order to win," Ramey said.
Martin said "It is time, someone needs to be held accountable."
Dr. Howard O'Cull, Director of the WV School Board Association, said research shows only three state take-overs in the US have been productive.
O'Cull, speaking at a Challenge WV conference said "It would take a seismic shift to change things," saying local school boards do not have constitutional power.
"The state's school-aid funding formula promotes consolidation," he said.
While the State Board cites performance problems with audits, the counties taken-over in WV have been those that are contentious over consolidating their local schools.
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