Hometown News submitted a Freedom of Information Act request to the State Board of Education on March 3,2026. Below you will find the documents we are seeking. We continue to investigate the timeline, and the many roads the takeover and the 20 years prior to the takeover have taken us down. It’s now clear that the problems are not just recent. An anonymous note tipped us off that when a new superintendent took over a similar situation occurred almost 20 years ago and we are working to verify that information. We, of course, are looking forward to April 9.
RE: Your FOIA Request Received by the West Virginia Board of Education on March 3, 2026
Dear Ms. Pettit:
On March 3, 2026, The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) received you request under the West Virginia Freed of Information Act (FOIA) in which you are seeking the following records:
**any documentation that Campinelli refused to use the WVEIS system; and how many years he failed to do so; any correspondence to Hancock County Board of Education or Hancock County Superintendent on Campinelli’s refusal to utilize WVEIS;
**E-mails that were sent to Campinelli over the past three years citing problems with Hancock County’s financial reporting; late or not received at all required reports; and any response that may have been forthcoming. A list of anyone who was copied in on those emails at either the State or Hancock County level;
**The letter dismissing Tetrick & Barlow, Hancock County’s auditing company;
**The letter employing the WV Auditor’s office to perform the current audit and it’s timeline for its completion;
**Any documentation that the CTE funds in Hancock County or anywhere else in the State were used for any other purpose rather than intended purpose;
**The financials which Campinelli submitted to the State;
**Any evidence submitted to the Federal, State or county authorities regarding Campinelli’s false reporting and other evidence of malfeasance, maladministration, fraud or theft;
**Any correspondence stating a time and date to turn a report in on the Hancock County takeover to the Hancock County Board; people of Hancock County; legislature; and Governor Patrick Morrisey.
In order to allow us the necessary time to conduct a review and search of our records, please be advise that we expect to respond to your FOIA request on or before April 9, 2026.
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Kelli D. Talbott General Counsel
