Public commenter alleges irregularities and seeks private meeting with board; board declines immediate action

During the public-comment period at the May 11 meeting of the McDowell County Board of Education, a speaker identified as Mr. Owens asked how to secure a private meeting with the board and made allegations about apparent prior irregularities involving district funds.

Mr. Owens said he had submitted written requests and asserted he had collected “about a thousand signatures” supporting his effort to seek election to the board as a write-in candidate. He also alleged that money had been moved and that someone had “admitted to it,” and said local law enforcement had not produced an enforcement action. “If there was anything illegal that was done, then there would have been something that came out of that,” he said, summarizing his position that law enforcement had investigated and found no action to pursue.

Chairman Frank apologized on behalf of the board for Owens’s prior experience engaging with district staff and then moved on to the meeting’s unfinished business. The board did not take any formal action in response to Owens’s specific allegations at the May 11 meeting.

Status and context: The statements recorded in public comment were allegations made by a citizen; they were not presented as part of a staff report or official investigation in the meeting record. The board’s public-comment guidelines (cited at the meeting as General Statute 115C-51 and Board Policy 2310) allow speakers up to three minutes and limit the board’s response to requests for clarification.

What remains unresolved: The transcript does not record any corroborating evidence, a named complainant beyond Owens, or follow-up steps directed by the board. The claims therefore remain allegations recorded in public comment and unresolved in the meeting record.