CHARLESTON, W.Va. — School system treasurers from across the state are getting the latest in training at a conference taking place in Charleston.
The West Virginia Association of School Business Officials Conference is highlighting an ongoing mentoring program where former treasurers are helping those who are new to the position.
State Department of Education School Financial Operations Officer Uriah Cummings they noticed a few years ago a big turnover in treasurers and some were struggling. He said some counties had three treasurers over a .10-year period.
“I think a lot of that was just due to not having the support there, having somebody that they could lean on who has ‘been there and done that’ so that’s where the program came from,” Cummings told MetroNews.
Cummings said it takes about three years to fully grasp the position. He said it’s “a beast” to learn the ins and outs of the position. He said having a strong foundation of expertise, understanding, skills and abilities is crucial. That’s where the mentors come in.
“A lot of our mentors are retirees but they also focus in on the fact that whenever they first started as the treasurer in the county they had folks that they could lean on for success,” Cummings said.
There are currently eight mentors in the program working with treasurers in 18 counties. The mentorship continues for three years. The state Department of Education provides a $20,000 grant to counties to help offset the cost.
Eight mentors work with 18 counties for the first three years of the new treasurer’s employment. Cummings said there are in-person meetings once a month.
“If I’m in a room with somebody they are more likely to open up about situations they have in their counties. It’s very important to have that interaction,” Cummings said.
The state Board of Education voted in December to seize control of the Hancock County school system because of financial problems. Cummings cited at the time the county’s failure to appropriately report through the West Virginia Education Information System as a violation of state law. Cummings told MetroNews the situation in Hancock County has brought a new awareness to the position of treasurer.
“It’s increased some of the budget review process that we’re statutorily required to partake in and it’s increasing an additional layer of review due to some of the nuances of that event,” he said.
The West Virginia Association of School Business Officials Conference continues through Friday at the Embassy Suites in Charleston.
The counties currently participating in the program include:
Boone, Calhoun, Greenbrier, Hancock. Jefferson. Lewis, Mason, McDowell, Mercer. Monroe. Morgan, Pleasants, Pocahontas, Roane, Summers, Webster, Wetzel and Wyoming