Tyler County Board of Education Votes Again Not To Renew Superintendent’s Contract

photo by: Ed Parsons
A crowd packs Tyler Consolidated High School's auditorium, many voicing their support for Superintendent Shane Highley, to watch the Tyler County Board of Education once again vote 3-2 to not renew Highley's contract.
SISTERSVILLE — A long line of speakers voicing their support wasn’t enough to get the Tyler County Board of Education to change its mind on renewing Superintendent Shane Highley’s contract.
Even after several people lauded Highley, the board returned from a short closed-door session with the same vote it cast the first time it ruled on Highley’s contract in January — 3-2 not to renew.
The split among the board members also remained the same. Board members Diane Stender, Larry Thomas and Andy Shreves voted against renewing Highley’s contract, while Board President Katrina Byers and board member Scott Strode voted to keep Highley.
Many of the people who packed Monday’s meeting at Tyler Consolidated High School — county teachers, coaches, students and parents — turned out to speak in favor of Highley and the job he has done as superintendent. Each speaker was given 10 minutes to voice their opinions, pushing the meeting’s end until close to midnight.
County resident Steve Placer, a longtime supporter of Tyler County Schools, bluntly told the board it had made the wrong decision.
“They need to change that tonight,” he said. “Superintendent Highley has done nothing but good things for Tyler County Schools. Teacher morale has been at an all-time high under his leadership. Test scores are high, and Tyler County schools rank high among the state schools.”
Highley’s father Keith Highley also addressed the board. He said that Shane Highley had performed his job above expectations, and the board’s split decision not to renew him was due to personal agendas against him.
“They are not looking at his record, which is extraordinary,” Keith Highley said. “He has met or exceeded all the standards set for him. Three board members looked the other way and decided he hasn’t done enough. They need to reverse that tonight.”
Tyler resident Kay Lynn Wells added to the chorus of voices telling the board that Highley has earned the right to stay.
“Superintendent Highley has done a great job,” she said. “He is what Tyler County Schools need. The community, teachers, administrators and students support him.”