The Inter-Mountain photo by Edgar Kelley Randolph County Schools Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly prepares for Tuesday evening’s Board of Education meeting at the Elkins High School Auditorium alongside Executive Secretary Jessica Isner.

ELKINS — The Randolph County Board of Education needs to choose a consolidation plan within the next week and establish hearing dates for the process, Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly said at this week’s BOE meeting.

Dilly talked about the serious financial situation the school district is in during Tuesday night’s BOE meeting at the Elkins High School Auditorium. The West Virginia Department of Education deemed Randolph County Schools to be in a State of Emergency in June, and that tag will remain on the school system for a total of six months.

Dilly said the county has lost 604 students since the last Randolph County school closure.

“That equated to roughly about $4.8 to $5 million in revenues,” Dilly said. “So therefore, there are very difficult decisions that we have to make right now. And again, I emphasize the urgency.

“We have to really try and get something done because we do have a deadline. I know they (West Virginia Department of Education officials) said December, but the deadline to submit information is November.”

Dilly said at the next meeting he and the Board of Education members need to establish hearing dates so that they can move ahead in the process. The BOE voted to have another work session meeting Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office.

Dilly said he wanted to focus on the “financial reality” for Randolph County Schools and used a metaphor to explain what was happening with the district and the possibility of a state takeover.

“I think there’s just so many components to this that a lot of folks don’t fully understand, so I’m hoping this metaphor helps out our folks,” Dilly said. “Imagine a hardworking couple living in Randolph County. Both spouses have steady jobs and together they built a life that feels secure.

“They’ve purchased a home, invested in a small cabin to enjoy on weekends, finance reliable vehicles, and put money aside for their children’s future. At first everything seems stable, but then one spouse begins losing hours at work. It;s subtle at first, just enough to tighten the budget.

“They cut back on extras and meals turn out to be leftovers at home. The family vacation is postponed and they quietly hope for things to turn around. But instead of recovering, things continue to decline,” he said.

“Hours are reduced again and the couple dips into savings to cover the basics. Repairs get put off and they stop contributing to college savings. Tensions grow as the family begins to feel the pressure. Eventually the job is lost all together and now they are trying to carry the household on one income and it simply isn’t enough.

“The couple sits at the kitchen table facing difficult questions. Should they sell the cabin? Trade in one of the cars? Or downsize their home? None of these choices are easy but if they delay, hoping things will fix themselves, those decisions will be made for them,” Dilly said.

“The bank may foreclose on their home, the power could be shut off and vehicles might be repossessed. At that point the family is no longer in control of what happens next. This is precisely where Randolph County Schools finds itself.”

Dilly said the district has managed its budget responsibly for years and invested in staff, facilities and programs with the resources it had available. 

“As enrollment began to decline and revenues shrank, we adjusted where we could,” said Dilly. “We cut spending and left positions unfilled and hoped our financial situation would improve. Now, like the family who lost one income, we are just trying to support a system that costs more than we can afford.

“Federal funding continues to be in question and enrollment continues to drop. We are living beyond our means and the choices are getting harder. If we act now, we can make thoughtful, deliberate decisions to stabilize our future.

“But if we wait, those choices may be taken from us. The state could step in. Financial obligations have become unmanageable and the foundation of our educational system could be at risk,” he said. “We do not want to lose the ability to provide safe, stable, high-quality education for the children of Randolph County. That is why we must act now together with clarity and purpose.”