MINGO COUNTY, W.Va. –The West Virginia Board of Education approved the takeover of Mingo County Schools at its Wednesday meeting.
“I would like to ask the West Virginia Board of Education to declare that extraordinary circumstances exist in Mingo County Schools that warrant immediate intervention,” state Superintendent Michele Blatt said during the meeting.
This comes after Blatt directed the WV Department of Accountability to perform a Special Circumstance Review of the school’s board of education on February 17.
The reason behind this review was because Blatt wanted to examine the county’s Board of Education members effectiveness and verify compliance with all state and local policies and WV Code.
During the meeting, Director of Accountability Alexandra Criner said that the review is ongoing, however there were a few initial findings they found after they interviewed most of the central office staff, all five board members, reviewed meeting agendas and recordings.
“We have identified initial findings related to the county board of education member meetings and procedures, and board/superintendent relations,” she said.
Once the review is complete, a report will be available for the public to view.
She said these initial findings is why the department of accountability asked the board to take action.
“The team has assessed that decisive action is needed on the part of this board, to ensure that student achievement and well-being become and remain the main priority,” Criner said.
She said that the department has received calls, emails and letters, which date back to 2022, of allegations being made against specific personnel.
She says that this has hurt the students and the school.
“When taken as a whole, this pattern of complaints and fighting amongst the adults paints a picture of a school system and most importantly the children within that system, caught in a political crossfire,” Criner said.
This intervention marks the third time the state Board of Education has had to intervene with the county. The first time being in 1998 which lasted until 2002, and the second time being in 2005 until 2014.
In all three instances, state Board of Education member Paul Hardesty said the county’s board of education failed to act on statutory obligations which in turn disrupted the day-to-day operation of the schools.
“We have unfortunately repeated history, and that’s sad, our children deserve far better,” Hardesty said before the board voted to approve the takeover.
With this intervention, it limits the board’s authority in school operations and most rule making authority be given to Blatt as state superintendent. It will also give the authority to select a new superintendent for the county after June 30.
During the review, Mingo County superintendent, current or future superintendents, will meet with Blatt to come up with standards and or a strategic plan that must be implemented in order for the county’s board to regain control.
Blatt also said that current or future superintendents will have to provide written and oral progress reports to the WVBE when they request it.