The West Virginia Board of Education has declared a state of emergency in Randolph County Schools, following a troubling report about the district’s financial stability and leadership challenges.
The emergency status will last six months, during which the State Department of Education will work closely with Superintendent Shawn Dilly and the local board to develop a comprehensive recovery plan, including a balanced budget.
An update on progress will be delivered in December, and the state board could extend the emergency or take direct control if improvements aren’t made.
What’s Behind the Emergency?
The decision came after a deep dive into Randolph County’s operations, sparked by concerns raised by Superintendent Dilly in April. Interviews with board members conducted between April 30 and May 1 revealed:
- A projected $2.8 million budget shortfall for fiscal year 2025
- Overstaffing beyond the state’s funding formula:
- 12 professional educators too many
- 4.5 excess student support personnel
- 16.5 total personnel over the state limit
- Breakdowns in communication between Dilly and the board
- Lack of clear decision-making about school consolidations and staff reductions
Dilly had proposed closing Harmon School (103 students) and Pickens School (29 students), but the board rejected the Harmon closure and Dilly pulled the Pickens proposal.
While the board approved some staffing cuts, others were denied. In May, they even reversed additional cuts that could have saved $1.6 million, further straining the budget.
Why the Board Is Concerned
According to Alexandra Criner, Director of the Office of Accountability for the WVDE, board members admitted school closures were necessary but said transportation in rural areas was a major concern.
Others said they didn’t understand the rationale behind which positions were being cut. Several acknowledged poor communication with the superintendent and a lack of a united plan moving forward.
“No member of the local board articulated a clear path forward in the wake of the current challenges,” Criner told the state board during its meeting in Charleston.
Neither Superintendent Dilly nor Randolph County board members attended the meeting.
Boone County Also Under Fire
During the same session, the state board also intervened in Boone County Schools, following a scathing special review prompted by a $3.4 million kickback scheme involving a former maintenance director. The review flagged concerns in four major areas:
- Questionable personnel practices and financial irregularities
- Conflict of interest issues among board members
- Weak central office oversight and potential nepotism
- Student discipline policies needing review
The fraud case, which surfaced earlier this year, involved Michael David Barker, Boone’s former maintenance director, who approved inflated invoices in exchange for cash kickbacks from vendor Jesse Marks. Both men have pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud.
Shockingly, no Boone County representatives showed up to the state board meeting. “Wait a minute… Boone County Schools is facing this, and no one from the county chose to show up?” board member Paul Hardesty said, visibly frustrated.
What’s Next?
For Randolph County, the next few months are critical. The Department of Education will help guide local leaders toward stabilizing finances, restoring effective communication, and rebuilding public trust.
For Boone County, investigations and reforms are just beginning. Accountability will be key in restoring confidence in the district’s leadership.
The next regular meeting of the WV Board of Education is set for June 24 at 6 p.m. and will be streamed online.
