The Inter-Mountain photo by Taylor McKinnie Displaying their new travel wear uniforms are, back row from left, are Harman School’s high school boys basketball team members Bryce Wagner, Gunner Ketterman, Chandlyr Miliron, Gage Ketterman, Grady Shifflett, Daylen McFarlan, Jessie Heavner, Jaiden Lawrence and Coach Christian Moats; middle row from left, high school girls team members Kassidy Fridley, Eliza Shifflett, Phoebe Bennett, Kala Mullenex, Kara Snyder and Colleena Lewis; and front row from left, middle school boys team members Zachery Booth, Bentley Hamrick, Brayden Bonner, Coleman Estep, Brennen Thomas, Braylon Heavner and Remington Thomas.

HARMAN — The Harman School middle and high school boys and high school girls basketball teams have received brand-new travel gear and home and away uniforms through community fundraising.

School officials said around $4,000 in funding was raised for the new gear through basketball game entrance fees, concession stand proceeds and athletic fundraisers. Officials said the addition of the uniforms and gear will ensure the students are “well-prepared and outfitted” for their respective seasons.

“The student-athletes at Harman School are thrilled to announce the arrival of new travel gear and home and away basketball uniforms specifically designed for the middle and high school boys and girls teams,” a statement given to The Inter-Mountain by Harman School reads. “This has been made possible through the dedicated efforts of our community.”

Christian Moats, the athletic director and coach of the high school boys and girls basketball teams at Harman School, as well as a physical education and health teacher, told The Inter-Mountain that the connection between the Harman community and the school is a special one.

“The community here in Harman is essential, it’s the backbone of the school, and the school’s the backbone of the community,” Moats said. “I came here three years ago and this community adopted me as one of their own, from being an outcast.

“Seeing the way the community comes together to raise funds for specific items, and now we see the attendance to ball games and fundraising projects that we’ve done, have given these (students) the opportunity to have some nice travel gear, nice team gear and some uniforms. Which really goes to show the types of people that are out here in Harman, West Virginia.”

School officials said the new uniforms and travel gear will not only enhance the student-athletes’ performances but “also foster a greater sense of community pride.”

“The Harman School student athletes would like to thank the community for their ongoing commitment and encouragement,” according to the school’s statement.

However, the future of Harman School faces uncertainty after Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly proposed to the Randolph County Board of Education the closing of both the Harman K-12 School and Pickens K-12 School in October.

If the Harman School closes, the students will be bussed to Midland Elementary, Elkins Middle School and Elkins High School.

Linda Teter, owner of Midway Service Station in Harman, who helped with the fundraising for the basketball uniforms, told The Inter-Mountain that, if the Harman students have to go to school in Elkins, those who participate in athletics and other after-school activities will not be able to continue due to how late they would be arriving home after practice and games.

“If they close the Harman School, these children will never be able to play sports or any curriculum after-school hours,” Teter said.

“It’s too far away. Some of those kids won’t get home ’til probably 6 o’clock at night on a normal day, because they live too far back in the valleys.”

Teter was adamant that Harman School needs to stay open for the benefit of the students.

“We need to keep the school open at this time and I’m sure there’s some way we could find funding to keep the school in the place it is, so these kids too can have a normal life,” Teter said.