GILMER SCHOOL LEVY SQUEAKS BY - 'Great News For The Children," Says Superintendent Blankenship

(11/14/2012)
The Gilmer County Board of Education excess levy picked up five more votes in the canvass Tuesday in Glenville.

The levy, according to the unofficial talley last week barely squeaked by to cover a 50% simple majority.

Tuesdays results were 1171 for and 1159 against.

"That is great news for the children in Gilmer County," said Superintendent Ron Blankenship.

Blankenship had described his outlook for passage in one word: "apprehension."

"We thought it would be close, but we didn't think it would be this close," Blankenship told the Charleston Daily Mail.

Opposition to the levy was mainly conducted on Internet blogs, with most comments against the levy posted by anonymous bloggers.

Gilmer County residents have been divided after the state took over the county school system, not because of poor academic outcomes, but related to an effort to close community schools that are in disrepair and consolidate them.

All county schools met the No Child Left Behind/Westest standards.