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ELKINS -- Randolph County Superintendent Debra Schmidlen met with school administrators across the county this week to inform them about recommendations she has made as part of the school system's annual Reduction in Force (RIF) process.
Schmidlen told The Inter-Mountain Friday that she could not disclose how many RIF recommendations she made this week, or what schools would be affected.
"There has been no action taken at this point in regards to personnel season, it's just the beginning process," Schmidlen said. "Everyone is employed until the end of the school year… We are in the beginning of personnel season, and in the process of informing any employees who may be placed on preferred recall or administrative transfer."
The superintendent said she had not discussed the matter with any employees whose RIF she has recommended, but did meet with county principals about the subject this week.
"I have not talked to any employees yet, I have only talked to administrators, who are encouraged to talk to their employees if they choose to do so," Schmidlen said. "I talked to the principals this week and they are aware of what recommendations are being made in their buildings. They can talk to their employees about the recommendations if they choose to, and I will go to the schools next week to officially inform those employees who may be affected during personnel season."
Schmidlen said she will take her recommendations to the Board of Education during "personnel season" to inform them of any cuts, transfers or reductions in force.
"This is a recommendation to the board," she said. "We will have board meetings in March for personnel season, and the board will either approve the recommendations or they can deny those. That's up to the board."
Personnel hearings will take place on March 11-12, in which employees who received a RIF letter can have a hearing to speak to the BOE. During the first night, the board will hear from and vote on service personnel. The second evening will be reserved for professional employees.
Schmidlen said the BOE should have no knowledge of the recommendations until the meetings in March.
"Without prior knowledge, they can be open-minded and unbiased," Schmidlen said. "But that always doesn't happen because people feel compelled to call. I don't discuss (with the board) what those recommendations are until those two meetings."