GILMER COUNTY, W.Va. — Gilmer County has been given back partial control of the school system.
The West Virginia Board of Education Wednesday, due to recent improvements, gave the school system partial control in the areas of curriculum, policies, finance, transportation and the establishment and operation of a school calendar.
The Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) has recommended the state Board of Education to remain in control of personnel, facilities, and finance actions regarding facility expenditures.
“They want them to finish that consolidated school project and the cross county lines project,” said state schools Superintendent Jim Phares. “So they want them to remain under the control of the state board until those projects are done at minimum.”
In 2011, the state board took control of Gilmer County Schools after an OEPA report cited numerous issues.
“Board level issues, there were central office issues and some financial practices issues. Minor but still there enough to have smoke rolling off of it,” said Phares. “I think policies were out of whack and procedures weren’t being followed as they should.”
The OEPA also recommends that the state board establish an exit agreement so that the county can regain full control of the school system.
“I’m fully expecting that if Gilmer County continues to do what they’re doing that probably prior to December of 2014 or maybe shortly thereafter they’ll probably have full control if they continue to see the same progress that they’re seeing now,” Phares said.
Currently Grant, Fayette, Mingo and Preston counties are under state intervention.