Those attending the February 2, 2026 meeting of the Hancock County Board of Education experienced a drastically changed meeting format. Since the State of West Virginia has taken over the Hancock County Schools, the Board of Education has been stripped of any decision-making capacity. The members no longer approve the agenda, vote on financials or even approve staffing changes.
State-appointed Superintendent Walt Saunders announced at the beginning of the meeting, that the agenda had been approved under the authority of the State Superintendent of Schools. Personnel decisions approved by the State include the following:
**Resignation of Courtney Raszkiewicz, pre-school special needs, Weirton Elmentary;
**Retirements of Donna Carnes, Title I teacher, Weirton Elementary, and Patricia Boniti, grade 2 teacher, Weirton Elementary;
**Coaching resignations of Taylor Giannamore, assistant girls’ track, Weir Middle; George Martich, Weir High Assistant Football and Albert Eddy, Weir High Assistant Football;
**Mallory Markowitz was assigned Assistant Boys’ Track at Oak Glen Middle;
**Classified resignations were approved from Casie Hebrock, Supervisory Aide/AM, Weirton Elementary; Haley N. Davis, Secretary II, Weirton Elementary, and Paul Guzzo, Custodian IV/GM, Weirton Elementary;
**Resignation approved for Donald Barr, Substitute Bus Operator Countywide;
**Permission was granted for an overnight trip for Oak Glen Middle School participating chorus students traveling to WV All-State Children’s Chorus in Charleston, March 4, 2026 and returning March 6, 2026.
Superintendent said going forth the Board will only meet monthly. He said turnaround on agenda items will not be possible within a two-week time frame. The Board will meet again February 23.
