In the space of a few hours, Hancock County residents went from being proud of our school system and the improved test schools students were exhibiting to shameful disbelief ten days ago. West Virginia Board of Education President Paul Hardesty took our school administration and Board of Education to task in a way I can only describe as brutal. As Hardesty rolled out the malfeasance and maladministration of the top administrators and Board of Education, I believe a sick feeling came over the entire county. “This can’t be,” I thought. “How did this happen to Hancock County. We’ve always had a school system of which we were proud.”
Not anymore. But, it’s important that we not lose sight of the excellent education provided by our educators and the achievements of our students. Our pride and support needs to continue to rest with them.
It’s unbelievable to learn that school officials and the board weren’t aware we were 143 staff over the formula and the salaries and benefits were being paid out of the general fund to the tune of $10 million. And, when the question of improvements to both high schools’ sports complexes comes up, I am incredulous that the lack of funds didn’t surface. But the blame shouldn’t stop at the County level.
The mission of the West Virginia State Board of education is “to ensure the general supervision, oversight and monitoring of a thorough and efficient and effective system free of free public schools.”
According to former superintendent Dan Enich, Hancock County was the only one out of 55 counties not to plug our numbers into the WVEIS system for 15 years. CFO Joe Campinelli instead submitted a spread sheet. The blame lies with Campinelli and his direct supervisor Superintendent Dan Enich who should have directed Campinelli to conform to the rest of the State.
But, the State Board of Education shares some of the blame. They knew Hancock wasn’t submitting their numbers as requested and they should have alerted the local administration and board. An e-mail was sent out monthly to counties regarding their finances. Campinelli never once responded to these e-mails according to the State. Shouldn’t they have brought Campinelli’s non-responsiveness to the attention of Hancock’s Superintendent and Board?
If the State and the County School Board had better communications and oversight, Hancock County might never had reached the dire situation we now must correct. In hindsight, both the Hancock County Board and the WV Board of Education dropped the ball.
i
s
