Latest news with #RandolphCountyBoardofEducation
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Randolph County Board of Education says teachers can't discuss how life began
ELKINS, (WBOY) — The Randolph County Board of Education met Tuesday night, where it voted through several changes to its policy. Superintendent Shawn Dilly said that a majority of the changes were simply to update the code and make it compliant with West Virginia law, but one change in particular stood out. One of the changes amended Section 16 of the county's Policy Manual, specifically the section that mentions controversial issues. Under the highlighted changes to the policy, which were written by independent policy service provider Neola, was one that said: 'The Board, Superintendent, or principal may prohibit a public school classroom teacher from responding to student inquiries or answering questions from students about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.' Transgender athlete qualifies for West Virginia State Track Meet At the bottom of that document, the policy cites Section §18-5-41a of the West Virginia Code as the reason behind the change. The code also outlines how teachers should handle the discussion of certain scientific theories and stems from Senate Bill 280 in 2024, which was passed into law. However, that bill and the code it created state the exact opposite of what Randolph County's new policy does, saying: 'No public school board, school superintendent, or school principal may prohibit a public school classroom teacher from responding to student inquiries or answering questions from students about scientific theories of how the universe and/or life came to exist.' Other changes put through Tuesday night included ones that outlined proper teacher-student ratios in classrooms, suicide prevention, self-harm and eating disorder prevention and a plan for if a student goes into cardiac arrest. 12 News has reached out to Superintendent Shawn Dilly about this issue and will update this story when we hear back. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Stories of the Week: April 20 through April 26
CLARKSBURG, – Here are some of the top stories this week on the WBOY 12News Facebook page. The Randolph County Board of Education voted this week to fire 33 staff members. Gov. Patrick Morrisey signed Lauren's Law to increase the penalties for bringing fentanyl and other drugs into West Virginia. The Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown said recent funding cuts should not significantly affect its operations. Former ESPN sportscaster and Clarksburg native Mike Patrick died at the age of 80. Twelve University High School students committed to serve the United States during Military Signing Day. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Randolph BOE job cuts still not enough to balance budget, superintendent says
ELKINS, (WBOY) — The Randolph County Board of Education voted on Tuesday to terminate 33 positions across the county, but Randolph County's superintendent, Shawn Dilly, says it still won't be enough to balance the county's budget. Of the 42 positions planned to be eliminated, nine of them were spared from the Reduction In Force (RIF) vote on Tuesday. However, Dilly said the funding for those positions is still uncertain. 'It has really created sort of a difficult situation for us to navigate as there is not adequate funding or confirmation of funding sources to support all the positions that the board elected to save on Tuesday night,' Dilly said in an interview with 12 News. One problem with Tuesday's vote is that Dilly said some names were inappropriately removed from the list of cuts, and were removed outside the official process they are legally required to follow. Randolph County Board of Education votes to fire 33 staff members 'Based on the board's decisions last night, and the really—I'm trying to put this delicately—the lack to follow personnel laws in the state of West Virginia will require us to undo a lot of those positions that were going to be successfully reduced. So therefore, we will be unable to meet our statutory requirements to balance the budget.' Dilly also said that the Board of Education will likely meet again in May to 'correct' any actions that don't comply with state law. May could also kick off talks related to school consolidation within the county after motions to consolidate two schools failed earlier this year. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
28-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Randolph County RIF vote postponed; Superintendent says consolidation back on the table
ELKINS, (WBOY) — A vote to eliminate positions in Randolph County has been postponed following more Reduction in Force (RIF) hearings Thursday night in Elkins, and more drastic moves could be on the horizon. The last set of school employees who requested a hearing stated their cases to the Randolph County Board of Education against proposed transfers and terminations. Superintendent Shawn Dilly said the final vote on those moves will happen by April 22 at the latest. Dilly told 12 News the decision was made to wait until the school board gets needed information about state and federal funding. On top of that, the issue of consolidation has resurfaced, as Dilly said the measure is back on the table for the 2026-27 school year in an effort to balance the county's budget. Consolidation was an option the county explored a few months ago, with proposals to close the rural Harman and Pickens schools. However, the measure to close Harman was voted down by the board, and the one to close Pickens was withdrawn the next day. Dilly said the proposed terminations and transfers are only a temporary fix, reiterating a point he made last November, where he said that school consolidation in Randolph County is inevitable. Discussions on consolidations are set to start as early as May. Elkins man helps advocate for autism police training Of the 11 hearings Thursday night, three were transfers, with those staff members making the argument that teacher turnover and transfers have a negative impact on students' lives. For some teachers facing these unknowns, a vote to terminate or transfer them may lead them to step away from education altogether. 'Even if this transfer goes through, I will not accept it because third ward is where I belong. I moved here from Virginia with no blood relatives and I took a pay decrease to go here, but this is where I wanted to go and I might not have blood relatives here, but I have family in there at third ward, so if I don't teach there, I will simply have to find a new job,' First-grade teacher Tina Wulin said. 'I mean, I have two children of my own. My husband is a federal employee, which that is up in the air right now. And so it would be very foolish of me to not be seeking employment in somewhere where I could find stable income. I need to provide benefits and income for my family,' Kindergarten Teacher Erica Roth said. 12 News will bring you a more detailed breakdown of the results of this meeting on Friday, March 28. Stay tuned for updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
