Published: June 12, 2008 10:52 am      

Time for citizens to hold school board accountable

Let me start by telling you a story. I love stories and I believe you will enjoy this one. Some of you will even remember when this one happened.

This weekend my family was looking through an abandoned house. My son, Levi, the pack rat, picked up an old newspaper and brought it home. Later that night, I glanced at the front page. To my amazement, it was a story about a local boy who had been granted a special privilege of attending Potomac State College without a GED or a high school diploma.

Aaron Peer, son of Steve and Jo Ellen Peer of Fort Ashby, W.Va., was home schooled. Dean Nancy M. Hackensmith said that a conditional admission statement was developed to allow special cases like Aaron to study at the college. He had completed two years of math, engineering and science courses with a perfect 4.0. Way to go, Aaron! This newspaper was dated July 16, 1994. The article went on to tell of Aaron's accomplishments.

I began to think about the home schooled students who currently attend PSC at a young age, without a high school diploma or GED . Somehow, PSC finds a way to deal with these students in their system. These home schooled students take classes because they want to learn what the teacher has to offer.

How many of you teachers would enjoy having more students like that in your class? How many of you have had home schooled students in your class? Would you dare speak up and tell us about those students who were in your class? I know that it is difficult to speak out against the system. Over the last few months, I have heard many stories about the wrongdoing in our county school system. But these people would not dare speak up for fear of losing their job security or that funding may be denied for their projects.

I have witnessed a board meeting where a cook manager requested a raise because of the extra responsibility that has been added to her job. Her request was denied, even though the board is considering requiring them to take computer classes and time management classes, at Moorefield, no less.

A state board member recently told me that it is up to the citizens of Mineral County (That is you.) to hold our elected board members accountable. How good of a job are we doing?

Bretta Spencer
Rt. 1, Keyser, W.Va.