Randolph County staff starts to receive RIF notices after failed consolidations

Yahoo

05-03-2025

ELKINS, W.Va. (WBOY) — Staff across Randolph County began receiving Reduction in Force (RIF) notices on Monday, as the county is desperately attempting to ensure that it can achieve a balanced budget after two proposed consolidations fell through in January.
Although RIF and transfer notices are typical this time of year, it did start later this year. Due to the uncertainty of federal and state funding, it is still the only time where these changes can be done, according to Randolph County Schools Superintendent, Shawn Dilly.
But this year is different with the threat of a state takeover if the budget is not balanced and not knowing what kind of federal and state grants will be received, if any.
'And with those uncertainties, we have to assume the worst case scenario and some case—in some situations and try to take actions on those and once we get confirmation. My hope is in the next few weeks, we'll have confirmations around some of these funding streams and therefore we can rescind those initial notices so that folks can be reassured that they have a position for next year,' Dilly said.
Although there was a delay in sending out RIF and transfer notices, Dilly said the goal is to assess all the final staffing needs after resignations and retirements that have already started to come in.
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No exact number of positions to be cut was given by Dilly, as he said he will be announcing that at a later point. However, he said that 'we will have quite a few, I don't want to give out the full number just yet but it's going to be pretty substantial this year.'
Previously, 12 News has reported on 32 positions being cut, and although that still remains the case, there are about 50 other federally or state-funded positions that may be cut if the county doesn't receive funding for them. However, there is a chance of that decision getting rescinded as well if funding comes through.
'This is one of those direct impacts of the uncertainty around the U.S. Department of Education,' Dilly said.
Dilly added that Randolph County Schools has tried to get some reassurances about the funding, nothing is set in stone yet. 'We also haven't seen those budgets and what that actual dollar amount will be, and so I can't assume that I'm going to have funding, for example, 13 Title I roles or not. We may only get half of that so I can't assume that until I actually have those numbers and then I can rescind the actions based on that particular outcome,' Dilly said.
Dilly also added in the meeting he's been in contact with state senator Robbie Morris and delegate Jonathan Kyle on recent bills presented in the state house and state senate during this year's legislative session, giving the representatives feedback on how certain bills could affect districts like Randolph.
'Like the Senate Bill 199 and the sort of equivalent house bill basically is an unfunded mandate for an ALC [Active Learning Classroom] program for elementary schools. I don't necessarily have the resources, because obviously with the situation we're currently in. And so part of what we want to try and make sure they're aware of is even though we're supportive of the bill we need some funding to come with it so that we can support those staffing requirements,' Dilly said.
During his presentation to the board, Dilly also broke down all the positions that are required by law across schools. As part of this, there are estimated to be cuts to nearly 20 central office positions—lower than some community members have claimed it to be. Some of these positions are also being looked at to cut.
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