The West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) voted to end the state of emergency at Pocahontas County High School during its February meeting in Charleston. The board issued the heightened status after a series of findings and areas of non-compliance during a special circumstance review.
The WVBE declared the Pocahontas County State of Emergency in February 2025, following findings related to high school counseling, leadership, school environment, and special education. Support from the West Virginia Department of Education (WVDE) Office of Accountability and Office of Special Education, as well as county and school leaders addressing the identified areas, resulted in significant improvements. The Board’s vote concludes oversight by the WVDE, allowing the county to resume full oversight of all programs and operations.
Logan County Schools Intervention
The WVBE issued a full intervention of Logan County Schools in October 2022 after a special circumstance review revealed multiple findings across several focus areas. Last year, Dr. Sonya White was appointed as county superintendent, and she presented the required six-month update at this month’s meeting. During her tenure of approximately 100 days, the central office has been re-organized, school administrators continue to establish leadership teams to best support student needs and achievement, and local board communications and relations remain an important focus.
As a result of ongoing work and progress, the WVBE voted to return policy-making authority to the Logan County Board of Education. Other areas of county operations will remain under state board control.
Wayne County Schools
The WVBE approved the closure and consolidation of several schools in Wayne County. Dunlow Elementary School and Genoa Elementary School will close at the end of the current school year and merge into Crum PreK-8, East Lynn Elementary School, and Wayne Elementary School.
The agenda, a stream link to the meeting, and available reports can be found on the WVBE event page of the WVDE website.
The next WVBE meeting is at 9 a.m., Wednesday, Mar. 11, in Building 6, Suite 600, 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.
