CHARLESTON —
Jorea Marple was carrying out recommendations from the much-discussed audit of West Virginia’s public schools system when the board of education fired her as superintendent.
The board listed more than 70 steps under way as of last week, when it embraced most of the extensive review of education spending, policy and organization.
That endorsement followed a 5-2 vote to dismiss Marple less than two years after unanimously selecting her following a lengthy search process.
Several board members cited the need for change. At least one believes the rigid department bureaucracy described in the audit hobbled the board’s efforts to embrace its findings.
The firing also came as the board sought to encourage Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin and lawmakers to pursue audit recommendations. The board is revisiting Marple’s firing this week.
West Virginia
Before firing, W.Va. superintendent acted on audit
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Rockefeller sponsors new head-injury legislation
A senator who’s long pushed parents, coaches and communities to help protect young athletes from sports-related concussions is now sponsoring federal legislation to set safety standards for helmets.
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Former hospital executive, nurse to become state DHHR secretary
Former hospital executive and nurse Karen Bowling will become West Virginia’s Health and Human Resources secretary on July 1, Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin said Wednesday, taking over a sprawling department recently scrutinized by an audit and assigned the daunting task of expanding the state’s Medicaid program.
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Protesters rally at FirstEnergy annual meeting
At least 200 union workers picketed FirstEnergy’s annual shareholder meeting in West Virginia on Tuesday, demanding the Ohio-based utility hire enough people to keep the power on without forcing an ever-shrinking labor force to work as many as 1,800 hours of overtime a year.
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Waiver eliminates ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach
West Virginia won limited freedom Monday from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind, gaining approval of its own method for identifying struggling schools and then devoting resources to improve them.
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W.Va. gets reprieve from No Child Left Behind law
West Virginia has won some limited freedom from the federal education law known as No Child Left Behind.
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Big decision looms for W.Va. House
West Virginia’s House of Delegates faces a momentous decision after Speaker Rick Thompson departs for Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet: Choosing a new leader will help set the stage for 2014, when Republicans aim to wipe out the Democrats’ ebbing majority.
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Coin commemorates W.Va.’s 150th birthday
West Virginia is adding a commemorative coin to the celebratory mix for its 150th birthday, the commission overseeing the sesquicentennial activities announced Saturday.
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Record trout caught in Berkeley County
The Division of Natural Resources says a record rainbow trout was caught in Berkeley County.
DNR director Frank Jezioro says the trout was caught by Tony Corbin of Gerrardstown on May 2 from a private pond. -
West Virginia House speaker to step down, take Cabinet position
House Speaker Richard Thompson will resign from the West Virginia Legislature next month to join Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin’s Cabinet as secretary of Veterans Assistance, the governor announced Thursday.
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Transcript: Teenagers planned friend’s death
Transcripts of a secret plea hearing show a teenager involved in the 2012 stabbing death of a Star City girl planned the slaying with an accomplice. But their motive remains unclear.
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Rockefeller sponsors new head-injury legislation


