CHARLESTON, W.Va. – A detailed roadmap of how intervention counties can move toward progress was presented Thursday to the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) during its monthly board meeting.

“Up until now, we have provided oral guidance to counties about the next steps and expectations related to an intervention,” said West Virginia Deputy Superintendent of Schools Chuck Heinlein. “The Process and Guidelines for Superintendents and Local Boards Under Intervention Status document is a comprehensive, step-by-step explanation of what will happen under intervention, expectations and responsibilities. Our goal is for this document to strengthen communication among the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA), the West Virginia School Boards Association (WVSBA), the West Virginia Department of Education and the intervention counties so that students are provided the education they deserve.” 

The WVBE places a county under intervention only after an audit has been conducted by the OEPA. Deficiencies in areas such as finance, facilities, student achievement, personnel and board relations lead to intervention. 

Non-approval status and a declared state of emergency have been used 10 times since 1988 by the WVBE. Currently, six West Virginia county school systems are under full state control. Those counties include Mingo, McDowell, Preston, Grant, Fayette and Gilmer. Lincoln County just earned full approval status from the OEPA but must pass one more audit before full local control can be regained.

The document presented to the WVBE includes topics such as standards used by the OEPA to determine accreditation status; requirements and recommendations for intervention county superintendent; recommendations for the county board of education; and the process for regaining local control.

“On behalf of the West Virginia School Board Association, we commend the WVDE and state Superintendent of Schools Jorea Marple for providing what will become the road map for intervention counties,” said Howard O’Cull, executive director of the WVSBA. “The document outlines roles, duties, and responsibilities for county boards under intervention and also includes explicit timelines, ways technical support will be provided and measures for progress.”

The current document is in draft form and will be altered based on suggestions provided by board members.

 For more information, contact the WVDE Communications Office at (304) 558-2699. 

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