Go Pound Sand?

 

 March 28, 2024

Pocahontas County Board of Education
Attn: Dr. Sue Hollandsworth, President
404 Old Buckeye Road
Buckeye, West Virginia 24924

Re: Request for Meeting Concerning Proposed 2024-2025 Budget Cuts

Dear Dr. Hollandsworth & Members of the Board:

The Local School Improvement Council (LSIC) of Pocahontas County High School writes to  express deep concern regarding the rumors of proposed budget cuts for the 2024-2025 academic year. If these cuts, as indicated by the positions that have received reduction in force notices, come to fruition, they stand to dismantle vital teaching positions and erode some of our most esteemed academic programs. Understanding the gravity of the possible loss of these positions and the profound impact they will have on our school community, the LSIC respectfully requests an opportunity to engage in dialogue with the Board before any definitive action is taken.

In accordance with West Virginia Code 18-58-2, the LSIC formally requests that the Board schedule a meeting before April 12, 2024 to provide insight into the budgetary constraints identified and the anticipated repercussions of the proposed cuts. As you well know, the LSIC is mandated by West Virginia code to create a dialog with “parents, students, school employees, business partners and other interested parties” that addresses issues affecting the High School’s “academic performance, curricular, resources, and the capacity for school improvement.” Regrettably, the LSIC finds itself unable to fulfill its statutory obligations as we have received no information regarding the proposed cuts or their implications for the high school's curriculum in
the upcoming academic year.

The LSIC finds itself shrouded in uncertainty regarding this matter, with news of the possible cuts spreading rapidly throughout the county since their revelation. In response, some of our students have engaged in protests, resulting in suspensions, while our dedicated teachers grapple with uncertainty surrounding their professional futures. Additionally, distressed parents have approached LSIC members seeking guidance, pondering the prospect of relocating their children to neighboring counties for high school due to the proposed cuts.

Our community looks to the LSIC for assistance and answers during this tumultuous time, yet we find ourselves ill-equipped to provide support due to the absence of pertinent information. We earnestly implore the Board to extend its guidance and cooperation to the LSIC, enabling us to fulfill our legal obligations and serve the best interests of our school community.

We eagerly anticipate receiving an invitation to meet with the Board on or before April 12, 2024.

Thank you in advance for your responsiveness to these pressing concerns.

Sincerely,

Pocahontas County High School LSIC