CALHOUN SCHOOLS WILL GET SOME SPECIAL HELP - With $1.8 Deficit Eliminated, School Funding Problems Remain

(11/18/2020)

Calhoun Superintendent Kelli Whytsell said in September, after several years of effort, the contentious $1.8 million deficit is no more, following "hard work and sacrifice." Many rural counties are facing significant economic problems, some linked to a decrease in enrollment. Only one county did not lose students, a statewide enrollment decline of 9,300. State schools have lost $43 million over enrollment decline, collapsing funds from the state's capitated School Funding Formula. Calhoun Schools have lost about 100 students since last year. The state Department of Education’s Accountability Office has marked programs in nine county school districts in West Virginia that need assistance, including Calhoun. According to Accountability Services Director Matt Hicks, the reviews found Calhoun and Wyoming counties need assistance in the area of finance; Cabell, Fayette, Hampshire, Jefferson and Kanawha counties in the area of special education; and Calhoun, Hancock and Wood counties in the area of Universal Pre-K readiness. State Board of Education President Miller Hall said the Accountability Report is not punitive but a way to help counties improve. “This is not an ‘I gotcha moment. I’m catching you doing something bad.’ These things are to help our counties to improve and to help our young people with their academics, behavior and finances. We want to offer support,” Hall said. See WV SCHOOLS SEE HUGE 9,300 DROP IN ENROLLMENT - Keeping School Standards At Risk, Calhoun Suffers From Funding Formula Allocations, County's Biggest Enrollment Drop In 30 Years

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