Northern WV MOVCAC Chapter
by Heather Farmer, Ohio County, WV
All concerned citizens of Ohio County WV are encouraged to watch the video of the Ohio County Board of Education’s Special meeting held last night, Thursday, June 29, 2023, in order to get a clear picture of the serious situation that took place. (Link in the previous post).
Four delegations expressed support for the appointment of Jessica Powers to the vacant District 1 seat. One hundred ten signatures of support for Jessica Powers were given to the BOE. In the 2022 election, Jessica Powers received over 2,700 votes in her bid for the BOE position.
As a frequent volunteer in Ohio County Schools with years of commitment and dedication, Jessica Powers has proven her interest and ability to get the job done. She has been a great blessing to OCS, and no doubt she would continue to be as a member of the BOE.
Several people watching the meeting expressed that they saw that the failure to appoint an applicant to the vacant seat fell largely on Board President Andy Garber based on his lack of understanding of what qualities and experiences better qualify one to serve on the BOE. He is not the only one who has this misunderstanding. There are some who wrongly believe that former employees of OCS will automatically translate to good BOE members. I think Mr. Garber, shed light onto that fallacy last night, seconded by Pete Chacalos. Mr. Garber’s unwillingness to have continued discussion and consider what Ohio County residents are looking for in a BOE member caused him to ignore local citizens and surrendered the BOE privilege and responsibility over to the WV State Superintendent, ultimately giving the power to someone outside of our community.
Ohio County residents can send emails to the newly appointed WV State Superintendent, Michelle Blatt, with the hope that our voices will be heard, and request that she appoint Jessica Powers to fill the vacancy.
The deadline for the appointment is Monday, July 3, 2023. Superintendent Blatt must hear from us.
Andy Garber and Pete Chacalos disregarded the strong support given to Jessica Powers by Ohio County residents last night. They need to be held accountable in future elections.
Thank you David Croft and Molly Aderholt for once again using wisdom and discernment in serving your constituents!
Newspaper Article
Ohio County Board of Education Can’t Decide on New Member Appointment
WHEELING, WV — The decision on who will fill a vacant seat on the Ohio County Board of Education is now up to new West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt.
The names before her will be those of past school board candidate Jessica Powers; and of Olivia Litman, marketing director for the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Separate motions Thursday to appoint both Powers and Litman ended in 2-2 ties. Board members David Croft and Molly Aderholt backed Powers, while board president Andy Garber and member Pete Chacalos backed Litman.
Also seeking the vacant school board seat were Bernie Albertini, administrator and chief operating officer at East Ohio Regional Hospital; and Chuck Wood, principal investigator with Natural Institute of Health programs at Wheeling University.
The board members couldn’t reach consensus Thursday night as to who among four applicants should join them to serve out the unexpired term of Grace Norton, who died May 27.
Norton had represented Magisterial District 1 on the board.
Each applicant for the board seat was given five minutes to present themselves, with current board members asking follow up questions after already studying resumes submitted by the applicants.
But prior to the presentations, there was a series of delegations — members of the public addressing the board.
The first, Sarah Alig, spoke her support for Powers and presented the board with a petition with 110 signatures from others wanting Powers as a board member.
The second, retired Ohio County Schools teacher Rick Thomas, voiced his support for Powers. He noted she was the first parent to step forward when he needed help in starting an archery program for Ohio County Schools.
The third, former board of education candidate, John Gearry, said he had been approached about applying for the vacant seat but could not serve at this time. He voiced his support for Powers, noting that while she didn’t win a seat in the 2022 election she has received more votes in the race than did Norton in the 2020 election.
A fourth speaker, former teacher Jennifer Lewis, also spoke in favor of Powers.
Among the applicants, Albertini was first to address the board. He described himself as a hospital administrator who opened a hospital during the COVID crisis. He said he has been a member of many boards, but that serving on local school improvement councils had inspired him to want to serve on the board of education.
Albertini identified himself as living in District 1, but Garber said he had checked the address of each applicant with the Ohio County Commission office and discovered Albertini lived in District 2. That fact was confirmed by an online search of the West Virginia Secretary of State database during the meeting.
Powers identified herself as “a mom” who has children in the system.
“From the time my oldest started kindergarten, I have been an extremely involved parent — from cupcakes to cutting out handprints for teachers to chaperoning trips,” she said.
She noted she diligently watches every school board meeting online.
Wood spoke of his science background and work with both NASA and Wheeling University’s former Center for Education Technology.
“I’m very strong in science… but I’m here for reading,” he told the board.
Croft noted that he remembered Wood as being among those most critical of the board’s decision to reduce funding to the Ohio County Library.
He asked Wood if he would be appointed would he act in the favor of the students of Ohio County Schools, or would he favor other organizations “you personally have a connection to?”
Wood responded he was sorry Croft disagreed with his statements about the library. He also acknowledged he did not live in District 1, but was a resident of District 2.
Litman — wearing a necklace that stated “Mama” — became emotional when she said it was her love of her children that inspired her to want to be on the school board. She mentioned her oldest daughter, an artist and “a leader;” her second daughter, who has had educational struggles since COVID; and her son, a kindergarten student she termed “a wildcard.”
“I’m really concerned about you all if you ever have to work with him,” Litman said to laughter.
Chacalos and Garber both told Litman they had been impressed with the resume she submitted.
Garber next read to those in attendance a letter from an attorney at the West Virginia Department of Education citing his opinion that the board member appointed should be a resident of District 1, as was Norton. There currently is no District 1 representative on the board.
Based on that information, Garber said the board’s decision should be between Powers and Litman.
Aderholt made a motion that Powers be appointed. She cited the community’s support, the large number of votes she received in the 2022 election and that she was already vested in the school system.
“It’s the right thing to do for our community rather than us choosing someone else,” Aderholt said.
Croft agreed, noting that it would be “disrespectful” of the community for the board not to select her.
Chacalos was not in favor.
“Mrs. Powers is a wonderful woman, and she ran a great campaign,” he said of Powers. “Just because she ran a great campaign doesn’t mean she is the most qualified person.”
Garber sided with Chacalos, and spoke in support of Litman.
“She told us she has ‘authenticity,’ and that’s a wonderful quality to have,” he said.
After the votes for both Powers and Litman were deadlocked, Garber said he would follow state law and send their names on to the state school superintendent for consideration. Croft, an attorney, indicated his disagreement with the legal interpretation that the new member must live in District 1.
“That’s one attorney’s opinion, and why we have judges and rulings,” he continued.
Croft and Aderholt then pushed to have Albertini’s name added to the list for the state superintendent’s consideration. That motion also was voted down 2-2.
“I’m a little shocked, especially with the showing by the public tonight and getting over 2,700 votes,” Powers said after the meeting. “But apparently people look better on paper.”
Litman said she nearly arrived late because she thought the meeting started at 7 p.m, only to learn at 5:20 p.m. that it began at 6 p.m.
“I came, and I came to take this on,” she said. “It’s going to be a learning process. I’m a parent who wants to be involved… and I am humble enough to know that I have a lot to learn.”
