ELKINS – The proposal to close Pickens K-12 School was formally withdrawn Wednesday morning, after the Randolph County Board of Education voted 4-1 Tuesday night to keep Harman School open.

Dr. Shawn Dilly, the Randolph County superintendent of schools, posted the following to the school system’s social media at about 10:15 a.m. Wednesday:

“Dear Randolph County Schools Community,

“Following the Randolph County Board of Education’s vote last evening, the leadership team has decided to formally withdraw the proposal to close Pickens School. As a result, the public hearings and Board vote scheduled for this evening have been canceled.

“We deeply appreciate our community’s engagement, feedback, and passionate advocacy throughout this process. Your voices have been instrumental in shaping the direction of this critical decision.

“Thank you for your unwavering support and dedication to our schools, students, and the future of education in Randolph County.

“Sincerely, Dr. Shawn Dilly, Superintendent, Randolph County Schools.”

The announcement means the public hearings and vote on closing the school, which had been scheduled for tonight at Tygarts Valley High School, will not take place.

Dilly proposed in October to close the two schools, saying the BOE had applied for a grant from the state School Building Authority that would construct a new gymnasium and new classrooms at Tygarts Valley Middle School/High School. Dilly said this proposed expansion at TVM/HS would make it possible to close Harman and Pickens.