Verbal Fireworks at BOE Meeting

On May 26^th, the Pocahontas County Board of Education meeting began with verbal fireworks from five speakers during public input called delegations.

The first speaker, Missy Price made comments about the proposed FY 2026-2027 BOE budget, which was on the agenda for approval at this meeting. Price complained that the posting of the 20-million-dollar budget was not made available on-line, and was only able to be seen at the board office. She also said the budget only balances because of a pre-existing 5 million dollar beginning balance, so we are spending down our reserves, which is unsustainable for the future. She said too much is spent on administrative costs in this budget.  She objected to adding the new position of Vice-Principal for Athletics that costs $50,000 to $80,000  per year to replace a $6,000 Athletic Director at PCHS. She also objected to the proposal on this agenda to allow the Superintendent to hire prior to board approval until October, as the board giving up its hiring decision responsibilities, (although it was later pointed out this has been done for many years to ensure newly graduating teachers can be quickly offered jobs so as to not lose them to other counties.)

Bridgett Koerber, the PCHS Cheer Coach spoke next, addressing what she perceives as inaccurate information about coaching positions put out by the Superintendent at the May 11^th BOE meeting, and the efforts to restructure athletics without first consulting with the coaches, as well as the lack of support for the PCHS Athletic Director Fred Koerber, her husband. She said there is documentary evidence of the good job he has been doing. She said her goal is ensure accuracy, transparency and accountability.

Fred Koerber spoke next about false information put out at the May 11^th board meeting by the Superintendent, that in the 2024-2025 school year all three assistant football coaches were paid a supplement of $750.00, and that is not true, since he and one other assistant football coach were paid that, but the third one, a volunteer coach, who  was not paid. In 2025-2026 school year, three assistant coaches, including himself were paid $1,100, but he was left off the April 28^th list of assistant football coaches despite his “exemplary” rating. He doesn’t know if he is allowed to be an assistant football coach this year or not. He said he filed a grievance over this, but was removed as Athletic Director either for filing the grievance or possibly because he ran for election to the Board of Education.

Nathaniel Sizemore addressed the board. He thanked the anonymous donor who paid the fees for his home-schooled kids to attend robotics class in the schools. He also thanked the teachers and coaches who supported his family. He said he is disappointed in the lack of leadership and support going to teachers by the administration. He said he hopes the faculty at PCHS is allowed to be directly involved in hiring the new principal there.

Chelsea Hooper said that as a parent with two kids in the schools, she is deeply concerned with the direction of the schools. Adding that the staff fears retaliation if they speak out, and she wants all of the personnel decisions by the board postponed until the school staff and community are heard from. She also expressed many of the same objections voiced by Missy Price.

Kristen Thomas also expressed similar concerns, but also called for the resignation of Superintendent Doctor Williams, saying she has a petition for that containing 500 signatures. She said because of the poor administration, many parents are considering taking their kids out of the school system and home schooling them.

Superintendent Williams responded to these delegations. She said that while she hears their concerns, when she arrived here last July, there were no schedules, no report cards, no diplomas, incorrect transcripts, and board members were overstepping their roles by becoming involved in school operations and as a result of all of those things, PCHS was placed under the WV BOE’s State of Emergency, with a state takeover imminent. She said that because state policies were being ignored, instability was the norm. She said these problems preexisted her arrival but such a dysfunctional culture does not disappear overnight. Now, after a lot of effort, they have been released from that State of Emergency in record time. She reviewed the original State of Emergency findings, most of which have now been fixed, with progress being made on the rest.

Williams said this year marks a number of firsts for the schools such as: the first time state policy has been strictly enforced and explained at board meetings and in staff training; a return after 8 years to the block schedule at PCHS; the expansion of course offerings and dual credit courses; the hiring of a Graduation Coach with a counseling background; a focus on having every student who is able to graduate being college and/or career ready. She said they have worked with New River Community and Technical College to offer dual credit career courses. Williams added that what is needed now is patience and grace and we cannot regress into old ways of doing things. She said we cannot allow bullying -on-line or otherwise – to dictate the operations of the school district, or we risk state takeover. With grace and patience, Williams said, we can build one of the best school systems in not just the state, but in the entire nation.