Administrators for the Dickenson County Public Schools sit at the offices on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016 going over the difficulties with budgetary issues. Seated left to right: Superintendent Haydee Robinson, Denechia Edwards, Mark Mullins, Mike Setser and Larry Barton.
Fourth graders in Lora Roop’s science class study in her room close to buckets that collect waste from a leaky ceiling on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017 at Flatwoods Elementary School in Jonesville, which is part of the Lee County public school system.
A leaky hole in the ceiling in Lora Roop’s class at Flatwoods Elementary School in Lee County on Monday, Dec. 18, 2017.
James Rasnick, a tenth grader at Ridgeview High School in Dickenson County, takes the bus home on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. Rasnick attended the former Clintwood High School before it was consolidated. Haysi, Clintwood and Ervinton High School were combine to make the new school.
Students and teachers from Appalachia Elementary School look into the cavernous tunnel at Natural Tunnel State Park during a school field trip on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. The trip was organized to celebrate the end of the school year.
The former Ervinton High School is seen on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. Students from the school were distributed between Clintwood and Haysi High School. After those schools closed, students now attend Ridgeview High School.
Aidan Fite, a ninth grader at Central High School, opens his locker between periods on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. Central opened as a result of consolidating Pound and J.J. Kelly High School.
Students at Appalachia Elementary School wait in the cafeteria for their school bus to take them home at the end of the day on Wednesday, May 17, 2017.
Science and English books are seen at L.F. Addington Middle School on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. According to English teacher James Blackburn, some of their textbooks are between 10-15 years old.
Robert Fultz teaches algebra and geometry at John I. Burton High School. Fultz also serves on city council and is an announcer at the school ball games.
Downtown Appalachia on W. Main Street is seen Wednesday, May 17, 2017 with many storefronts vacant, boarded up and empty. Appalachia is a part of Wise County, Virginia and was historically known to be the center of the booming coal mining industry.
A police officer searches the bushes around the Robert E. Lee statue after a counter-protest to “take back Lee Park” on Sunday night, May 14, 2017 after torch-bearing protesters met up at the Charlottesville park Saturday night.
Police make an arrest during a counter-protest to “take back Lee Park” on Sunday, May 14, 2017 after torch-bearing protesters met up at the Charlottesville park on Saturday night.
A statue depicting Confederate general Robert E. Lee stands over Lee Park in downtown Charlottesville on April 7, 2016.
Students walk back into Appalachia Elementary on the third to last day of the school year after returning from a field trip at Natural Tunnel State Park on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. A recent vote by the Wise County School Board closed the school permanently.
Letters addressed to Congressman Morgan Griffith from high school students at John I. Burton are held by history teacher Eddie Sharpe on Thursday, Dec. 15, 2016. One letter by student Kaden T. Fisher, read, “Congressman Griffith…That if something is not done about the coal industry that most people around here will not be able to stay because, coal not only keeps the lights on but it also keeps the people from Southwest Virginia alive…do you see a possibility for my generation to stay in our home, Virginia?”
Militia members position themselves between people attending the Unite the Right rally and counter-protesters at Emancipation Park before the scheduled start of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
Protesters react to tear gas as police try to move the crowd after a rally by the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan at Justice Park in Charlottesville on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Protesters march as police try to move the crowd after a rally by the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan at Justice Park in Charlottesville on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan rally at Justice Park on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
Members of the Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan rally at Justice Park on Saturday, July 8, 2017.
People are thrown into the air as a car plows into a group of protesters demonstrating against the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on Aug. 12, 2017. The attack killed Heather Heyer and injured 19 others. James Alex Fields Jr., the alleged driver, was charged with second-degree murder. The white nationalist rally was originally organized to protest the city of Charlottesville’s plans to remove a statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.
Police maintain a perimeter around Emancipation Park after an unlawful assembly was declared before the scheduled start of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
Alt-Right groups clash with counter-protesters outside Emancipation Park before the scheduled start of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
People attending the Unite the Right rally arrive at Emancipation Park before the scheduled start of the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
People attending the Unite the Right rally enter Emancipation Park before the scheduled start in Charlottesville on Saturday, August 12, 2017.
Crew members of the submarine USS Indiana take selfies before the start the christening of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017.
Hundreds of people gather Saturday morning during the christening of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding April 29, 2017.
Crew members of the submarine USS Indiana stand during the christening of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017. The Indiana — or SSN-789 — is the 16th boat in the Virginia class of nuclear-powered subs being built. A total of 14 former Navy sailors from the last USS Indiana, the BB-58, a World War II-era battleship attended the christening. All in their 90s, they are among the roughly 60 or so men left from the original crew of 2,300. Vice President Mike Pence, who was governor of Indiana before becoming vice president, will keynote Saturday’s event celebrating the Hoosier State’s namesake vessel. The $2.5 billion, 377-foot Indiana will be delivered to the Navy in early 2018.
People visit a makeshift memorial for Heather Heyer on 4th Street at the Downtown Mall on Sunday, August 13, 2017. Heyer was killed Saturday when James Alex Fields, Jr. drove a Dodge Challenger into a crowd marching up the street.
Charlottesville SWAT team members set up on the roof of the Downtown Transit Station before a press conference called by Jason Kessler outside City Hall on Sunday, August 13, 2017, the day after the Unite the Right Rally.
From left, Vice President Mike Pence, Commander Jesse J. Zimbauer, and Matt Mulherin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, celebrate after ship sponsor Diane Donald smashed a bottle of sparkling wine across the hull of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana during the christening ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017.
Several veterans from a previous USS Indiana, a World War II-era battleship, are recognized as Vice President Mike Pence speaks during the christening of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017. A total of 14 former Navy sailors from the last USS Indiana, the BB-58, a World War II-era battleship attended the christening. All in their 90s, they are among the roughly 60 or so men left from the original crew of 2,300.
From left, Vice President Mike Pence, Commander Jesse J. Zimbauer, and Matt Mulherin, president of Newport News Shipbuilding, watch as ship sponsor Diane Donald smashes a bottle of sparkling wine across the hull of the Virginia-class submarine Indiana during the christening ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017.
Vice President Mike Pence hands out a coin before the start of the christening ceremony for the Virginia-class submarine Indiana at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017.
Vice President Mike Pence, left, and ship sponsor Diane Donald stand beneath the Virginia-class submarine Indiana before the start of the christening ceremony at Newport News Shipbuilding Saturday morning April 29, 2017. Diane Donald, the wife of Retired U.S. Navy Adm. Kirkland H. Donald, will christen the Indiana by smashing a bottle of sparkling wine across its hull. Kirkland Donald commanded the Navy’s nuclear propulsion program before retiring in 2012.
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