The school board has been the center of intense public and media scrutiny. Waves of board members like Jarvis, who are often suspicious of the intentions and actions of school administration, come and go. The memories still haunt the people who were there. One thing people like Loeb and Melton remark about again and again is that the Textbook Controversy brought about the realization that even the most solid communities, things can change in an instant. Friends can become adversaries.
Neighbors become strangers.
But in the midst of threats and passion and seething anger, Kanawha County held together. Local citizens drew up a compromise and local schools came together during a difficult period and continued to teach their students. No one was killed. And some say good things resulted. Capital High School was designed with the specific intention of changing that, empowering its teachers within the classroom.