Randolph County RIF hearings: 14 educators plead to keep jobs
Randolph County Superintendent Shawn Dilly told 12 News that there are 55-56 hearings throughout the week, including both transfers and terminations.
These hearings are a yearly occurrence, but are being expedited this year, according to Dilly. The reason for this is is because Randolph County BOE has not received a definite amount of funding for the next fiscal year. Dilly added that the West Virginia Department of Education informed him that it wouldn't know how much state funding it could provide until after the legislative session. There are also questions about the future of federal funding.
Dilly told 12 News that the deadline for all personnel actions is April 30, and that if the board does not vote for the recommended terminations and transfers, this might be the last chance to defer a possible takeover by the State Board of Education as the county fails to balance the budget.
In his presentations to the board both Monday and Tuesday, Dilly said even with all these cuts, there could still be about an $800,000 deficit. He added that after cuts are made and federal and state funding is finalized, there is the potential for terminations to be rescinded and personnel to be asked back.
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'I can't wait forever, so at a certain point I will have to find other employment, probably another county or another state, so unfortunately I'd love to go back to north if possible but if they wait too long to give me the notice after my position is terminated I might not have a choice,' North Elementary School Counselor Wilson Hawkins said.
'The decision to cut me and make someone else part-time, you are pulling counselors and spreading them thin and it used to be that way, I get that—I don't know how it's going to work,' Beverly Elementary School Counselor Brandy English said during her hearing.
Dilly also told 12 News there are currently 18 vacancies in special education positions that need to be filled in order to meet federal and state regulations, and he's hoping 'a decent percentage' of employees will return if funding is restored.
In the past, concerns have been made about how personnel cuts could potentially cause the county to violate federal regulations. However, Dilly said that the county 'hopes' that these proposed transfers, terminations and filling of 18 vacancies will keep the county within regulations, 'but not ideal conditions.'
On Wednesday, the majority of the hearings will consist of Title I personnel.
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