McDowell County gets school system back

McDowell County is regaining full control of its county school system. The state Board of Education made the move in a vote Wednesday morning during a meeting at River View High School in Bradshaw.

The state board took the vote after receiving a report from the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA). The state first seized control of the system in 2001.

“The McDowell County School System has faced challenges but today teachers, parents and students should be proud of what they have accomplished,” Board President Wade Linger said in a released statement. “I am confident this school system will thrive and continue to grow stronger each day.”

The county began showing improvement in 2005 but issues remained with personnel and facilities. Another education performance audit in November 2009 resulted in the state board putting McDowell County on conditional approval status, giving the local school board control over some decisions. Dealing with personnel continued to hold the county back along with some policy problems but Linger said the school system made great progress leading up to Wednesday’s vote.

“The last time the OEPA was in there it looked like the policies were coming along and then the most recent visit they had them in place and following them so they were satisfied that it’s all square now,” said Linger

And now the issues have been resolved.

The state BOE also agreed Wednesday to keep McDowell County Superintendent Nelson Spencer in place.

Wednesday’s vote came on the same day the state board held a joint meeting with the Reconnect McDowell project that has been working to improve schools, communities and families in the county.