No Action Taken Following Kern Hearing

LOW MOOR — The Alleghany County Board of Supervisors took no action Wednesday after holding an  all-day closed session to investigate allegations against the school board.
The allegations were made in September by Donnie Kern, who serves as the Clifton Forge West District school board representative.
Kern testified before the supervisors under oath Wednesday. The meeting was closed to the public despite objections by Kern and his attorneys. 
Kern levied allegations against the school board and the school division in a paid newspaper advertisement last month.
After the accusations were published, supervisors  announced they would conduct an investigation.
Kern has made numerous allegations against the school division since he was appointed to the school board by the board of supervisors in July 2018.
The school board has asked the  supervisors to consider providing money to reimburse it for legal fees it has encountered in defending itself against Kern’s allegations. Earlier this month, the school board  said those legal bills have totaled approximately $75,000.
Last year, the board of supervisors asked Kern to resign from the school board after a disparaging statement he made about special education students became public. 
Removing Kern from the school board would require action by a circuit court judge. The case would have to be initiated by the board of supervisors. 
Wednesday’s closed session was held at the county governmental complex in Low Moor. 
The meeting began at 9 a.m. and it adjourned around 4:30 p.m.