Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly told the BOE Tuesday that cost-cutting actions will be necessary as the county school system’s fiscal year 2027 budget will be facing at least a $3 million deficit.

This comes on the heels of the Randolph County Schools system’s serious financial issues with the 2026 budget.

On June 11, the West Virginia Department of Education voted unanimously to officially place Randolph County Schools in a state of emergency. The state of emergency will remain in place for six months, with the state Department of Education working with the Randolph BOE and Dilly during that time on various issues, including creating a balanced budget.

In December, the state Department of Education will receive a progress update, and the state BOE will decide on extending the state of emergency for Randolph County Schools, or intervening in the operation of the school system.

Randolph County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly, left, is shown with Randolph County Technology Support Specialist Candy Cain.

On Tuesday night, Dilly told the BOE, “As I think you’re aware … looking into FY 2027, with the fact and the situation that the carryover is absolutely gone at this point, we will be looking at a $3 million deficit facing FY 2027.

“I think based on some of the preliminary numbers that we are seeing, that could potentially climb to $3.5 or $4 million,” Dilly said. “As we start moving into thoughts of what we need to do, I think it’s going to be in our best interest to target that $4 million deficit number, just to try and ensure that we meet the needs of our communities.”

Dilly then presented the BOE with some “reconfiguration concepts” to think about. He recommended that the BOE and himself have a work session regarding his ideas at the next BOE meeting.

“I wanted to throw some ideas at you,” Dilly said. “I have been listening to some folks and getting some ideas about what might work and what won’t. Obviously there is no plan without negatives, I want to be up front about that. But as we go forward we are just going to have to weigh out what is positive and what is negative.”

The first reconfiguration idea Dilly presented to the BOE, which he admitted was the most aggressive of the models, is a six-school approach. 

“When we are looking at the $4 million number, the challenge we are faced with is that we probably would have three or four schools that would have to be closed next year,” Dilly said. “This model would really reconfigure a lot of things, so part of what I’m wanting you to do is decide what you would think would work the best and then we can kind of determine the pathways to get to these long-term.”

The six-school approach reconfiguration would turn Elkins High School into Elkins Middle/High School, which would support seventh through 12th grades. Under this configuration, the Elkins area would have only two elementary schools, located at the current Midland and Third Ward schools. Both of those schools would be Pre-K to 2nd grade.

Also under this approach, Elkins Middle School would become Elkins Intermediate School for students grades three through six. George Ward in Mill Creek would become a Pre-K to fourth-grade school, while fifth-grade students from George Ward would go to Tygarts Valley High/Middle School.

“We need to look at what we are thinking for the next 10 years or so,” Dilly said. “Because if you recall, with some things I have shared surrounding the Tygarts Valley area, as early as 2035 we could look at a Pre-K to 12 building down there or another consideration.”

Dilly presented two other reconfiguration ideas to the BOE, a seven-school approach and a one high school approach.

The seven-school approach is similar to the six-school approach, other than some changes at the elementary school level, where Jennings Randolph Elementary would become a Pre-K school.

Under the one high school approach, there would be only one high school, located at the current Elkins High School, to serve the entire county.

“These are just some ideas that I wanted to kind of float and let you guys start thinking about and what you might consider supporting as we try and balance the budget moving forward,” Dilly said.

“Harman and Pickens are obviously some consideration in all of our models, and they would consolidate in with Coalton and a variety of others,” he added. ”

Are there ways we can think about that? I think those are things we would have to discuss and see what options we might have available. I think the most viable option moving forward with our financial situation is virtual school options at those locations… I have been approached by some community members wanting to consolidate some of these schools, but I have also been approached by some wanting to start a levy call.”

The next Randolph County Board of Education meeting will be Tuesday, July 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the BOE office.