KANAWHA COUNTY, W.Va. — A teacher at Chandler Academy told the Kanawha County Board of Education on April 17 that the district changed plans to relocate the expectant-mothers program and has refused offers of free construction and daycare. Superintendent Dr. Chris Williams responded that students would retain access to vocational centers and that on-site services at Capital High School would meet students’ needs.

Amanda Hager, who identified herself as a teacher in the expectant-mothers program, said a meeting on Aug. 9, 2024 with Dr. George Allenbarger (the district staff member who showed classroom and daycare plans) included discussions of accommodations for students with attendance issues and options for Career & Technical Education. Hager said those plans changed shortly after she advocated for Chandler Academy students.

"When I presented this that I can get you up to $1,000,000 in construction at no cost to you...and I can get you a daycare there at no cost to you...why you still want to move this to Capital High School?" Hager told the board. She said students feel unsafe at Capital High School and would not use a day care there because other high-school students would be present.

Hager also said a local construction company, New Birth Construction, offered to perform construction work for free up to $1,000,000, and that Playmates Child Development Center had offered to provide daycare services at no cost. She said the proposed relocation would place students in an environment they are trying to escape and that students had not been contacted directly about the change.

Superintendent Dr. Chris Williams told the board the district will not deny students access to Ben Franklin or Carver career centers: "The students will not be denied Ben Franklin and Carver because at Capital they will be able to go to Ben Franklin and Carver. Secondly, it will cost nothing. The day care at Capital High School, the students in the expectant mothers program will be able to work in the day care at Capital High School and get CTE credit for that and a certificate." Williams also said students who prefer college-level classes could take those at Capital High School.

Williams pressed on Hager’s credibility in the meeting exchange, saying Hager had phone audio on speaker during the August meeting and that the board had recorded significant unexcused absences among the students cited. He said several named students had 91, 40 and 16 unexcused absences and that only an eighth-grade student would not qualify for Ben Franklin because of age.

Board members asked whether attendance at Capital High School would count against Capital’s attendance records; Williams clarified the students would be listed as alternative students and would not be counted against Capital High School’s attendance totals.

No formal vote or policy change on the relocation was taken at the meeting. Williams offered to have Dr. Allenbarger meet with students and parents; he said he was unsure whether that meeting would change opinions but said the district could arrange it without the teacher present if requested.

Why it matters

The expectant-mothers program serves students who often face attendance and safety barriers. The relocation touches on student safety, access to career-technical education and how the district communicates with program participants and families.

What's next

Superintendent Williams said staff will provide transportation to career-technical centers and can arrange for Dr. Allenbarger to speak with students and parents. No action was scheduled at the meeting to finalize the relocation.