COMFORT, W.Va. — A busy week for Boone County education officials continued Wednesday evening with another hearing on school closures and consolidations.
Boone County Schools leaders held a hearing at Sherman Elementary School in Comfort, near Seth, about July’s proposed consolidation of Whitesville Elementary students into the existing Sherman school. Whitesville students would join Sherman in 2027-28. Earlier this week, officials heard from residents in Madison and Van on the potential closure of Van Elementary and Van Junior/Senior High School.
A PreK-8 school is planned to take over the old Van Junior/Senior High School property, while high school students would attend classes at Scott High School starting next fall.
There were no public speakers at the Sherman receiving-school hearing Wednesday. Education officials will visit Whitesville Elementary School on Thursday for the closing-school hearing.
Boone County Superintendent of Schools Allen Sexton did outline the main reasons for the proposal to consolidate Whitesville and Sherman.
“Facility conditions remain a primary factor for this proposal,” Sexton explained. “The facility assessment identified substantial needs, involving masonry, roofing, water intrusion, mechanical and electrical systems, fire protections, accessibility, and other areas. The estimated cost of comprehensive repairs and modernization of the building is approximately $19.8 million.”
“Financial considerations are also significant,” Sexton added. “The proposal consolidated its estimate into reducing annual operating expenditures by almost $1.1 million by avoiding substantial capital investments that would be necessary for modernizing Whitesville Elementary.”
Sexton said that other areas, identified through review and analysis, included student enrollment projects, education programming, staffing, transportation, and the long-term stability of Boone County Schools.
Since the announcement of the consolidation was made in July, Sexton reported that Boone County Schools’ Central Office administration has heard from, and met with, community members and staff.
“Those conversations provided valuable insight, expressed concerns and offered alternatives for the proposed closures,” Sexton said.
He said in the end, consolidation is the next step to take in this case.
“After considering the concerns and the alternatives presented by the community, our subsequent review did not identify an alternate way to adequately address the facility, the enrollment, the financial, and operational conditions that have led to this recommendation,” Sexton said.
Boone County education leaders will take final action on the Whitesville/Sherman consolidation, along with the Van Elementary and Van Junior/Senior High School proposed closures, next Thursday, October 8.