Breaking News

Education

Four charter schools could hit enrollment of 1,500

CHARLESTON — Enrollment in West Virginia’s four public charter schools could reach 1,500 as the final schools open for their first school year later this month. Members of the West Virginia Professional Charter School Board were updated on enrollment numbers during their Tuesday meeting. Board Executive Director James Paul said the Morgantown-based West Virginia Academy, which began classes last week, has 470 students, while the Eastern Panhandle Prep Academy has a verified enrollment of 381 students. There are two virtual charter schools. The West Virginia Virtual Academy ...

State BOE names SBA’s Roach as new state super of schools

CHARLESTON — The state Board of Education Wednesday chose state School Building Authority Executive Director David Roach as the next state superintendent of schools. Roach replaces Clayton Burch who, at his request, is being transferred to be the superintendent for the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind in Romney. Both moves took effect Wednesday. Roach will be paid $230,000 per state statute. State Board President Paul Hardesty said the state BOE chose to make a quick but solid decision on Burch’s replacement. He said Roach is a top-flight educator. “Look ...

Mon district, BOE terminates teacher’s employment

A University High School teacher has been fired by the district. The decision to terminate Travis Wells, who taught science at the school on Bakers Ridge Road, came after a personnel hearing that lasted nearly four hours during Tuesday night’s meeting of the Monongalia County Board of ...

WVEA: State down over 1,000 teachers

BY CARRIE HODOUSEK CHARLESTON — With just weeks until school starts, districts across West Virginia are left with dozens of unfilled teaching positions. West Virginia Education Association President Dale Lee predicts the problem will only get worse this fall. “I project those numbers to be over 1,500 this coming school year,” Lee said on Monday’s MetroNews “Talkline.” The state Department of Education reported 1,196 teacher vacancies statewide in 2021. Lee said the vacancies are widespread across all different grade levels. “Before we used to hear it’s ...