1012 1019
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS ON A PROPOSAL TO CLOSE AND CONSOLIDATE
H. E. WHITE ELEMENTARY AND/OR LIZEMORE ELEMENTARY
INTO EXISTING CLAY ELEMENTARY
THE BOARD OF EDUCATION OF THE COUNTY OF CLAY
WV 18-4-13a
WV Board of Education Policy 6204
The Clay County Board of Education will hold three public hearings, as follow, on the Superintendent’s recommendation to close H. E. White Elementary and/or Lizemore Elementary and consolidate them into existing Clay Elementary to take effect at the end of the 2023-2024 school year.
• H. E. White Elementary School Public Hearing
LOCATION: H. E. White Elementary School
DATE AND TIME: November 2, 2023, at 6:00 P.M.
Sign in between 5:00 P.M. and 5:55 P.M. to speak.
• Lizemore Elementary School Public Hearing
LOCATION: Lizemore Elementary School
DATE AND TIME: November 6, 2023, at 6:00 P.M.
Sign in between 5:00 P.M. and 5:55 P.M. to speak.
• Clay Elementary School Public Hearing
LOCATION: Clay Elementary School
DATE AND TIME: November 7, 2023, at 6:00 P.M.
Sign in between 5:00 P.M. and 5:55 P.M. to speak.
ALTERNATIVE DATES AND TIME:
Should the hearing be unable to be held on the scheduled date due to inclement weather or other factors beyond the control of the county, the hearing(s) will be held on the following dates at the same location and time as the originally scheduled hearing:
• H. E. White Elementary November 3, 2023, beginning at 6:00 P.M.
• Lizemore Elementary November 8, 2023, beginning at 6:00 P.M.
• Clay Elementary November 9, 2023, beginning at 6:00 P.M.
If for any other reason the meeting cannot be conducted on the alternative date or time, the board of education shall determine a date or time.
Should the hearing require additional time beyond 11:00 P.M., it will be recessed and will reconvene at the same location as the recessed hearing at 6:00 P.M. on the next business day on which no other hearing is scheduled.
PLACE:
The hearing location is subject to change if, at the time the meeting is called to order, it is determined there is insufficient room to accommodate all those who wish to attend. The hearing shall be recessed and moved to a new location of sufficient size to accommodate those who wish to attend. If that happens, the new meeting location shall be posted at the original meeting location.
PROPOSED ACTION OF THE CLAY COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION:
Closure and consolidation of H. E. White Elementary and/or Lizemore Elementary with existing Clay Elementary at the end of the 2023-2024 school year
SUBMISSION OF WRITTEN MATERIAL:
Six copies of written material intended to be reviewed by the county board of education must be submitted to the Office of the Superintendent, 285 Church Street, Clay, West Virginia 25043 on or before the close of business on October 26, 2023, in order to provide the county board of education time to consider the material before the vote. Facilities will be made available to make copies up to ten pages.
HEARING PROCEDURES:
A representative of Clay County Schools will provide an oral summary of the reasons and supporting data in connection with the proposed action of the Board. For a period of fifty-five minutes prior to the commencement of the public hearing, persons may sign a register for the purpose of making statements, offering testimony, and questioning school officials. Persons wishing to speak about the effects of the proposed closure of H. E. White Elementary and/or Lizemore Elementary and consolidation into existing Clay Elementary, as well as those who wish to speak as members of the general public, will be recognized in the order in which they have signed the register. Each person shall be limited to three minutes. Written statements may be submitted in lieu of oral statements or testimony and must be submitted prior to the conclusion of the hearing. Any written statement will be given full consideration before the board takes any final action.
REASONS AND SUPPORTING DATA AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION:
Written reasons and supporting data in connection with the proposed action of the Board are available for public inspection on week days when school is in session by September 20, 2023, through November 9, 2023, between the hours of 7:30 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. in the Office of the Superintendent of Clay County Schools located at 285 Church Street, Clay, West Virginia.
Philip Dobbins,
Superintendent
Clay County Board of Education
September 13, 2023