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Parent alleges superintendent failed to report suspected child abuse, urges board to place her on leave
Summary
Jamie Mitchell told the Pendleton County Board of Education she mailed complaints to state agencies alleging the superintendent refused to report suspected child abuse and that a principal who did report faced retaliation; she asked the board to put the superintendent on administrative leave pending an independent investigation.
Jamie Mitchell, a Franklin parent and taxpayer, told the Pendleton County Board of Education during public comment that she and Principal Derek Lambert reported suspected child abuse to child protective services after, she said, Superintendent Nicole Heer failed to do so.
"Our children deserve leaders who follow the law," Mitchell said, and she asked the board to place Superintendent Nicole Heer on administrative leave immediately pending a full independent investigation, to protect Principal Lambert from further retaliation, and to order a 30-day review of mandatory-reporting compliance and anti-retaliation protections in Pendleton County Schools. Mitchell said she mailed a formal complaint to the state board of education, the state superintendent and the Department of Human Services on June 1 and has certified-mail receipts.
Mitchell cited West Virginia law by number while speaking (transcript cites "West Virginia code 49-2-83" and a second citation read aloud as "492812"). She told the board that, according to the information she provided, Lambert — who she said completed a report to child protective services — later resigned and that the resignation was tied to alleged retaliation. Mitchell said a petition she has circulated had about "375 or plus signatures." She concluded by saying she would attend future meetings until the board responded.
The board did not take any immediate disciplinary action during the public comment period and offered no public response to Mitchell's specific requests at that time. Under the board's stated rules for public comment, members generally do not engage in Q&A or make on-the-spot decisions about matters not on the posted agenda. Mitchell said she had already filed the matter with state agencies and asked that the board put her requests on the record.
The transcript contains internal variations in spellings and references to people and statutes; Mitchell's allegations and requests were presented as her account and have not been confirmed by board action at this meeting.
Next steps: Mitchell asked for a formal, on-the-record response; the board will consider agenda scheduling and any personnel or investigatory steps consistent with state procedures and board policy.
