| By Bob Weaver
West Virginia's School Building Authority members have gone on record over the failure of Gilmer's school board not to rehire superintendent Ed Toman.
SBA member Tom Lange told Gilmer school officials that he believes the situation in Gilmer County has not helped when a majority of board members declined to renew Toman's contract.
Toman had been wanting to close three rural schools in Sand Fork, Troy and Normantown, and bring them into the county seat school at Glenville, or in the case of Troy, possibly build a joint school with Lewis County.
Toman maintains Gilmer county does not have the funds to repair, upgrade or maintain the three schools.
Toman supporters have purchased t-shirts with his name, with many verbalizing concern for his well-being, since he recently suffered a bout with cancer.
The SBA's discontent was verbalized during a meeting with Toman and board president Phyllis Starkey, who recently appeared before the SBA to request a new Normantown elementary school, with an estimated cost of $8.2 million.
The issue of not re-hiring Gilmer's superintendent has been raising the ire of state education officials, according to Howard O'Cull, executive director of the West Virginia School Board Association.
Three Gilmer board members have been staunch supporters of keeping community schools, some of them being elected by a wide margin.
STATE TAKE-OVER "RIPE," SAYS O'CULL
"There are predictions Gilmer County is ripe for intervention," O'Cull said.
Thomas Ramey, Challenge WV coordinator, expressed concern over Gilmer's contentious consolidation issues, saying "The State Board has a well-established pattern of closing and consolidating community schools when they take-over county systems."
"I am surprised members of the SBA board have publicly taken stands about the superintendent's dismissal by the school board. It should be a local issue," Ramey said.
STATE SAYS SCHOOLS HAVE STRUCTURAL PROBLEMS
Bill Elswick, director of the state Department of Education's Office of School Facilities, has ordered structural reviews for Sand Fork and Normantown schools, after an initial inspection indicated problems.
Several engineers from WVU are looking at the schools related to structural problems, saying they do not see an imminent danger.
At the recent SBA meeting, Lange and other SBA members wondered why Gilmer officials had not considered a packaged bond issue to address Troy, Sand Fork and Normantown schools.
Starkey said voters have not passed a bond in Gilmer County since the 1950s, saying most Gilmer residents favor small, community schools.
Gilmer officials plan to put up $50,000 of county money for a new Normantown Elementary.
NEW EFFORT TO RE-HIRE TOMAN
At last Monday's board meeting, an item on the agenda allowed Board Member, Dorothy Rhodes to make a motion to hire Superintendent Ed Toman for four years with salary negotiable.
Starkey, Skinner and Pritt rejected the motion.
Larry Butcher and Rhodes had earlier voted for a one year contract at the March 9 meeting, with the three board members dissenting.
A motion was passed at Monday's meeting to begin the superintendent search through the WV School Board Association.
CHALLENGE RIDING INTO TOWN
During delegations to speak to the board, Mrs. Desi Garrett, spokesperson for CUBE (Citizens United for Better Education) denied accusations that the group went to Charleston to speak against the Normantown school project.
Sources at the SBA meeting said the CUBE group spoke against firing Toman.
CUBE's mission, in part, is reportedly to remove President Phyllis Starkey and members Skinner and Pritt, if necessary.
Garrett referred to Challenge WV's attendance at the last meeting as the Pinkerton's riding into town, not appreciating Challenge WV's mission for small community schools, and against long bus rides.
"Challenge WV provides a voice for the voiceless," Ramey said.
Gilmer's CEFP Committee for 2010-2020 brought a plan to the board last October calling for one consolidated elementary for all Gilmer County Children.
Supporters of community schools have said they were not placed on the CEFP committee.
Still, SBA's Dr. Mark Manchin said there was sentiment among the SBA Board to fund a new school in Normantown instead of repairing the old facility.
POLICE WILL SECURE GILMER SCHOOL BOARD MEETING TONIGHT - Rowdy Protesters Disrupted Last Meeting, Issue Is Re-Hiring Superintendent Toman
GILMER BOARD WILL NOT RENEW SUPERINTENDENT'S CONTRACT - Toman Says His Decisions Have Been "What's Best"
GILMER COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM "RIPE FOR STATE TAKE-OVER" - State Officials Angry Over Toman Firing
NORMANTOWN SCHOOL PROBLEM STILL FLARING - "Superintendent Going In Different Direction"
| 
