Public Notice

NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARINGS
PROPOSED CLOSURE AND MERGER OF Pickens K-12 SCHOOL INTO George Ward ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, Tygarts Valley MIDDLE/High SCHOOL
RANDOLPH COUNTY
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The Randolph County Board of Education will hold three public hearings on the Superintendent’s recommendation to close Pickens K-12 School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and to merge it into George Ward Elementary School and Tygarts Valley Middle/High School:
LOCATION: Pickens K-12 School, 1 Panther Place, Pickens, WV
DATE AND TIME: December 16, 2024, at 6 p.m. Sign in to speak between 5:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.
LOCATION: George Ward Elementary School at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, 10189 Seneca Trail, Mill Creek, WV
DATE AND TIME: December 17, 2024, at 6:00 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, 10189 Seneca Trail, Mill Creek, WV
DATE AND TIME: December 17, 2024, at 6:30 p.m.
Sign in to speak between 6:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
If, at the time a hearing is called to order, the Board determines that the location is of insufficient size to accommodate all who desire to attend, the hearing will be recessed and moved to a new location of sufficient size to accommodate all those who desire to attend. If that happens, the new meeting location will be posted at the original meeting location. If a public hearing is not completed by 11 p.m., it will be recessed, to be continued on a date and at a time designated and announced by the Board just prior to the hearing recess, to be continued day-to-day until concluded . The public hearings, as well as any reconvened session of the public hearings, shall end at the conclusion of each hearing’s business or at 11 p.m., whichever occurs earlier.
ALTERNATE DATES AND TIMES
If, due to inclement weather or other cause, any hearing cannot be held on the scheduled date, the hearing or meeting will be held at the same location as originally scheduled, but on January 6, 2025, beginning at 6:00 p.m. If for any reason a hearing cannot be conducted on the alternate date or time, the Board will determine a date or time.
HEARING PROCEDURES
For a period of 30 minutes prior to the commencement of a public hearing, persons may and are encouraged to register at the hearing location for the purpose of making statements, offering testimony, and questioning school officials concerning the proposals. Each hearing will begin with an oral summary by a representative of Randolph County Schools of the reasons and supporting data in connection with the proposed action by the Board. Speakers will then be recognized in the order in which they registered. Each speaker shall be limited to 5 minutes unless, in accordance with Board Policy 0169.1, the President reduces that time limit to provide all persons wishing to speak the opportunity to do so.
SUBMISSION OF
WRITTEN MATERIAL
The Board will consider any written material submitted by members of the public concerning the proposals if the material, with 6 copies, is submitted to and received by the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 40 Eleventh Street, West Virginia, before 4:00 p.m. on December 9, 2024, including any findings and recommendations from the local school improvement councils representing Pickens K-12, George Ward Elementary and Tygarts Valley Middle/High Schools.
REASONS AND
SUPPORTING DATA
Until the date of the first hearing, written reasons for the Superintendent’s recommendations in the form of an Impact Statement and Supporting Data are available for public inspection in the Office of the Superintendent of Schools at 40 Eleventh Street, Elkins, West Virginia, on weekdays between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4:00 p.m.
FINAL ACTION
The Board of Education will take formal action on the Superintendent’s proposal to close Pickens K-12 School at the end of the 2024-2025 school year, and to merge it into George Ward Elementary School and Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, at its meeting at Tygarts Valley Middle/High School, 10189 Seneca Trail, Mill Creek, West Virginia, on December 17, 2024, beginning at 7:00 p.m. If, due to inclement weather or other cause, the Board meeting cannot be held on the scheduled date, the meeting will be held at the same location as originally scheduled, but on January 6, 2025, at 6:00 p.m.
Shawn L. Dilly, Ph.D.,
Superintendent
Randolph County Board of Education