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Parent warns board proposed data center could sit within a mile of two schools, urges engagement
Summary
A parent told the Ohio County Board the planned technical park/data center could be built within a mile of two schools and urged the board to engage with the community; the board said state law limits local control and agreed to monitor developments.
A parent who introduced herself at the meeting as Amanda Porter told the Ohio County Board of Education she had submitted written follow-up and asked the board to take a proactive role regarding a planned technical park and proposed data center near local schools. The agenda listed the speaker as Amanda McWhorter; the speaker identified herself in comments as "Amanda Porter," a discrepancy the record shows and the board acknowledged when thanking her for speaking.
"It's happening within a mile of 2 of your schools," the parent said, urging the board to respond before deployment was too far advanced. She raised concerns about fast deployment, tax revenue impacts and cited recent state actions she said limit local control (she referenced "House Bill 2014"). Board members thanked her and said they were concerned about student safety but that much of data-center siting and taxation had been affected by state legislation; they pledged to watch further developments and consider action if relevant information emerged.
The board did not take immediate formal action at the meeting; members repeatedly said the issue likely rests with the legislature and state-level policy, not with routine board authority.
