By Steven Allen Adams, The Parkersburg News and Sentinel
CHARLESTON — Members of the West Virginia Board of Education voted to place Roane County Schools in a state of emergency, citing a significant budget deficit for the new fiscal year.
In a unanimous vote Wednesday, the state Board of Education voted to designate a state of emergency for Roane County Schools and work with new county Superintendent Michelle Stellato and the county Board of Education to develop an action plan to reduce the projected deficit.
Alexandra Criner, director of the Office of Accountability for the state Department of Education, presented a report to the state board on the financial conditions at Roane County Schools where, according to Criner, declining enrollment, low building utilization, and excess personnel caused the county school system to go into a deficit for fiscal year 2025 which ended on June 30, with a projected deficit for fiscal year 2026, which began July 1.
“Due to declining enrollment, failure to approve a consolidation plan, lack of sufficient personnel action, and other operational decisions, Roane County Schools is out of compliance with West Virginia Code 11-8-26 and is facing a significant projected budget deficit for fiscal year 26,” Criner said.
