BUCKHANNON — After several days of soul-searching and listening to feedback from county residents, an Upshur County Board of Education member who resigned from her position last week has had a change of heart.
In a letter addressed to the citizens of Upshur County, newly elected member Susan King rescinded her resignation and announced her intention to remain on the board.
“After days of soul searching and receiving counsel at the community and state levels, I have rescinded my resignation, effective July 3, 2024, and will serve on the Upshur County Board of Education,” King wrote in the letter. “I cannot neglect my duty and my responsibility to serve the people who elected me to the Upshur County Board of Education.”
Upshur County Schools is currently under a state takeover, which limits the power of elected board members. King said she would focus on regaining local control while supporting county students.
“A strong, unified board will be integral to providing the best services for our students and in gaining trust with the Dept. of Education,” she wrote. “I will work hard to be a liaison between the community, central office, and the state to ultimately regain control of our school system.”
King told My Buckhannon she knew she needed to reexamine her decision to step down after two sleepless nights.
“After I turned in my resignation letter, I didn’t sleep for two nights — I mean zero,” King said. “I did a lot of soul-searching, and I knew my first obligation was to those people who voted for me.”
King, representing District 3, received 3,171 votes in the May 2024 Primary Election, the most of any candidate. Willie Parker of District 2 was elected to the second seat with 1,848 votes, narrowly beating Rob Hinton, who had 1,827. Neil Leput finished fourth with 754 votes.
Since Upshur County Schools is currently under a state takeover, King said she contacted the West Virginia Department of Education regarding her desire to stay on the board and ‘felt very blessed’ when the state concurred.
King’s four-year term runs through June 2028. She was sworn in Monday by Circuit Judge Kurt Hall.
