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Shane Highley's tenure as Tyler County Schools superintendent isn't about to end after all.
The West Virginia Department of Education recently announced that it would retain Highley as Tyler superintendent, despite the Tyler County Board of Education voting 3-2 not to renew his contract earlier this year. That's because the WVDE has stripped the Tyler County school board of its decision-making powers due to emergency intervention.
The state education department has assumed control of those decision-making powers. West Virginia State Schools Superintendent Michele Blatt announced recently that, instead of finding a new person to lead Tyler County Schools, the district will stay with Highley.
Highley said he was excited to continue his work in Tyler County.
"I am grateful for the opportunity to continue to serve the students and staff of Tyler County Schools," he said. "We share an important goal, and that is providing the best education for the children of our county and ensuring they are prepared for life after high school. I am committed to doing what is required of me so that students benefit from our collaborative efforts and unified focus that will be the foundation of learning and success."
Tyler County Schools Human Resources Director Tricia Feldmeier had been picked by the board to replace Highley, but that was rescinded after the state's intervention.
The Tyler County Board of Education originally voted 3-2 in January to not renew Highley's contract. The board stayed mum after reconsidering the matter and voting 3-2 again not to renew, despite numerous protests from Tyler County residents supporting Highley.
Highley in March offered his thoughts as to why he wasn't renewed -- a disagreement over the database used to hire employees, an interaction with someone at a Tyler Consolidated volleyball match and adding blue to Tyler Consolidated's color scheme without getting board permission.
It was announced earlier in May that the state education department would intervene in Tyler County Schools following an investigation that turned up several areas of concern. One of those was the school board's silence on its vote not to renew Highley's contract. Other concerns were an over-reliance on executive session by board members, that the school district's volunteer policy does not require a background check, and that several board members "did not seem to have a complete understanding of what intervention may entail."
According to a WVDE investigator, that included one board member suggesting the voting privileges of three other board members be limited, and another board member suggesting the WVDE buy out Highley's contract and immediately name a replacement.
Also, county school staff members interviewed mentioned low morale and fear of retaliation against staffers who were supportive of the superintendent.