CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Upshur County Schools is getting a new superintendent while remaining under a state of emergency.
The state Department of Education named Christy Miller, current superintendent of Taylor County Schools, to the job Monday. She begins her new role July 1.
Miller will succeed Interim Superintendent Steven Wotring who was named to the post after the state Board of Education voted to takeover the Upshur County school system earlier this month due to issues with pandemic relief spending.
There’s now a federal criminal investigation, being led by U.S Attorney for Northern West Virginia Bill Ihlenfeld, into how the money was spent. Upshur County received $16.1 million in federal pandemic funds over three years. According to a Special Circumstances Review by the state Department of Education, the money was spent on things like pool passes and bed and breakfast retreats.
The audit found Dr. Sara Lewis-Stankus, the superintendent of Upshur County Schools at the time, received additional compensation, but it was not authorized by the board.
Former State Schools Superintendent David Roach hired Lewis-Stankus as his deputy superintendent soon after he got the job last year. Some members of the state Board of Education became upset with Roach in connection with what they perceived as a delay from Roach in telling them about the Upshur County issues. Roach has since announced his retirement.
State Deputy School Superintendent Michelle Blatt replaced Roach as superintendent on Friday.
Blatt said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline” Miller is a proven leader with more than 30 years in education.
“She brings the experience and the stability to be able to see the big picture as to what the issues are and how quickly can they be resolved,” Blatt said.
In addition to serving as a teacher and administrator at the school and county levels, Miller has held the positions of executive director and coordinator in the Office of School Improvement and Leadership at the WVDE.
George “Russ” Collett has been named as the Upshur County Assistant Superintendent.
“He will serve as her assistant and be a team right there with her to help move things forward and correct all the issues we’re currently addressing in Upshur County,” Blatt said.
Staff from the WVDE has been on site of the Upshur County Board of Education offices during the ongoing intervention.