Hancock County Schools is facing a financial crisis that did not occur suddenly, nor was it unavoidable. Information revealed in recent public meetings points to years of poor financial management, insufficient oversight, and a troubling lack of transparency. These failures have placed the district, its employees, and its students in an increasingly unstable position.
At the October 6, 2025 Board of Education meeting, financial concerns were openly discussed, prompting Board President Chris Gillette to request greater transparency. President Gillette specifically asked to review all expenditures prior to payment. In response, Superintendent Dan Enich and Chief School Business Official Joe Campinelli suggested that levy fund expenditures did not require board review because those funds were “already earmarked” for specific purposes. That statement should alarm every taxpayer. Regardless of the source of funds, all expenditures must be reviewed and approved by the Board of Education before payment. Any suggestion otherwise diminishes the board’s legal authority and fiduciary duty.
The district’s current financial position is the result of multiple compounding decisions over several years. Hancock County Schools received more than $13.4 million in American Rescue Plan and ESSER funds beginning around September 2020. While these funds provided temporary financial relief, they were never intended to be permanent revenue and were not accompanied by long-term planning. At the same time, the district employed more than 120 positions above the state aid formula, including approximately 69 professional employees and 52 service personnel. This level of overstaffing created ongoing financial obligations that could not be sustained once federal funding expired.
Further contributing to the crisis was the construction of four athletic fields through lease-purchase arrangements at Oak Glen and Weir High Schools, including baseball and softball fields at each campus. Debt service payments tied to these projects were reportedly not recorded properly, obscuring the district’s true financial obligations. In addition, the WVEIS uniform accounting system was not used correctly, and there was a lack of consistent accounting oversight. Financial information provided to the Board of Education was limited and often delayed, despite repeated requests. Wasteful spending decisions, combined with the absence of financial forecasting or future planning, left the district unprepared for the reality it now faces.
As a result, the consequences will be felt by the entire school community. Districtwide layoffs through Reduction in Force and transfers are likely during the spring of 2026. Consolidation of schools should be a serious and transparent discussion, even though the superintendent has indicated he will not propose consolidation for the 2026–27 school year. Most concerning of all, the district may be unable to meet payroll obligations as early as February 2026. These outcomes will not primarily impact administrators but will instead affect teachers, service personnel, students, and families throughout Hancock County.
Accountability must now be addressed. The Chief School Business Official is responsible for maintaining accurate financial records and ensuring proper accounting practices. The Superintendent is responsible for overseeing district operations and ensuring that the Board of Education receives complete and accurate financial information. The Board itself bears responsibility only to the extent that it was provided reliable information, which appears to have been infrequent and only after persistent questioning.
Corrective action is no longer optional. The Board of Education should file a claim on the bond of the former Chief School Business Official. Being bonded means that an official is insured against financial mismanagement or negligence, allowing the district to recover losses when misconduct or malpractice occurs. If supported by evidence, the Board should also pursue legal action against the former Chief School Business Official personally. Additionally, legal action should be considered against the audit firm that approved financial statements over the past several years if those statements are found to be materially inaccurate in light of accounting abnormalities identified by outside consultants.
At the same time, the district must begin working toward solutions rather than continuing to delay difficult decisions. A thoughtful and transparent consolidation plan should be developed, and staffing levels must sadly be reduced to align with the state aid formula. These steps will not be easy, but they are necessary to restore financial stability and public trust.
Hancock County residents deserve transparency and accountability from those entrusted with public funds. School employees deserve leadership that plans responsibly rather than reacting to crisis. Most importantly, students deserve a school system focused on their future—not one struggling to recover from years of avoidable financial mismanagement. Silence and inaction are no longer acceptable.
