HANCOCK COUNTY, W.Va. – State officials report Hancock County Schools is one of seven West Virginia school districts currently under state intervention due to financial concerns. The districts under control include Hancock, Logan, Upshur, Mingo, Nicholas, Tyler and Boone counties. There are 55 counties in the Mountain State.
Roane and Randolph County Schools are under an adminstrative state of emergency where the county and state are working together to avoid a full takeover.
Investigations found Hancock County Schools had been operating about 143 positions above the state school aid funding formula, creating an estimated multi-million-dollar strain on the district’s finances.
State officials say the staffing overage was a major factor in the district’s fiscal emergency, prompting the West Virginia Board of Education to step in and oversee operations.
West Virginia Patrick Morrisey recently appointed James Paul to the state school board as concerns continue over financial accountability and oversight within several county school systems.
Lawmakers are also considering legislation that would allow the state board to distribute supplemental education funding and provide $8 million to help address funding shortfalls. Both measures remain in committee as the legislative session continues.
