CHARLESTON — The state Board of Education approved a waiver request from the Preston County Board of Education Wednesday that opens the door for an excess levy election on Feb. 2 that could lead to keeping two schools open.
The school board announced plans earlier this year to close both Fellowsville and Rowlesburg schools at the end of this school year, after the May 8 defeat of an excess levy. It fell short of the 50 percent required for passage by just more than 100 votes.
There’s been public outcry against the move to close the schools at several meetings, including six public hearings causing the county school board to table its plans and reconsider its options.
State law requires county school boards to decide school closings for the following year by Dec. 31 of the previous year, so Preston County asked for a waiver. The state Board of Education approved the request on a unanimous vote during its Wednesday meeting in Charleston.
In a letter to the state board, Preston County School Superintendent Stephen Wotring said the waiver would allow “the Preston County Board of Education to attempt to pass an excess levy before taking action on the proposed closures.”
Wednesday’s vote extends the closure deadline to Feb. 22, 2019. Wotring said that would give the Preston BOE time to complete the excess levy process and vote on the closures if the levy is not approved on Feb. 2.
State School Superintendent Steve Paine told the state board before its vote on the change was community-driven.
“I’ve spoken with the superintendent and one of the board members and told them we would absolutely support the recommendation for them to extend the deadline,” Paine said. “This is a good example of a board that is listening to their community and we’ll see if it passes.”
State BOE member Debra Sullivan also applauded the Preston BOE for trying to get an excess levy approved.
“I thought, ‘That’s good.’ They are being judicious and trying to do all they can to get support,” Sullivan said.
Fellowsville Elementary has an enrollment of 71 students in grades K through sixth, a 14 percent decline over the last five years. Rowlesburg has 82 students in grades K through eighth, an 11 percent decline over five years, Wotring said at a Nov. 13 meeting.
Fellowsville is at 38 percent capacity, Rowlesburg at 33 percent, he said.
