CHARLESTON – The West Virginia Board of Education voted unanimously during its monthly meeting on Wednesday morning to release Randolph County Schools from its State of Emergency status.    

Randolph County Schools was originally placed in a State of Emergency for a six-month period in June 2025 because of its inability to balance the 2026 budget. The state BOE then voted to extend the State of Emergency status for another six months in January of this year.   

On Wednesday, after West Virginia State Superintendent of Schools Michele L. Blatt recommended that Randolph County School be released from the State of Emergency, a motion was made and then seconded before approved unanimously.     

New Randolph County Schools Superintendent Dr. Derek Lambert, who was voted in by the Randolph BOE in late May, provided a report to the state Board of Education Wednesday morning before Blatt made her recommendation.     

“Over this past school year Randolph County Schools has taken significant systemic actions to improve its long term financial position,” Lambert told the Board. “During fiscal year ’26, the Board of Education made the decision to close two schools and implement extensive personnel reductions… These actions combined with the ongoing expenditure controls have strengthened the county’s financial outlook.”     

Lambert, who took over for interim Randolph County Superintendent Terry George, said that 46 1/2 positions were eliminated as part of the cost-saving process, while providing some financial numbers to the state Board of Education.       

“As of June 30, 2026, the current expense fund revenues totaled $42.07 million, exceeding expenditures by approximately $1.47 million before the year-end closing activities,” Lambert said. “Preliminary calculations for fiscal year ’26 show an estimated general current expense fund unassigned balance over $4 million, which is an increase from the prior year, while successfully adopting a balanced FY 27 budget that does maintain the required 5% reserve. I and the new Board of Education in Randolph County recognize that there is still work to be done, but I do believe that Randolph County is in a much better place now than it was a year ago.”     

At the conclusion of Lambert’s report, WVDE President L. Paul Hardesty asked if there were any questions from the Board. No questions were directed at Lambert and Blatt followed with her recommendation.     

“I would like to thank Dr. Lambert for his report and I think it’s important to mention that the Randolph County Board brought in Terry George as interim superintendent in the transition that they have had, and he has been able to do a lot of this and set a nice stage for us moving forward,” Blatt said. “I would like to make a motion to release Randolph County Schools from the State of Emergency with the requirement that the local Board of Education and superintendent continue progress toward improving not only the efficiency of operations, but also the effectiveness of the school system. As evidenced by improved academic achievement and student outcomes. I believe that the West Virginia Board of Education will continue to prioritize monitoring and support for a period of at least 12 months to ensure that local improvements are sustained.”    

Alexandra Criner, director of the Office of Accountability for the state Department of Education, gave an update to the state Board concerning Randolph County before Lambert’s report.    

“In June 2025, upon receiving a report detailing operational challenges in Randolph County Schools, this Board voted to declare a State of Emergency and require a comprehensive plan to address identified deficiencies,” Criner said. “The requirements of the plan were training and support for board members and the superintendent, working with an assigned mentor for the superintendent and central office team, action steps to ensure a school consolidation plan has been approved, and a proposal for a balanced budget. The State of Emergency has been reviewed and was extended for six months once prior.” 

Last year, the Randolph BOE voted to close the Harman 12-year school and North Elementary School due to budgetary reasons.

George was hired in March the day after Superintendent Dr. Shawn Dilly unexpectedly resigned his position.     

The Randolph County Board of Education’s next meeting will be July 21 at 5:30 p.m.