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State School Board Member Apologizes to Lincoln County

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Posted: 12:21 PM Oct 25, 2007
Last Updated: 2:19 PM Oct 25, 2007
Reporter: Anna Baxter
Email Address: anna.baxter@wsaz.com

14 comments

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It was a war of words between a state school leader and the people of Lincoln County.

Now Dr. Kenna Seal's apologizing for the misunderstanding.

Dr. Seal says the article in the Lincoln Journal quoting him as saying "four wheel riding, dope smoking, alcoholic rednecks" was taken out of context.

The West Virginia School Board discussed the issue in executive session Thursday, but members won't say what they talked about. Dr. Seal did apologize to the Lincoln County School Board during the open meeting, but he also pointed out this was just a misunderstanding.

Dr. Seal will remain the Director of the State's Education Performance Audits, but local school board members say they're upset about this decision and Dr. Seal is no longer welcome in Lincoln County.

Members of Lincoln County's School Board says they thought the state school board would do more since they still have control of the county's school system.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Dr of what? on Oct 26, 2007 at 10:55 PM
Dr. Seal is a professional at what? Educational Performance Auditing. Does he not realize that in Lincoln County they have the things he said they did not? Seems to me he is not auditing but stereotyping the county based upon his own visions and not of the actual facts. Mr. Seal I challenge you to visit the communities of Lincoln County and give a fair evaluation instead of a political one. The people of Lincoln County could care less about your political ambitions and you should too now considering Lincoln County typically carries most candidates into their offices. I feel the people should not have to call for you to be fired as if you truly are a professional then you will resign out of respect for the office you hold so that the professionalism of fair evaluation can move forward and not be tarnished.

Posted by: Billy on Oct 26, 2007 at 01:42 PM
The truth hurts.

Posted by: Jo on Oct 26, 2007 at 01:30 PM
His comments are unacceptable and anyone else would have been fired. I work for a state agency and if I had said that I would have been fired. As to other comments if you don't like Lincoln county stay out we don't want you here anyway.

Posted by: green on Oct 26, 2007 at 09:40 AM
Its very clear that he meant what he said. He was very specific, this wasn't a misunderstanding. Why does he still have a job?

Posted by: Janet on Oct 26, 2007 at 09:31 AM
Every time someone does something that someone else doesn't like the other person is always hollering lets fire them. Maybe this guy is right, look at our school stats here in West Virginia and look at everyone else’s. We are behind in every category and it is time that we catch up, before it if to late.

Posted by: Parent on Oct 26, 2007 at 08:37 AM
He should go visit Milton Elm. That's what he'd find there!

Posted by: Leann on Oct 26, 2007 at 08:35 AM
He should come visit Cabell County schools. That's what he'd find.

Posted by: Country Girl on Oct 26, 2007 at 08:16 AM
Yeah...I'm wondering how these comments were taken out of context. Sounds like to me he opened his mouth and spoke his mind before he thought about it. There are some wonderful people in Lincoln Co, maybe Mr. Seal should come on out and take a ride on the 4 wheeler! LOL

Posted by: Jill on Oct 25, 2007 at 10:04 PM
I think Dr. Seal's comments were not taken out of context since he also questioned whether Lincoln County Schools had computers and if school personnel knew how to access the internet. I personally was very insulted and I agree with the School Board members that Lincoln County Schools will not receive a fair evaluation.

Posted by: Friend of Licoln County on Oct 25, 2007 at 02:09 PM
Wonder what county Dr. Seal is from? How can four wheeler riding, dope smoking, alcoholic rednecks possibly be taken out of context when it comes directly from ones mouth? Can someone please explain this to me? I mean I guess I'm just to dumb to understand how that comment can be taken out of context.

Posted by: donald on Oct 25, 2007 at 01:43 PM
Dr. Seal wasn't lying.... ever been to Licoln County?

Posted by: Anonymous on Oct 25, 2007 at 12:58 PM
Give us are schools back to the ppl of lin.co

Posted by: Everett on Oct 25, 2007 at 12:47 PM
A little cocky! Ken you meant every work of what you said, and not only did you insult Lincoln County, you insulted everyone that lives in Southern WV. Don't forget your roots, Braxton county is as rural as Lincoln, Wayne, Logan, Mingo.

Posted by: Elizabeth on Oct 25, 2007 at 12:32 PM
That is BULL!!! Come on, if it would have been any other county other than Lincoln County, more action would have been taken against him. I'm sorry but he doesn't need to hold the position he has, and it wasn't a misunderstanding how more bluntly could he have put it! Nobody is that stupid to have taken that out of context.

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