×

West Virginia Board of Education receives reports from counties in crisis, including Roane and Upshur

Roane County Superintendent Michelle Stellato briefed members of the West Virginia Board of Education Wednesday on progress being made to right the county school system’s finances after it was placed in a state of emergency by the state board in July. (Photo by Steven Allen Adams)

CHARLESTON — A number of county school systems have been placed in states of emergency or even taken over by the West Virginia Board of Education in recent years, but some of those counties reported making progress on getting out of detention.

The state Board of Education received reports during its monthly meeting in Charleston Wednesday from two counties previously placed in states of emergency and two counties under direct intervention by the state for past deficiencies.

Upshur County is under state intervention due to past issues, but is now reporting academic improvements, particularly in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, alongside implementing new support systems and leadership according to Upshur County Superintendent Christy Miller.

“As we came together with our teachers yesterday, we talked about the power of every day, because that’s what makes the difference,” Miller told state board members. “It’s the power of every day. It’s being present, being prepared, and being excellent so that we can show a path forward, not only for our staff, but our students and community.”

The state board placed the Upshur County School system into a state of emergency in 2023, placing the Upshur County Board of Education under the authority of the state board. That decision was after the release of a special circumstances review report on Upshur County Schools conducted by the Department of Education which looked at the operation of federal programs and spending at the county school system among other issues.

The special circumstances review found tens of thousands of COVID-19 relief funds used for staff retreats and food purchases, as well as the purchase of thousands of family passes for West Virginia State Wildlife Center in French Creek and Upshur County pools.

The review found misuse of state purchasing cards, improper reimbursements, federal funding being used for teacher and staff compensation at rates higher than normal rates, insufficient travel policies, and no-bid contracts. The review also found improper hiring of family members of county board of education staff, and payment of additional compensations for former Upshur County superintendent and former deputy state superintendent Sara Lewis-Stankus.

Miller was appointed the Upshur County Superintendent by the Department of Education to supervise improvements to the county school system. Since taking over, Miller said the county has implemented a tiered system of support in academics, attendance, and behavior; implementation of professional learning communities by school principals; and professional learning for teachers in writing, adoption of a social studies curriculum, and letters training for elementary school teachers.

Miller also said the county will need to make some tough calls when it comes to school closing and consolidations due to declining enrollment in Upshur County.

“Last night at our board meeting, I did kind of shock the community, because it is very apparent with a decline in enrollment, we need to address facilities, and in doing so, we are going to have to take a very close look at closing some of those facilities,” Miller said. “It’s a tough call, but it’s a call that has to be made. We don’t have the enrollment as we have had in the past.”

Michelle Stellato, the superintendent of Roane County Schools, provided state board members an update following the state of emergency declared there in July. Financial conditions at Roane County Schools – caused in part by declining enrollment, low building utilization, and excess personnel – caused the county school system to go into a deficit for fiscal year 2025 which ended on June 30, with a projected deficit for fiscal year 2026, which began July 1.

Roane County Schools is facing a $2.5 million deficit for the previous fiscal year and as much as a $2.9 million deficit for the current fiscal year, which will affect the 2025-2026 school year. These deficits were causing the county board to request advances on their funding through the state school aid formula.

“We understood the gravity of the situation that brought us here, the declaration of the state of emergency in our school system, and we did not take it lightly,” said Stellato, who previously served as the county’s assistant superintendent. “We needed to respond with responsibility, with a sense of urgency, transparency, and action.”

Stellato told state board members that the county has begun work on a comprehensive correction action plan to restore sustainability, stability, and long-term educational outcomes for students. Part of that plan involves addressing a building utilization rate of 45%.

“We have re-initiated the facility consolidation discussion with a commitment to transparency and public engagements throughout the process,” Stellato said. “We have engaged the leadership team in conducting a full analysis of all options that would mitigate the deficit and restore the fund balances within a three-to five-year targeted time range.”

“That process included a full analysis of current utilization, enrollment projections, grade configuration models, bus routes, special education requirements, and resulted in our leadership team making a unanimous recommendation that our board allow us to investigate the closure and consolidation of all of our elementary and middle schools,” Stellato continued.

This review includes research into the possible closure and consolidation of Walton Elementary/Middle School and Geary Elementary/Middle Schools, with those students being combined with Spencer Elementary School, Spencer Middle School, and Roane County High School. But Stellato said all options were on the table, including the issue of additional staffing over and above the school aid formula.

“Despite our forward march in the direction of presenting a consolidation plan, we will continue to investigate other viable options that could reduce the deficit but keep the schools open,” Stellato said. “It won’t be fast, and we are making our community angry, and rightfully so. They deserve better, but it’s necessary. We cannot ask our students, staff, or communities to place their trust in us unless we can demonstrate every day that we’re doing that hard work that’s required to right this ship.”

The state board also received progress reports Wednesday from officials in Pocahontas County which remains in a state of emergency, and Logan County which remains on direct state intervention. State Board President Paul Hardesty reminded all county officials that they have a fiduciary duty to the taxpayers and to the children they serve.

“These are tough calls, but they have to be made,” Hardesty said. “You’re going to get crucified on Facebook, I promise you. But your fiduciary responsibility comes first and foremost…When you choose the taxpayers and the children, tough calls have to be made every time. They are not popular.”

Steven Allen Adams can be reached at sadams@newsandsentinel.com.

Starting at $2.99/week.

Subscribe Today