Tag: Boone County Board of Education

Boone County School Board Cuts Nearly 60 Positions for Next School Year

The Boone County school board has voted to eliminate the equivalent of 58 positions for the next school year.

Boone schools Superintendent Jeff Huffman said Monday’s vote meant 58 “full-time equivalent” positions are being cut. The move comes as Huffman says the school system’s revenue is expected to drop about $5 million from this fiscal year to next.

Huffman says the cut doesn’t necessarily mean layoffs, when factoring in retirements, contract restructuring and reduction in days worked. However, a document distributed at the meeting indicates 45 people had their contracts terminated.

Huffman says they looked at professional and service positions across the board when making cuts.

The board cut about 80 positions for the current school year in 2016.

Boone Schools To Remain Open Amid Plans To Shut Them Down

Three schools in Boone County will remain open next year following plans to close them.

The county Board of Education voted Monday night to keep Van Elementary School, Van High School and Whitesville Elementary School open during the 2017-18 school year.

The school district has been dealing with financial problems and possible school closures after losing millions of dollars because of the downturn in the coal industry and a loss of property tax value.

Superintendent Jeff Huffman tells WSAZ-TV that while the closures could still happen, school leaders want to give the county’s economy time to stabilize and create a plan to move forward hopefully without moving students or closing schools.

Boone County School Board President Resigns

The president of the Boone County Board of Education has abruptly resigned.

50-year-old Mark Sumpter signed his resignation letter Friday in the office of Superintendent Jeff Huffman after emailing it earlier in the week.

While the school district has been dealing with financial problems and possible school closures, Sumpter said his resignation didn’t have to do with these difficulties. He cited a combination of personal and professional events, like the death of his mother, which led to his decision.

The school board has 45 days to vote on Sumpter’s replacement. If they cannot find a suitable replacement, the West Virginia State School Board has the right to appoint one.

Earlier this year, former superintendent John Hudson also left Boone County for the same position in Putnam County. 

Boone County Students Without Science Books After Cuts

Many Boone County students have been left without science textbooks because of budget cuts.

Boone County Assistant Superintendent Lisa Beck tells the Charleston Gazette-Mail that the school system disposed of its old science textbooks last spring because they were more than a decade old and officials expected to buy new editions over the summer.

State Schools Superintendent Michael Martirano ordered the Boone school board to make cuts after its May 31 proposed budget came in too high.

Beck says those unexpected budgeting difficulties have meant that only sixth, seventh and eighth grade students currently have science books in their classes.

Beck says she hopes the county will be able to still buy the books this school year if this fall’s tax revenues are high enough.

WVBOE Gives Boone County Four Days to Cut Budget or Risk State Takeover

West Virginia Board of Education members are giving Boone County’s school board until July 18 to make drastic cuts to their budget. 

State board members voted 6 to 1 Thursday to take over Boone County schools if the local school board does not take action to reduce its budget by Monday. Former Delegate Tom Campbell was the only nay vote.

Boone County’s Board of Education submitted a budget to the state at the end of May for the 2017 fiscal year that began July 1.

That budget, according to state Department of Education officials, was not balanced and state Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Martirano directed the county to make additional budget cuts, including reductions to teacher salaries and benefits.

Without that cut, Martirano said the county will only be able to fund its schools through April 2017.

Before the vote, several members of the board stressed to teachers and administrators who attended the meeting that they did not want to take over the system and hoped the board would act.

One county board member in attendance refused to comment about the state board’s decision. 

State Board Considers Taking Over Boone County Schools

The West Virginia Board of Education could vote this week to take over Boone County’s public school system.

State board members tell The Charleston Gazette-Mail that the county board has twice refused the state schools superintendent’s orders to make severe employee pay and benefit cuts and submit a “fiscally sufficient” budget for this fiscal and school year.

Officials expect to address the issue at a Wednesday meeting in Charleston.

State board member Gayle Manchin says Boone’s budget for 2016-17 isn’t balanced and needs to be fixed.

Boone school officials have blamed their financial woes on a sudden, drastic decrease in property tax revenue from bankruptcies of major coal companies.

The state board, which includes nine voting members, already controls parts of the Gilmer County and Fayette County school systems.

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