(I, along with other Hancock County residents, have numerous concerns and questions about the financial crisis in the school system. I posed some of those questions to Superintendent Dan Enich and received the following answers.)
What is the time frame? **for the employee/position review
The RIF/transfer time frame starts in April of 2026. This is standard by the state. Employees in all counties are notified in April and have the opportunity to request a hearing.
Will the layoffs occur by senior employee bumping employees with less years of service; in subject areas?
We consider all areas based on student enrollment, but the basis is seniority as you mentioned.
Is the assessment being made now on closure/consolidation of schools?
I believe 2 things are going on at once. We are assessing reduction in force earlier in the school year as opposed to previous years. As you know, there was no reduction in force in the last 8 to 10 years before Mr. Smith and I started. I do not know the answer as to why that did not happen. I believe the last reduction in force was done under Ms. Smith and Mr. Neely, some time ago. In our first year, we reduced by 21 and in our second year we recommended 19. Those 2 numbers may be inversed, but the total was 40. The other aspect to that is an assessment on the closure of schools. We have assessed this in the past and it is always on the table. I just think that I am the first to bring it up. At the time I brought it up, I am being transparent in the process. The time frame for any school closure in the state of WV was November 1st. That time passed. The WVDE recently extended the timeframe for school closures in the state of WV to February 28, 2026. With the extended time frame, the first point in the process is to have the county impact statement to the WVDE by 12/19/25.
When will the decision by made? By whom?
A decision for all personnel will be as all decisions go….a recommendation by the Superintendent and a vote by the BOE. Time frame above.
Just because a school closes doesn’t mean all the administrators and teachers will be laid off? Will those senior teachers in subject area be reassigned to another school?
Add reduction in force is seniority based whether it is a regular RIF or by why of a school closure.
Will there be a financial report made to the community describing the amount gleaned from each action? (Riffed employees, school closures)
Yes, that will be public information.
If a school is marked for closure, would it be closed at the end of this school year or next?
That decision is pending, as well as if a school will be closed.
I understand a group taking up a petition is continuing to get signatures. That petition, however, has no legal status to impact the Board’s decision. It merely conveys the opinion of the group to the decision makers whether it be Hancock or the State Board.
We respect that group’s position as well as the speakers who came to the BOE the other day.
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