“We have finished our review of Hampshire County Schools, and today we are providing preliminary data to the Board,” said Assistant State Superintendent Jack McClanahan. “The consultant team has been thorough in its work and I expect to have a full report complete within three weeks.”  

The consultant team, which visited Hampshire County Schools and Regional Education Service Agency VIII, consisted of 11 members who possess an extensive knowledge of school procedures, school finance, school administration, personnel and certification.  

“The team followed up on the findings of the Office of Education Performance Audits’ report,” noted McClanahan. “We have identified a few additional discrepancies in Hampshire County and have also confirmed that at least three grants, two federal and one state, were not spent according to guidelines.”  

“The consultant team has done a very fine job,” added Board President Barbara Fish. “We are attending to our business like we should be.”  

The Board called for a state of emergency in Hampshire County Schools and unanimously voted to place Hampshire County Schools on non-approval status. The Board took the action last month after learning of questionable financial practices and hiring practices in the Hampshire County District Offices. A team from the Office of Education Performance Audits (OEPA) made an unannounced visit to Hampshire County in January to conduct an education performance audit of the county offices. According to the OEPA report, several violations of state code and West Virginia Board of Education policies have occurred.