STATE TAKES OVER GILMER COUNTY SCHOOLS - Surprise Audit Reveals Many Problems, Says Officials

(06/09/2011)

The state Board of Education voted Wednesday to take over the supervision of Gilmer County's school system. State officials made an unannounced visit to Gilmer last month, saying they made numerous discoveries regarding problems with the school system. The performance audit cited issues with leadership, technology, facilities, personnel and finances in the county. Still, news reports have said Gilmer schools had been doing well with academic achievement. The board appointed Ted Mattern to serve as interim superintendent. Mattern served as interim state schools superintendent earlier this year. A state board news release says during an unannounced visit to Gilmer County last month, state auditors found county board members in discord, county board operations were dysfunctional and meetings were unproductive. School systems in Grant, Fayette, Lincoln, Mingo and Preston counties are also currently under state intervention. In many of the counties taken over by the state, the state closed community schools, consolidating them. School consolidation has been a contentious issue in Gilmer for several years, with several elementary schools on a list for closure, including Normantown, Sand Fork and Troy. Community members, generally with support of board members, have opposed the loss of their community schools.

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