| By Dianne Weaver
Members of the Lincoln County School Board of Education say they want to set the record straight after state superintendent Steve Paine keeps blaming them for lack of progress in their system.
Challenge WV Fellow and Lincoln board member Thomas Ramey said "The state has administratively run our system for seven years. Board members have made little if any decisions regarding the many problems. Still, Dr. Paine keeps making us responsible."
"Our school board has been neutered," said Ramey, and "Dr. Paine keeps blaming us."
The system is suffering lower scores since the seven-year take-over and a multitude of lurking financial problems.
State Superintendent Paine was recently quoted in the Charleston Daily Mail as saying the Lincoln Board was "squabbling." Board members took offense to that remark.
"We felt that was very unfair," says Ramey. "We are a dedicated board that likes to ask questions. We know there's some problems and, instead of hiding the problems, we like to bring those out and find solutions."
Four of the Lincoln County board members signed a letter they hand-delivered to the State Board. The letter was in rebuttal to comments by Paine in state media.
Ramey says they don't believe Paine is delivering a true accounting of the Lincoln board's activities to members of the State Board of Education, so they showed up to do it themselves.
Dr. Paine, in what Challenge WV called an obvious public relations move, turned the meeting toward saying the Lincoln board was wanting control back.
"They indicated a willingness to move forward and that's what we've been waiting for, for seven years," says Paine. "I think we're looking forward to the opportunity of working with them in the future. Let's get that school system back to the people."
Ramey said the state board ignored their message.
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