Boone County schools to consolidate at end of academic year

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 04:19 · Archive

Boone County Board of Education has approved consolidations that will close Van Junior-Senior High School and Whitesville Elementary.

The Boone County Board of Education has approved closing Van Junior-Senior High School and Whitesville Elementary at the end of the current school year. Students will be reassigned to other schools: Van High students will attend Scott High; Van Elementary and Junior High students will move into the Van High building to form a new PreK-8 school; and Whitesville students will attend Sherman Elementary. The consolidations will take effect in the 2027-2028 school year.

Superintendent Allen Sexton proposed the closures to address the district's budget deficit and low enrolment. The district cut nearly forty positions during the last personnel season, saving nearly three million dollars—about half the savings needed. Sexton said the district could cut another forty to fifty positions or pursue the school closures, which he said would produce comparable savings.

Parents and community members expressed strong opposition. One parent said: 'The teachers are heartbroken. The entire community is heartbroken. These schools have been everyone's home since the '30s.' The proposal will now go to the West Virginia Board of Education, which is expected to consider it in December and make a final decision on whether to approve the closures.

How it is being reported

• Boone County school board approves closures of schoolsThe Boone County Board of Education has approved closing Van Junior/Senior High School and Whitesville Elementary after this school year.WSAZ · 9 Oct, 03:54
• Boone County board approves major school consolidationsBOONE COUNTY, W.Va. (WOWK) - Schools in Boone County will be consolidating at the end of the school year.Wowktv · 8 Oct, 23:36

In this story: Boone County · Van Junior-Senior High School · Whitesville Elementary · Sherman Elementary · Scott High School · Allen Sexton · West Virginia Board of Education

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