By LAUREN MATTHEWS

For the News-Register

Wetzel County Board of Education members met behind closed doors for about two and a half hours to discuss personnel matters, but took no action after the lengthy executive session.

The board called the special meeting on the heels of the Nov. 2 meeting, when Superintendent Leatha Williams came under fire from parents and others in the community who have complained about curriculum changes and discontinuation of some extracurricular activites.

More than a 1,000 people have signed a petition demanding Williams’ resignation.

Despite a high number of teachers at Tuesday’s night meeting, board members never publicly stated the meeting was to discuss Williams’ future.

After the meeting, board President Mike Blair said the meeting concerned multiple personnel issues.

More than 100 people gathered outside the board office Tuesday urging Williams’ removal.

“I hope we do what’s best for students of the schools, which means we need a new leader,” said New Martinsville School teacher Linda Fonner, who has been an educator for nearly 37 years.

New Martinsville School teacher Aimee Carpenter also expressed the need for new leadership in Wetzel County Schools.

She said the morale of teachers has been horrible, and she believes it’s having an effect on students.

“They can feel the tension with the teachers,” she said.

Williams said she was moved by the parents who came to the meeting to speak, as well as the teachers.

Williams said the schools are implementing interim assessments to better prepare students for college and career readiness.