HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. — Hancock County Schools administrators say long-standing bureaucratic failures are at the root of the district’s current financial crisis.
Superintendent Dan Enich told the Board of Education Monday night that the problems became clear in November, when the district reported concerns to the state and brought in an outside consultant. That review uncovered a major breakdown in the use of the state-mandated financial management system, which officials say had not been properly utilized for the past 15 years.
As a result, the district was unable to produce accurate data related to student enrollment and overall finances, contributing to the scope of the crisis now facing the school system.
Enich said the consultant has already begun the extensive work needed to correct the issues and bring the district back into compliance. Administrators emphasized that they are now focused on fixing years of errors tied to the improper use of the financial system and preventing similar problems in the future.
District leaders say additional updates will be provided as corrective efforts continue.
