All schools in Upshur County will close at 1 p.m. today. All B-UHS sporting events today are canceled.

School finance committee narrows focus on education funding

CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The State Board of Education’s committee on school finance and funding outlined six areas of concern to report to the West Virginia Board of Education (WVBE) to consider to improve education funding at its meeting this week.

The committee concluded that student needs have changed dramatically over the last several years and changes have not been made to the state funding formula to equitably and adequately meet those needs.

The opioid crisis is one of many external factors that are requiring a renewed commitment and reassessment of meeting student needs within the public education system.

The committee unanimously agreed on the following six preliminary recommendations:

  1. Increase compensation/funding for formula Steps 1 and 2. This could include an increase in the number of positions for and the compensation of those positions for professional educators and service personnel.
  2. Provide adequate funding for Step 6a to allow districts to adequately maintain the facilities that house the students.
  3. Address the rising costs for substitute professional educators (Step 6b and 6c) that greatly increase actual costs and disrupt classroom learning. This problem has progressively worsened as more educators enter the workforce without the ability to bank sick days and convert them for pension benefits.
  4. Increase the faculty senate reimbursement (Step 6d) of $200 per instructional personnel and professional student support personnel, which has not been changed for many years and has not kept up with inflation.
  5. Increase the number of counselors and nurses funded through the state aid formula (Step 5) to help address the physical and mental health needs of students, which continue to grow. These positions are vital for student health and success and minimizing disruption in the classroom.
  6. Increase funding for career technical education (CTE) and alternative education, both of which are great demands for schools.

The preliminary report will be presented to the WVBE at its next meeting on Thursday, Nov. 15 for informational and discussion purposes.

“I commend the work of the committee members who have dedicated time to identifying priorities that can positively impact students and schools,” Board Member and Chair of the committee Tom Campbell said.

“Equity in funding has been a major focus for West Virginia for many years. However, the committee feels that student needs cannot be fairly met based only on enrollment numbers. We must also ensure the funding formula addresses adequate resources to school districts in order to provide a thorough and efficient education to all students and meet the needs of the students of today.”

In addition to State Board of Education members, the committee includes representatives from the West Virginia Association of School Administrators (WVASA), the American Federation of Teachers (AFT-WV), the West Virginia Education Association (WVEA), an elementary school principal, a high school principal and the West Virginia Department of Education’s Office of School Finance.

The next meeting of the school finance and funding committee will be at 10 a.m. on November 27, 2018 in Capitol Building 6, Room 353 (State Board Room), 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East, Charleston, West Virginia.

Share this story:

Local Businesses

RECENT Stories

Upshur County Relay for Life aims to raise $35,000 for cancer research on July 19

The Upshur County Relay for Life will host its annual event July 19 at Jawbone Park, aiming to raise $35,000 for cancer research while celebrating survivors and bringing the community together through activities and remembrance ceremonies.

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital team members engage in statewide healthcare leadership program

Two WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital employees were honored by the West Virginia Hospital Association Leadership Academy, with Paula Cutright graduating and Matthew Scott selected for future participation in the statewide healthcare leadership program.

Post 7 drops outings to Doddridge and Morgantown

Buckhannon Post 7 suffered consecutive road defeats, falling 10-2 to Doddridge County and 11-0 to Morgantown Post 2, dropping their season record to 2-15.

Summer basketball league begins week two

The Upshur County Summer Basketball League entered its second week with standout performances from top scorers including Cory Harper, Dalton Hamrick, Cordell Nicola, and Vinny Snuffer leading their teams across multiple games.

Buckhannon City Council Special Meeting Agenda: July 15, 2025

The Buckhannon City Council has released the agenda for its special meeting scheduled for July 15, 2025.

BCT to light up the stage with Mamma Mia starting this weekend

Buckhannon Community Theatre will present the musical Mamma Mia! at the Colonial Arts Center starting July 12, featuring ABBA hits, lively performances, and a cast assembled from across the region.

St. Joseph’s Hospital supports healthy habits with mile-long midday walks

WVU Medicine St. Joseph’s Hospital has launched a noon walk initiative, inviting staff and community members to join daily one-mile walks to promote physical activity and improve health outcomes.

John Paul Ingram

John Paul Ingram, 83, a beloved Buckhannon resident, ordained minister, and avid outdoorsman who shared his faith and kindness with many, died July 6, 2025, surrounded by his family.

Wesleyan finishes seventh in MEC Commissioners Cup standings

West Virginia Wesleyan finished seventh in the 2024-25 Mountain East Conference Commissioner’s Cup standings, while the University of Charleston captured its eighth consecutive and tenth overall title for all-around athletic excellence.