Senate Education Chairwoman Amy Nichole Grady says lawmakers are continuing to work on adequate funding for schools around West Virginia, even as another year of closures is on the horizon.
“We need to do it sooner rather than later,” Grady said on MetroNews Talkline.
“That’s the problem, is it’s taken too long. I think the goal is there. Everybody understands that there is a need, but how everybody sees that need is different. And that’s the biggest problem, is we need to get everybody on the same page.”
State education officials have sounded an alarm for the coming school year, saying more school closures seem likely in counties around the state.
The state has lost 5,000 students since the last enrollment count, equivalent to six counties, state school board officials said last week.
Department of Education officials say they’re already aware of eight to 10 schools around the state in line for closure in the coming year — although the number could be up to 20.
Over the past few years, West Virginia has already experienced a wave of public school closures and consolidations, driven by declining student enrollment, financial deficits and departures of students taking advantage of new educational options.
West Virginia school enrollment plummeted by nearly 13% from 2012 to 2024, a period that overlapped with several factors including the covid-19 pandemic. More than 36,000 students left the public school system during that time.
West Virginia schools are largely funded through a seven-step formula that is based largely on student population.
“It’s something we have discussed for at least three years now, knowing that we need to move forward and change that formula in some way,” Grady, R-Mason, said on MetroNews Talkline.
“It’s a seven step formula, but it is very much not simplified. We need to make sure that what we do changes it for the better for every county. And that’s the challenge, is we have so many counties in our state, and each one has its own types of problems, and so that I think that’s where kind of where we’re at.”
During the most recent legislative session, lawmakers considered various options for bolstering school funds, but nothing passed.
One option would have enhanced the amount of funding available for special needs students, whose education costs are often higher. That has continued to be a focus of discussion during interim legislative meetings.
“The legislature basically they meet, they meet, they meet, they have interims, they have interims,” state school board President Paul Hardesty, a former state senator, said during a discussion with reporters.
Hardesty described respect for Grady and her House of Delegates counterpart, Joe Statler, but he expressed frustration about the lack of action.
“The boat’s getting ready to hit the rocks, and I can’t make anyone in two of the branches of government to understand that,” Hardesty said, referring to the executive and legislative branches.
Hardesty sent a letter Feb. 17 to Gov. Patrick Morrisey and legislative leaders, describing challenges ranging from student achievement to teacher shortages and teacher allocation issues.
“It is past time to cast blame,” Hardesty wrote in that letter. “Our only solution is for all parties to come together, acknowledge these fatal flaws in the system and work on a comprehensive overhaul of the system that supports public education.”
During last week’s discussion with reporters, state Superintendent Michele Blatt was asked about interactions with the governor. She made reference to the letter and noted, “We did not have any response.”
Blatt did say Governor Morrisey had been at recent Golden Horseshoe ceremonies, “and he said we probably need to talk about the school aid funding formula, and I said ‘That would be great. I would be available anytime.” So that’s as far as any of those conversations went.”
During a briefing at the end of the week, the governor was asked about financial strain on counties because of declining school enrollments and the need for a modified school funding formula.
Morrisey, in his reply, emphasized prioritizing education reform, including better teacher pay, and the importance of long-term fiscal stability. He also described continued support for school choice, emphasizing that money should follow the child.
“We know we have challenges with our school aid system, and we want to engage with them, and I’ve had a number of conversations with members of our legislature about school aid on other topics as well,” Morrisey said.
The governor continued, “I’m going to be remain open to keep working with the legislature, but we have to do it the right way. I know that last time there were some ideas that came in kind of at the 11th hour after the budget had really been put together. So I’m looking forward to working with the legislature and engaging with them. We have ideas, they have ideas, but it has to be done by putting the kids first.”