CHARLESTON – The state of emergency designation was lifted from Pocahontas County Schools Wednesday, one year to the day after the state Board of Education put it in place.

The move came after Pocahontas County Schools Superintendent Dr. Leatha Williams addressed the state BOE during its Wednesday meeting. Williams gave the State Board a status report on the changes the Pocahontas Board of Education has made since it was placed on the state of emergency last year.

“I want to frame everything in the relationship of our county’s slogan for the year, ‘Stronger Together,'” Williams said. “Everything that you will hear and see today will be about building common protocols, procedures that are embedded in long policy. My approach in Pocahontas County Schools has been based on improving climate and culture through relationship building, clear protocols and transparency.”

The State Board had placed Pocahontas County Schools in a state of emergency on Feb. 12, 2025 after receiving a report of the “special circumstance review” that was conducted at Pocahontas County High School by the Office of Accountability. On Aug. 1, the State Board voted to extend the state of emergency another six months after receiving the findings from a special education monitoring.

Williams addressed the areas of non-compliance found in Pocahontas County High School during the initial special circumstance reviews. She said the review found non-compliance in a comprehensive school counseling program, grades, transcripts and scheduling, leadership, positive and safe school environment and special education.

The state BOE was provided with Pocahontas County High School’s comprehensive school counseling plan that, Williams said, has been “completed and is currently being implemented.” Williams also stated that the district employs a full-time community in-schools representative and partners with Youth Health Services and Seneca Mental Health.

Williams also provided the state Board with documents regarding how the district now handles grading, transcripts and class scheduling. She stated that school administrators and secretaries have been trained to ensure consistency and compliance across the county. Williams also addressed the issues in leadership laid out in the previous special circumstance review.

“In summary, the lack of effective, working relationships between the central office staff, the superintendent and the schools was the issue,” Williams said. “This issue was addressed through central office reorganization, clearly defined rules, regular school visits and formalized administrative guidance through superintendent memorandums to ensure consistent policy-based decision making.”

Williams then addressed how Pocahontas County Schools is now handling its special education programs. She said the district held debriefings and training sessions, as well as revised the special education teaching position requirements, created a new compliance specialist position, created a “three-tiered system of support” and more.

After Williams finished her report, State Board President L. Paul Hardesty thanked her for all she’s done for the county school district.

“It’s refreshing to see someone that’s taken on a challenge and put a lot of work into it. Got the (Pocahontas School) board to buy into what you’re doing, and it’s obvious that you’ve got things headed in the right direction,” Hardesty said. “I talked to your (Pocahontas Board of Education) president before the meeting this morning and I think he feels good about the direction of Pocahontas County Schools.”

State Superintendent of Schools Michele Blatt then recommended that the state Board lift the state emergency status for Pocahontas County Schools, based on what Williams had reported and on what the state BOE’s monitoring has witnessed for itself. Blatt encouraged Pocahontas County Schools to continue on its current path and keep the motto of “Stronger Together.”

After the state BOE approved lifting the state of emergency, Hardesty told Williams, “Young lady, you’ve got the keys back to the car.”