The West Virginia State Board of Education is facing sharp criticism after approving the closure of Harman School, along with an appeal from community members that sat unanswered — a move that parents and local advocates say exposes a breakdown in the state’s oversight process.

The appeal, filed by residents of the Harman community, challenged the West Virginia State Board of Education as well as Randolph County Board of Education’s justification for shutting down the K-12 school. It included transportation data, and Impact Statement information that advocates say directly contradicted the county’s claims. Despite that, the State Board continues with the closure without publicly acknowledging the appeal or the evidence attached to it.

Advocates describe the Board’s handling of the case as a deliberate sidestep of its responsibility to review “factual” information before making a decision that will reshape a rural community.

“We put documented facts in front of them — and they acted like none of it existed,” said one community representative. “This wasn’t a review. It was a rubber stamp.”

Parents say the silence from the State Board has left them with the impression that the outcome was predetermined long before the vote. Many argue that the Board’s refusal to address the appeal signals a deeper problem: a state oversight system that appears willing to ignore its own procedures when they become inconvenient.

The closure of Harman School will force students into longer than acceptable commutes across mountainous terrain and remove one of the last remaining institutions anchoring the town. Residents say the Board’s unwillingness to engage with the factual record has amplified the harm.

“This wasn’t just a paperwork failure,” said a Harman parent. “They made a life‒changing decision for our kids without even looking at the truth.”

The Harman case comes amid a wave of rural school closures across West Virginia. Critics say the pattern reveals a troubling trend: state‒level decisions that prioritize consolidation over community impact, often with little transparency.

Education observers note that the State Board is obligated to evaluate whether county boards follow proper procedures and verify the integrity of the information submitted for consideration. In this case, advocates say that obligation was ignored.

The only response received from the state was from Jeffrey Kelley, Associate Superintendent, External Operations of WVDE stating that decisions of the West Virginia State Board of Education are “final and not subject to appeal.”  No explanation was provided, and none of the evidence submitted was referenced or reviewed.

This statement has caused considerable confusion, as documentation was submitted demonstrating that false information was provided by Randolph County administration during the appeal process, yet the State Board has declined to acknowledge or address it.

This has left the community with the impression that the appeals process is not functioning as intended and that established laws and policies are being disregarded without accountability.  For many in Harman and Randolph County, this speaks volumes.

Residents are now weighing further legal and administrative action, arguing that the Board’s handling of the case undermines public trust in the state’s education system.

Some are calling for legislative intervention to ensure that appeals are not simply ignored in future cases.

Phil Perrine

Harman