The Shadow
LOW MOOR Va. (VR) – The Alleghany Highlands School Board meeting held Monday evening March 17 was a virtual rollercoaster of highs and lows, as board members addressed mounting safety concerns at Covington Middle School while simultaneously celebrating the Highlands’ educational achievements.
The evening began on a positive note, recognizing twelve educators and support staff as Chamber of Commerce award winners. One such awarded teacher was Tina Fields from Covington Middle School. She was named not only Middle School Educator of the Year but also Alleghany Highlands Public Schools Educator of the Year.
Teresa Calvert from Jeter Watson Elementary School received a School Service Personnel of the Year award for her 24 years of faithful, dedicated service.
The mood shifted during public comments, as parents voiced deep-seated concerns about the safety of Covington Middle School following the January incident involving students and staff becoming ill after being exposed to carbon monoxide. Amanda Tomasek, a parent, upset about the board’s decision to reopen the school, stated, “You want us to trust y’all with our children and put our children back in this building when you have already put their lives in danger, not once not twice, but for days upon days upon days?” She emphasized the lack of transparency and demanded more comprehensive information about the building’s safety. She also highlighted the absence of carbon monoxide detectors during previous incidents, calling it “criminal negligence.” She stressed the potential long-term health impacts on students and the need for accountability.
Superintendent Halterman and board members attempted to address these concerns, emphasizing the extensive investigation process that has taken place. Board member Arritt acknowledged the communication failures, stating, “We faltered in keeping our community informed. The criticism about communication is fair.” Board Chair Littleton defended the reopening, asserting that multiple experts were consulted, and no significant safety risks were identified. “If I thought there was something dangerous in that building, I would not have voted to reopen it,” he said.
The board previously approved the school’s reopening and set it for students to return on Tuesday March 18. The board approved several key items, including the 2025-2026 school division budget, which prioritizes staff compensation and maintains existing educational programs. Board member Woodson delivered an enthusiastic speech about the board’s responsibilities, emphasizing the need to govern the consolidated school system effectively. “We need to stop working to politically appease other entities and begin to govern this school system,” he stated.
A unique moment of levity came during the instructional spotlight which featured third-grade students from Callahan Elementary performing a “Fluency Karaoke” reading strategy, where students work to improve reading skills by singing song lyrics. The meeting also highlighted an innovative health initiative by the local YMCA, focusing on reducing tobacco and vaping use among youth. Marketing students from the Jackson River Technical Center created a logo and social media campaign for the program.
Board member Arritt perhaps best captured the evening’s underlying tensions, saying, “Trust can break, but it can also mend. We might disagree with each other and sometimes strongly, but I believe in the idea that Allegheny Highlands is one community.”
The public’s comments revealed deep community frustration. One speaker, known to everyone in the area as Mrs. D, shared a personal story of being fired from a substitute teaching position without what she considered a proper investigation, highlighting broader concerns about accountability within the school system.
Board members repeatedly emphasized their commitment to student safety and educational excellence. Mr. Franson stated passionately that, “There’s not a single board member here that would let a kid go in a building that we were not sure is safe.”
The meeting concluded with a closed session to discuss personnel matters and potential legal issues, leaving many community members hoping for more concrete answers and transparency.
As the district moves forward, the challenges are clear: rebuilding trust, improving communication, and ensuring student safety remain paramount concerns. The board’s ability to address these issues will likely determine the community’s confidence in the school system. The tension was palpable, but so was the underlying commitment to education. As Superintendent Halterman noted, “We continue to appreciate the patience and the hard work of our community.”
