MADISON, W.Va. — State Superintendent of Schools Dr. Michael Martirano says there’s a possibility the WV Dept. of Education may have to take over the Boone County School system if its budget for Fiscal Year 2017 isn’t resolved quickly.
The state board rejected the Boone school board’s budget last week, which Martirano said was off the mark by over $7 million.
“They would not be able to pay their employees as early as April,” Martirano said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” “This is very serious. There’s a great possibility that the state board could take them over.”
Martirano said the Boone County system could also be denied state aid if they refused to pass a reasonable budget.
After a directive from the state board to the county to make layoffs, as well as supplemental pay and benefit cuts was unanimously rejected by the Boone County board last week, Martirano sent a letter Friday to new superintendent Jeff Huffman outlining the ramifications of the action.
“This is not something that just emerged. We have been having conversations the last several months with the leadership and the school system,” Martirano said. “We had a meeting with the new superintendent on Friday, I met with them two weeks ago. We’ve been in ongoing to discussions to provide any form of creative modes which they can cut further and provide some form of relief with it.”
Boone County, in particular hurt by the downturn of the coal industry, has made budget cuts and was forced to close three schools last year. Martirano said he understands that but it’s not enough.
“I recognize that they’ve done some of that, but in essence have not gone far enough,” he said. “Because the bottom line is, this year will reveal a major problem. Our young people in Boone County if something is not done, will not receive 180 days of instruction, we won’t be able to pay teachers and it’s a great concern.”
Martirano said that Boone County Schools has an excess of 40 positions. The directive from the WVDE advised the district to eliminate about 35 jobs.
Boone County, which was allocated $2.1 million by the state legislature to meet payroll on the recently completed school year, has until Friday to submit a revised budget to the state board.