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Community asked to pull together for schools

After reading the numerous articles, interviews, editorials and letters to the editors in The Inter-Mountain regarding the proposed closing of Pickens and Harman schools I decided to weigh in with some observations, questions and suggestions. I have over my adult life had a most pleasant interaction with present and former members of the Pickens area, as I have attended the ramp dinners, hunted the ridges and fished the streams therein. Not so much in the Harman area but I have fished Laurel, Gandy, Dry Fork and eaten at the local restaurants.

Just over the hill, Hacker Valley School, in my native county of Webster, faces the same dilemma of closure but did get a reprieve for at least one year. The Legislature’s 1,400 rule should be sufficient to save the school if the Webster County BOE so desires. As a retired teacher, coach and principal with 39 years of service in Webster, Pocahontas and Upshur County, where I now reside, my interest and concerns are piqued.

Much has been said and written the last several weeks regarding the very difficult educational, travel and psychological challenges that face the children and parents of southern Randolph County. Therefore I will not renumerate those issues in this piece. Kudos to Editor Johnson, staff and letter to the editor writers on the excellent coverage.

In all decision making, particularly those which impact people’s lives, there are always unintended consequences. This is especially true in rural areas, as the local school is the “hub” for community unity and cultural activities. Sporting events, PTO, LSIC meetings, fairs, plays, reunions, holiday celebrations, civic and club meetings are but a few that can occur. These gatherings bring families, neighbors and friends together for positive interaction and unifying purpose. These activities are always sorely missed and detrimental to small communities when a school is closed.

Everyone in the community is impacted, whether they have kids in school or not. In the case of Pickens and Harman, these mountain folks justifiably feel neglected and treated unfairly by their elected and sworn public school board.

If these schools are closed, the taxpaying citizens of the Pickens and Harman areas will be paying for schools they no longer have. It is said that approximately 58% of personal and property taxes are earmarked for Randolph County Schools. Is punishing and inconveniencing these taxpayers just and fair because they choose to live in a sparsely populated area of West Virginia’s largest county?

Many of these families live on or near property that was inhabited by their ancestors generations ago.

Maybe the residents of Pickens and Harman should bring their county tax tickets with a good calculator to a meeting and total what they will be paying for, but not getting. Better yet, contact the county assessor’s office to get the exact numbers, which are a matter of public record and therefore legally accessible.

More of the citizenry of Randolph County need to get involved and help their county brethren on this issue. Someone needs to enlist Governor/Senator-elect Justice, Congressman-elect Riley Moore and Senators Manchin and Capito. President-elect Trump has promised an “America First Policy.” There is money out there in grants and stipends. A few years the Legislature annually provided a stipend of $100,000 each to Pickens and Hacker Valley schools. What happened to that practice?

Most counties still have some COVID money available. There is adequate wealth in Randolph County. Elkins schools and Tygart Valley schools are doing well. Good for them! We know there is not an abundance of votes in the southern mountains of Randolph County but these folks are just as important as those in Elkins and elsewhere.

Everyone involved needs to slow down, take a deep breath, pull together, prayerfully do the right thing and find a common sense solution that doesn’t harm the good citizens of southern Randolph County.

Jim Marsh

Buckhannon

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