State school board not rushing to replace Schools for the Deaf and The Blind superintendent

“That is something the board has not determined yet. It hasn’t been discussed among the board yet.”

On Nov. 17, the board unanimously voted to terminate the employment of then-Superintendent Martin P. Keller Jr. The meeting was conducted in Charleston, but most members attended by telephone.

Following Keller’s termination, the board appointed Mark Gandolfi and Jamie Vittorio to perform administrative duties for the schools until a new superintendent is appointed.

Keller had been superintendent since Aug. 21, 2015. He replaced Lynn Boyer, who had retired. Keller is an Indiana native and had previously served as principal at the Indiana School for the Deaf.

On Nov. 27, Keller filed a lawsuit in Kanawha County Circuit Court challenging his dismissal. His complaint says the notice of the board’s special meeting did not provide him with notice that his termination would be voted on.

Also, the board did not afford Keller the opportunity to request that the matter of his discharge be discussed in public rather than in an executive session, the complaint says.

The board also did not provide him with the charges against him in writing, the complaint says.

In addition, the board acted with “bias, prejudice and arbitrariness” in violation of his due process rights, the complaint says.

The complaint asks the court to annul the decision to terminate Keller’s employment and his eviction from the superintendent’s residence on school grounds.

In its response filed Nov. 28, the board said Keller’s complaint “is riddled with inaccuracies and misrepresentations as to the applicable law.”

The board says notice of the meeting was posted in accordance with state law.

Keller was advised Nov. 9 by Superintendent of Schools Steven Paine that the board was going to consider his termination at an open meeting on Nov. 17, the response says.

Keller was notified of his option to proceed in open session but chose an executive session instead, the complaint says.

Noting that Keller’s complaint says the board was required to give him 10 days’ notice, the board’s response says that section of law applies only to county school superintendents, not to the superintendent of the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind.

The board did not discuss the superintendent situation when it met for two days in Huntington this week.

However, on Dec. 1 board President Tom Campbell did issue a three-paragraph statement.

“The recent action taken by the West Virginia Board of Education to terminate the Superintendent of the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind was a State Board of Education decision. The State Board of Education is solely responsible for its decision. This was not a decision of the State Superintendent,” the statement said.

“As with all personnel matters, the Board followed internal processes to arrive at its decision, which are consistent with standard operating procedures. We do not disclose details about the Board’s personnel actions and are precluded from commenting about discussions held in executive session. Any questions regarding a specific employee should be directed to that individual.

“Although this personnel action involved a change of leadership at the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, it does not change the bright future of the Schools and its mission. The Board stands by its action and remains committed to acting in the best interest of the Schools for the Deaf and the Blind, its students, staff and valued community supporters. I look forward to a long and productive future relationship with the Schools, focusing on the success and achievement of its students.”

The West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and the Blind is located in Romney.

It is designed to meet the special needs of children with hearing disabilities, visual disabilities or those with combined hearing and visual losses.