Del. Pat McGeehan (R-1st) spoke to WV Metro News yesterday (Jan. 6) in regards to the financial crisis facing Hancock County Schools. McGeehan was quoted as saying he’s been told that the school district will not be able to make payroll after Feb. 1, 2026.
Reports say the school system could run out of money by February 1 and McGeehan says that wasn’t just because the county is losing funding from the state school aid formula because enrollment numbers are down.
“This situation is about mismanagement, lack of accounting, and a number of other factors that led to this sudden financial crisis,” McGeehan said Tuesday on MetroNews Talkline.
“The books were just wrong and that’s likely just from gross incompetence. Hopefully it’s nothing more than that, but if nothing changes right now, Hancock County Schools won’t be able to make payroll by early February,” he continued.
Hometown News contacted Hancock County School Superintendent Dan Enich regarding the status of the financial crisis and whether payroll obligations would be met. Enich forwarded the e-mail that was sent to all school employees today (Jan. 7).
“As a follow-up to updates that I have passed along to you via email and through BOE meetings, please know that we have been in close contact with state officials concerning the financial situation in the Hancock County School System.
We have closely monitored the situation with the WVDE finance dept and the financial expert (Mr. Davis-Educational Consultants, LLC). We have brought him and his company on board to analyze the situation and to give us expert school financial advice. Our goal is to have Mr. Davis at the 1/26/25 BOE meeting to give us a report out on this situation. We have worked with all of these parties since October 2025 to make sure that we can meet all of our financial obligations and payrolls.“
The Board has a special meeting slated for January 9. The agenda items concern the grievance filed by former CFO Joe Campinelli who was terminated by the Board. On the Board’s agenda for its regular meeting Monday, January 12 is a request to hire the law firm of Frankovitch, Anetakis, Simon,DeCapio & Pearl to represent the Board in the grievance. It’s anticipated that Campinelli will opt to bypass Level 2 and proceed to Level 3 which is heard by an Administrative Law Judge.
