ELKINS – The public hearing and vote on the closure of Pickens K-12 School scheduled for Tuesday evening was canceled approximately 90 minutes before it was slated to take place.

Just before 4 p.m. Tuesday, Randolph County Superintendent of Schools Dr. Shawn Dilly released a statement on social media saying the hearing had been canceled following “new information related to funding, as well as ongoing community effort that may support keeping Pickens open for an additional year.”

Brad Smith, Randolph County Schools Chief Business Official and Treasurer, told The Inter-Mountain after the cancellation was announced that Dilly received the “new information” late Tuesday afternoon.

“Superintendent Dilly got word late today that we might be getting additional funding for Pickens,” Smith said Tuesday. “Because of that he told us that it doesn’t make sense in closing the school, and pulled it off the table. He did say, though, that if, for some reason, the money didn’t come through, he would have to look at having another closure hearing.”

Dilly’s statement reads, “The district will review and validate the funding details with the West Virginia Department of Education and other partners. We will also evaluate the community’s proposals to determine operational, instructional, transportation, staffing, and fiscal impacts for the 2026 school year.

“Canceling tonight’s hearing does not predetermine a final outcome. If a revised proposal is needed, it will follow all statutory requirements, including public notice and hearings consistent with W. Va. Code §18-5-13a and WVDE Policy 6204. Any new hearing date will be announced with proper notice.”

This is the second time this year that a hearing to vote on closing Pickens K-12 School was canceled. Back in January, after the BOE voted 4-1 against closing Harman School, Dilly’s proposal to close Pickens K-12 was formally withdrawn.

During a special hearing Oct. 8, the BOE voted 4-1 to close Harman K-12 School, and 5-0 to close North Elementary. A public hearing and vote to close Coalton Elementary and Midland Elementary is scheduled for Oct. 28 at Elkins High School.

“We appreciate the constructive engagement from families, staff and community members,” Dilly wrote in Tuesday’s statement. “Your collaboration is critical as we work to provide students with safe, high-quality learning environments while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”

Randolph County Schools was placed in a State of Emergency by the West Virginia Department of Education in June. The school district will remain on probation for a total of six months, and faces the possibility of a state takeover if it cannot create a balanced budget or show progress by December.

A regular Randolph County Board of Education meeting is slated for Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 5:30 p.m. at the Central Office.