MADISON, W.Va. — Boone County education officials kicked off a two-week process on Monday evening about potential changes coming to schools.
The county education board has proposed the closures of Van Elementary and Van Junior/Senior High School after this school year. This comes at a time when the school system is battling a multi-million dollar deficit. According to Boone County Superintendent of Schools Allen Sexton, those schools had the largest enrollment struggles in the county.
The students would move to Scott High School to attend classes starting in 2027-28 under the proposal. School board officials held a receiving-school hearing Monday night for Scott High, with a scheduled closing hearings for Van Elementary and Junior/Senior High School on Tuesday evening at 6 p.m.
One resident, Jennifer Bias Bryant, addressed the board of education during the Scott hearing. A Boone County Schools graduate, Bias Bryant expressed empathy to the board for the tough decisions they’re facing.
“I understand that you all are between a rock and a hard place,” Bias Bryant said. “I understand that there are extenuating circumstances far beyond anything that any one of us in this room, or any one of the parents, or grandparents, or students in this county, can make any changes about.”
Boone County, and West Virginia as a whole, has seen its population numbers decrease, she said, and that can’t be ignored.
“The fact is that our population has been in decline for many years,” Bias Bryant said. “Unless something drastic happens to change that, it’s probably on a trajectory to continue that way.”
However, Bias Bryant said, the kids of the county have to come first.
“I feel for you, because you’re in a position that I would not want to be in,” Bias Bryant said. “Because I hope that you ran for this office because you love the kids of our county and you want to do what’s best for them, and you’re stuck. I feel for you. There is no amount of money that should take precedence over our students.”
Van High School football shut down its season after three games this fall. Bias Bryant said Boone County students have to be offered quality education and extracurricular opportunities going forward.
“I hope that when you proceed with this, you will take into consideration those students,” Bias Bryant said. “Foremost, in every decision that you make.”
Sexton pledged to keep Bias Bryant’s words, along with feedback that will be heard on Tuesday, in mind.
“As per the notes I’ve taken there, I’ve taken good consideration that those topics that have been discussed, and are going to be taken into account as we are planning the next phase of this process,” he said.
Final action on the potential closures will be taken next Thursday, October 8 after the public comments are reviewed.