The State Could Take Over Boone Schools

The West Virginia Board of Education could vote this week to take over Boone County’s public school system. State board members tell The Gazette-Mail that the county board has refused the state schools superintendent’s orders twice to make severe employee pay and benefit cuts and submit a new budget. Officials expect to address the issue this morning at a meeting in Charleston. State board member Gayle Manchin says Boone’s budget for 2016-17 isn’t balanced and needs to be fixed. Boone school officials have blamed their financial woes on a sudden, drastic decrease in property tax revenue from bankruptcies of major coal companies. The state board, which includes nine voting members, already controls parts of the Gilmer County and Fayette County school systems.