Community leader Misty Pritt tells Normantown group that Gilmer superintendent is "going in a different" direction than school board
By Bob Weaver
A battle between the Normantown community and Gilmer County school superintendent Ed Toman over the future of their local school is causing tempers to flare.
The problem has been focused on a mold issue in the school, but board member Phyllis Starkey said "It is all about the state closing Normantown and other county schools, using their economies of scale model."
A showdown between Toman and the school board is looming, with
some of the issues likely coming to a head Monday evening during a special Gilmer school board meeting at 6 p.m.
Board members Larry Butcher, Alton Skinner II and Phyllis Starkey attended a Normantown community meeting, Thursday. Skinner expressed concerns about "illegal" items being placed on the board's agenda by Toman at a recent special meeting, saying he declined to vote on the measures.
Normantown parent and Challenge WV Fellow Misty Pritt said "We thought the problem was resolved after the board twice voted 5-0 to move forward with a plan to take care of the mold and get our kids back in the classroom when school opens."
Mark Manchin, the director of the state's School Building Authority was at Normantown yesterday, evaluating the situation.
"After a year's worth of foot-dragging, it seems like Mr. Toman is still going in a different direction than the elected school board," Pritt said.
This week, volunteers from Gov. Joe Manchin's office, the football team from Glenville State College and a large number of community members moved furniture from a part of the school that contains most of the mold, preparing to use other areas of the building and modular units they think are being erected on the property.
Pritt said there is a problem over temporarily using the school's gym and cafeteria for classrooms, according to the State Fire Marshal.
During the Thursday community meeting of parents and supporters at the Normantown school, citizens were upset that Toman, after "a productive meeting" last week, then asked the board to sign-off on a letter seeking approval to transport Normantown students in grades 4th through 6th to Glenville for the next two years, "until acceptable portable classrooms become available."
The board declined to approve the letter.
During Thursday's meeting Gilmer County Sheriff Mickey Metz said he believes in keeping community schools, "From a law enforcement view, they're safer and have less problems."
Challenge WV Fellow Thomas Ramey said "It appears that Toman is insubordinate to the school board's decisions," following a year of foot-dragging."
Toman told the community group last week that he had been making several efforts to take care of the mold problem, but Pritt says "Here we are in a crisis as school is about to begin."
Toman said he has always had the best interests of children first on his mind.
"It feels like the state has attacked my son," said parent Lisa Tanner, "This is not about our children."
Challenge's Ramey said "The state has used a bloody hammer on counties they have taken-over, but then say local board's make the decisions about consolidation. In fact, school board's are held hostage to School Building Authority money."
Part of Normantown school campus targeted for closure
Board member Starkey said, Gilmer County schools have good test scores and has remained fiscally responsible. "It's all about closing community schools and consolidation," she said.
"Toman keeps saying Sand Fork is structurally unsound, which is not true, according to the engineering reports," Starkey said.
Four of Gilmer's school board members were not aware of an item on the WV School Board's agenda for next Thursday.
Superintendent Toman has not responded to a public information request to clarify the item, which says: "Normantown Elementary School (including the possible consideration of Comprehensive Educational facilities Plan Amendment) and Valley Head Elementary School, Randolph County, information or action."
Valley Head is among about 120 elementary schools the state wants to close using their economies of scale model. Normantown, Sand Fork and Troy are among the community schools that the state wants to consolidate.
Challenge WV Fellow, Paul Hamrick of Clarksburg, urged parents to fight for their community school. They have an important place in the education of our children, and all the research says small schools do better."
"You need to come together with a community voice," Hamrick urged.
Superintendent Toman was asked to clarify questions regarding these issues by the Hur Herald. He declined to comment.
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