State of emergency declared at Martinsburg middle school due to 23 Title IX violations, 160 fights

The state school board declared a state of emergency at Martinsburg North Middle School after 23 Title IX violations regarding discrimination and 160 physical fights this school year. 

Students are struggling academically there, too, with only 6% of students demonstrating proficiency in math skills. 

“You and your board have collectively and categorically failed both the children and the taxpayers by what you’ve allowed to go on at Martinsburg North Middle School,” West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty told school district leaders on Wednesday. “This is pathetic.”

Only about half of the students reported feeling safe at the Berkeley County school, according to a report from the West Virginia Department of Education.

“I cannot sleep at night thinking of kids who aren’t feeling safe when they go to school,” Hardesty added. “We are under attack in public education in this state. Instances like this are like pouring gasoline on the fire that we fight back everyday.”

Martinsburg North Middle School Principal Rebekah Eyler was put on administrative leave last week. She had been in the position for 13 years.

Hardesty criticized the local school leaders for giving Eyler “stellar evaluations” during her time tenure.

Berkeley County Schools Superintendent Ron Stephens said he was “appalled” by the report about the school’s shortcomings and that changes were underway. 

“North Middle School in Martinsburg is a challenging school. It has been for a number of years,”  Stephens said. “We have removed the leader from the school … and we are seeing positive change.”

Stephen added that he hired a full-time school safety officer for the middle school campus to address safety issues. 

North Martinsburg Middle School was identified by the state department of education for comprehensive support and improvement in the 2022-23 school year. 

The situation has failed to improve, according to WVDE staff members who visited the school April 17.

“In the majority of classroom observations, the team described the environment as chaotic, disruptive, and occasionally hostile,” said Jeff Kelley, officer of educational accountability for the WVDE.

“Other observations included witnessing a student holding a stool over their head and threatening another student during class,” he continued. 

English skills were also low as 24% of students were proficient in English, which is below the statewide proficiency average for middle schools of 54% 

“One parent indicated, ‘My daughter cannot read, punctuate or spell but she gets straight A’s, which is not OK with me,’” Kelley told board members. 

State Superintendent Michele L. Blatt said that the state of emergency will require the school to hire a full-time staff member focused on school improvement to begin as soon as possible. 

A plan for school improvement will be presented to state school board members in June.