Marshall County Board of Education Not Elaborating on Decision Not To Renew Crook’s Contract
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Following the contentious decision to not renew the contract of Marshall County Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Crook, board members are remaining tight-lipped about their motivations for the vote.
The board voted 4-1 in favor of not renewing Crook's two-year contract upon its completion on June 31, with Lori Kestner casting the sole vote in Crook's favor. Board President John Miller was joined by board members Duane Miller, Brenda Coffield and Christie Robison in voting against the renewal -- a vote that drew outrage from the assembled crowd and afterward on social media.
John Miller was the only member of the board to return a call seeking comment after the meeting, affirming that he would not discuss the circumstances of the board's vote nor give a reason for his own vote.
"Due to the sensitivity and confidentiality of personnel … I really can't make a comment," Miller said.
Other board members did not respond to calls seeking comment. Duane Miller declined to comment citing similar reasons of confidentiality, immediately following the board meeting.
Crook had moved from Hampshire County, along with his family, after his hire in May 2017. In his time as superintendent, teachers and parents spoke about his continual presence at every school function, including his presence alongside teachers during their strike last year.
"This is a guy who represents every kid and every teacher in Marshall County," local parent and business owner Eric Tucker said at the board meeting. "When these teachers had to fight for a fair wage during the work stoppage, there was one … guy with glasses I saw standing beside them. He didn't have to do that."
Tucker also lauded Crook's habit of visiting classrooms and teachers during instructional hours, which made him a well-known face among the student body. While Tucker said it was rumored that some on the board had criticized Crook's presence in the classrooms, he argued that it was an important role for an administrator to play as opposed to the hands-off approach he said past superintendents had used.
"I know some on the board, through rumor, had said, 'Stay out of the classrooms, leave that to the teachers.' I think that is a bad move," Tucker said. "Our administrators need to be in the classrooms so they can see what the teachers need, what the students need. Discipline has gone to the wayside these last 15, 20 years, and I respect this man so much for what he's done."
Tucker concluded by presenting Crook with a petition signed by 1,000 voters, gathered across three days, who felt that Marshall County was advancing under Crook's leadership and asking for his contract to be renewed.
Prior to the meeting, John Miller pointed out that West Virginia State Police troopers were posted at the doors to maintain order. One woman was asked by police to stop disrupting the meeting, following the vote.
Crook was chosen for the job in a unanimous vote by the board in 2017 following the retirement of former superintendent Michael Hince.