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ELKINS -- A teacher challenged the Randolph County Board of Education and Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly at this week's BOE meeting, saying officials can't possibly make enough staff cuts to fill the school system's budget deficit.
Shane Richardson, who teaches Civics at Elkins High School, said during Tuesday night's meeting that the most money the county can save from making employee cuts is around $200,000, which is far from the approximately $2 million needed to fill the budget shortfall.
"We are drowning in an ocean and we are trying to bail the water out with a teaspoon," Richardson said during the meeting's public comment section. "I crunched a lot of numbers because I wanted to come here with some options, because I feel that we can sit here and talk about the past, we can talk about the vote, we can talk about them versus us. It really doesn't work that way. We are in the same ship, we've got to row the boat. We are going in the same direction and the course is going to be challenging…
"At this point I crunched numbers and you can't cut your way out of this. You won't have the staff even required by law if you just cut the staff. A couple hundred thousand dollars is not close to the $1.7 million needed.
"So we can sit here and say we are going to cut this and we are going to cut that, but cutting stipends doesn't get you anywhere close, cutting 35 teachers doesn't get you to $1.7 million," he said. "Everyone keeps asking what's next, but I think a better question is what do you guys support? It's ultimately back in Dr. Dilly's corner because he has to make the recommendations and you (the BOE) have to vote on it…You have to be able to tell him where you are willing to work with him…You have to be able to tell the man what you are willing to do. I know you can't have back channel secret meetings, but you can't have him shooting in the dark, saying 'bring me something, bring me something.'"
Last week, the BOE voted 4-1 to keep the Harman K-12 School open, and the next day Dilly dropped his proposal to also close the Pickens K-12 School. These actions have led to questions concerning the county's budget deficit problem moving forward, with Dilly saying up to 32 positions may have to be cut.
Julian Harlan was one of several students who let her voice be heard during this week's BOE meeting.
"We stand here today at a crossroads, a moment of reflection, but more importantly a moment of decision," Harlan, an EHS student, said. "Faced with a monetary deficit caused by prior decisions, we must now determine how to move forward with integrity and purpose. The question before us is not how did we get here, but what will we do now.
"I come to you not as a critic, but as a voice for the students, parents and educators, who are now struggling with the consequences of your recent decisions. It is no secret that the choices made by this board, to knowingly enter a financial deficit, has tied the hands of our superintendent, leaving him unable to chart a viable path forward for the success of the students in our district. The reallocation of funds now required to balance the budget will now come at a tremendous cost to the very people you are here to serve."
Dana Losh, a retired school teacher with nearly 30 years of service, spoke to show support for the BOE and last week's decision. Losh has a grandson who attends one of the schools that was proposed for closure.
"I taught in West Virginia schools for 28 1/2 years until I dealt with multiple health issues and had to retire," Losh said. "I read an article in the paper today that I thought was very troubling, and there were a couple comments in there that I don't believe are correct.
"First of all, I don't feel that the Board of Education needs to be petitioned for a new vote. They've already been elected. I know some of them, and I voted for some of them. I watched and read about the situation with the two schools and I personally think they came to a good decision…
"Sometimes we are confronted with things in life that we just have to deal with, and I don't think there is a solution or answer to this issue where everyone is going to be happy," Losh said. "But funding is the main issue here and I have read where someone suggested there be a third party audit of the school system. "As a math teacher I agree with that; as a taxpayer, I agree with that. If you are going to rebuild something, you need to know exactly how much money you have and where it's going. It's not the Board of Education's fault that the school system is in the red, it's in the red before this year ever began… I don't believe we need to go backward, we need to go forward. One decision has already been made, let's move forward."
Davis Health Systems Interim CEO Mark Doak then spoke, stating first that he had no children or grandchildren attending schools in Randolph County.
"My interest is purely in the development of Elkins and Randolph County," Doak said. "First, I would like to thank the Board for keeping both Harman and Pickens open, it is very much appreciated. As I stated last week, the school's mission is a children-friendly, quality education.
"The Board is to provide an efficient system for parents and students. Efficient doesn't always mean economical, inexpensive, or cheap. Now that we've made that decision to maintain both Pickens and Harman, it has created a lot of work. Fortunately, many in the community are willing to step forward and help with that in any way that we can.
"In today's society where we have remote learning, computers, artificial intelligence, and other means, there are opportunities which previously didn't exist," Doak said. "Let's take the time and make Randolph County have the best school in West Virginia. Outstanding education opportunities bring in young families and an increased population throughout the county. That's what we would like to see."
The next Randolph County Board of Education meeting is scheduled for Tuesday at 5:30 p.m.