At last we can begin to expect good news from local public schools because we are getting new local leadership and more effective state quality assessments.

This week the Charleston Gazette-Mail and The Elkins Inter-Mountain both published articles reporting changes in county leadership and in private school assessment from state government. I sincerely believe that new county leaders will tell the truth, and that West Virginai Legislators will decide to establish meaningful assessment for institutions receiving tax dollars from the State of West Virginia.

On Tuesday, our new Superintendent Dr. Derek Lambert told the Randolph County Board of Education that he would attend the state Board of Education meeting Wednesday for an update on Randolph County’s State of Emergency status. He planned proactively before going to Charleston, and he took the school finance and personnel officers with him.

On Thursday, the Inter-Mountain reported that Randolph County Schools were no longer in a State of Emergency. We should give some of the credit for this change of status to the local school board and the interim superintendent, Terry George.

Nevertheless, I am glad Dr. Lambert is here now, and I look forward to meeting with him to talk about another positive change for public schools in West Virginia. A new advocacy group called “I Love WV Public Schools” is pushing back against School Choice advocates who publish false claims against WV public schools. The new group’s logo features a recognizable West Virginia map in deep blue at the center of a large gold heart in place of the word “love.” This new initiative is developing with support from an organization of county superintendents (WVASA). I would like to help organize such a Randolph County group that could meet at Kump Education Center.

The disqualification of a failing local private school is another news item this week that helps bring to light the need for better assessments of the institutions that use Hope Scholarship funding. Parents and teachers have been complaining about this problem for years. Other private and religious schools may meet standards, and they might be able to test their students to show that learning is taking place, but tax dollars should never be used without meeting reasonable assessment standards.

Responsible and ethical leaders do not put up with such shenanigans because they really care about the people who depend on them. One of the best young leaders that I know is Kate Roberts White, who was just elected this week to serve as President of the Kanawha County Board of Education. Kate grew up in Elkins, then went to college in Pittsburgh and law school in Morgantown. Now she serves as Executive Director of Legal Aid for West Virginia, and the Whites have three bright and active children in the Charleston public school system.

People like Dr. Lambert and Ms. White who serve honestly for West Virginia public education give me hope for the future of our public school students because good educators offer a path for families to work their way out of poverty and build a stronger middle class in the Mountain State of West Virginia.