Candidate Preview: Michael Kelly for Mon County School Board

MORGANTOWN, W.Va. – Only one candidate among the five running for the Monongalia County Board of Education can tout his years of experience as a school board member. Michael Kelly is the only incumbent seeking re-election.

Michael Kelly

“I feel my experience on the board will help us get through this as best we can and make this system even better,” Kelly said. “We’ve had several accolades over the years being the best school system in the state and I want to keep on with that.”

Kelly, representing the Western District, was first appointed to the school board in 2005, then was elected to the board in 2010 and has served ever since. There have been a number of issues and problems facing the Monongalia County School system during that time but Kelly acknowledged the challenges facing education post-pandemic are unique.

For the better part of two years, pandemic safety measures forced the cancellation of various events and closed classrooms, forcing students into remote learning.

“I think our biggest challenge right now is regaining the academic momentum that we had before the pandemic,” Kelly said. “And putting the social support services in place to help them be students again.”

Several relief support positions were added during the pandemic using temporary emergency federal relief money. Kelly is confident the staff who assumed those roles can be integrated back into the school system once the funding for those jobs expires.

“Some of our most seasoned people have taken some of these relief positions and they’re not guaranteed a job when the funds are gone, so we need try to get them back in our system,” Kelly said. ” I think it will all work out through attrition and we have a couple of years to work towards that.”

Kelly said school board members should work to clearly understand the needs of the district, but must make certain they provide the proper tools to the superintendent to meet those needs.

“We have to know the difference between dump and delegate and convey that to our superintendent,” Kelly said. “Our superintendent is our only employee and he has a responsibility for everyone else and the best way to support the superintendent and our administrators is through communication.”

Kelly is a supporter of the arts, band, music programs and said the proposed Resonance Academy is a very exciting development for students and families. Kelly acknowledged the need for diversity while forming policy for a group for a district with nearly 12,000 students.

“My motto is I don’t care what you think, I care why you think it,” Kelly said. “That helps me understand your differing view, so it comes back to communicating to find where we’re different.”

Kelly is a Westover resident and former president of the Westover Rotary Club. He graduated from University High School and is married to Marjorie, a graduate of Morgantown High School and both are members of the St Francis de Sales Catholic Church. The two have three grown children and three grandchildren all of whom attended Monongalia County Schools.

Kelly and his wife are the owners of the Dulaney Oil Company and co-owners of Mannette Musical Instruments.

There are five candidates running for the Monongalia County School Board. Dan Berry and Jennifer Hagerty are running in the Central District. Incumbent Mike Kelly along with Cristy Moats and Brandon Myers are running in the Western District.

Voters can choose up to three candidates. The three candidates receiving the most votes will win seats on the board. Although, no more than two board members can be elected from each district.