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My comments are directed towards the information provided and the comments made by Superintendent Dilly regarding the ongoing discussion on the closure of Harman School. This is not a personal attack on Dr. Dilly. My comments, however, reveal the shortsightedness of many of the conclusions and recommendations presented at the Board of Education meeting of Jan. 14.
I don't think Dr. Dilly expected to see the level of support for our children, grandchildren and communities as he has observed in the last few weeks and will witness again over the next months.
Many of us in Randolph County's rural communities have become complacent and have falsely assumed that our county school administration would hold all students in equal regard. Dr. Dilly, thank you for igniting our passion and fueling the drive for us to become more engaged in our children's education.
I applaud the years of dedicated service among our central office staff. However, 190 years of collective school administration experience doesn't automatically translate into great proposals. If we apply that same logic to congress, we should have an efficient and effective federal government. Literally thousands of years of collective governing experience have not solved our country's most basic issues or created stellar policies. Neither will experience alone, solve our county's school system problems.
It was suggested that operating Randolph County schools is too complex for those of us outside the school system to be able to offer credible suggestions or analysis. However, there is a major disconnect between purporting to know what is best for our rural school children and yet being willing to figuratively "throw them under the bus."
The 2020-2030 Comprehensive Facilities Plan contains a roadmap for planning our school system's future. The information now provided by Dilly ignores that plan and appears to have been tailored to draw a different predetermined conclusion. School board members and members of the community may draw their own conclusions after an objective presentation of all the information.
Several slides were shown in the BOE meeting depicting cuts made to virtually every program and service provided through Randolph County Schools. A troubling visual impact was mitigated by the fact that there was no dollar amount attached to the cuts, nor a comparison made to the cost savings that would be generated if the current Comprehensive Facilities Plan was followed.
Great leadership conveys a "can do" attitude. It does not dwell on all the reasons something can't happen. Great leadership causes people to focus on the reasons that something can happen. It is not only resilient in the face of adversity, but also optimistic. Great leadership generates unity and causes people to rise above themselves and consider the greater good.
I admire the approach suggested by Elkins High School teacher Andrew Carroll. Let's dream big, what do we need in order to create the best learning experiences for all students? With vision and passion, anything is possible. Vision and passion have a way of generating resources. Use the Davis House (overnight lodging for cancer patients in Elkins) as an example. A passionately shared need/vision created a solution. These incredible communities quickly raised over three quarters of a million dollars to serve ill and hurting people.
While waiting to be invited to participate in discussions, concerned citizens are crafting alternate plans that are both exciting and innovative. Stay tuned!
"All in" for the students of Randolph County!
Dan Bucher
Harman