We, the parents, teachers, and community members of Verdunville, West Virginia, are fighting to save Verdunville Elementary School—a 70-year-old cornerstone of our rural, blue-collar community. On July 31, 2025, Logan County Schools announced an "indefinite" closure due to a minor April 2025 mudslide/rockslide that caused limited visible damage. Yet, other schools like Logan Middle (settling into the river), Justice, Omar, and Holden remain open despite worse issues (e.g., foundation problems, gas leaks, flooding).

Our school excels with award-winning teachers, strong test scores, and a supportive environment where kids thrive—why close the best while ignoring others? We feel betrayed by the lack of transparency, delayed announcements, and a $8 million repair budget that seems inflated with unnecessary upgrades (e.g., new HVAC, plumbing) beyond mudslide fixes. Under state control since 2022, the local BOE has limited power, and decisions seem driven by cost-cutting, politics, and sports revenue over academics.

We demand:

Independent Structural Assessment: A third-party engineer (not American Geotech) to verify if repairs are truly needed and feasible, funded by the West Virginia School Building Authority.
Full Transparency on Quotes and Bids: Reveal how many quotes were obtained for repairs, all vendors involved (including the current one from American Geotech), and any relationships/conflicts with BOE members (Anthony Dean, Deborah Mendez, Dr. Pat J. White, Mark Keyser, Ralph Rodighiero) or county officials. Confirm compliance with WV bidding laws (§5-22-1).
Fair Treatment Compared to Other Schools: Explain why Verdunville is targeted while schools with severe safety issues stay open. Provide equal resources if relocation to Omar proceeds (e.g., extra aides for special needs kids).
Community Input and Timeline: Hold public hearings with state reps present, and a clear plan to reopen if repairs are viable. No consolidation without parent approval.
Accountability for Funds: Audit where Logan County school funding is going, ensuring it's not prioritizing sports/revenue-generating schools over rural ones like ours.
This closure disrupts our kids' education and community—overcrowding at Omar means less support for students who need it. We've seen parallels in Paden City, where a lawsuit bought an extra year; we're ready to fight similarly.

Sign now to hold Superintendent George Aulenbacher, the Logan BOE, and WV Department of Education accountable. Share your story in comments—updates will be added as new concerns arise (e.g., FOIA results on bids).

Who's Affected? Parents from Justice, Omar, Holden, and beyond—join us; your school could be next!