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CHARLESTON -- A 1972 Harman School graduate spoke to the state Board of Education this month asking officials to help find funds for schools in smaller communities.
Dan Bucher spoke during the public comment section of a West Virginia Board of Education meeting last week.
"I am here today to ask you how parents and community members can be advocates for solutions to improve both funding and academic results," he said. "Solutions that you, as State Board of Education members, believe are effective but have yet to gain recognition and/or acceptance by our legislators and policy makers."
Bucher pointed out that Randolph County is the largest geographical county in the state, and that the county is facing numerous challenges, including dismal test scores. He then talked about how the community's involvement in helping find solutions could make a difference.
He ended his speech to the state BOE by saying, "Please consider us partners in the educational system. Devise ways to harness the energy, the passion and the experience of those in communities across this great state. Let us know of your vision and your ideas within which we can enthusiastically support, promote and participate.
"In Randolph County, we are not seeking results comparable to our peers in other counties or other states. We aspire to be the best. Our children and the future of our state deserve no less."
Bucher told The Inter-Mountain this week that, following the Randolph County Board of Education's vote in January to keep the Harman School open, said he has been frustrated by Dr. Shawn Dilly's response to Harman residents' offers to help solve local school funding issues.
"We have been really disappointed in the local superintendent's reaction to our offer to be part of the solution, so I figured I would go down to the state level and make the same kind of overture to them," Bucher told The Inter-Mountain. "As with most meetings like this, during public comment they (BOE) don't make any comments while you are speaking or afterward. But it appeared that they listened, but really didn't have any feedback."
Dilly has said that, because the Harman and Pickens schools will not be closed, up to 30 positions will have to be cut in order for the school system to balance the budget.
Bucher said he spoke about the issue with Jeff Kelly, state Officer of Education Accountability, during a phone conversation two weeks ago.
"I had sent an email to the state superintendent, and Jeff Kelly called me in response to my email," Bucher said. "I had simply asked them for ideas and how we can be supportive locally. He told me he really didn't know and had never been asked that question before. I thought that was kind of appalling, that someone who is responsible for accountability within the state department really can't offer any suggestions for us."
Bucher said getting school board offices to work with communities at both the county and state levels could be instrumental in solving many issues.