A growing trend to shrink: West Virginia public school systems turn to consolidation to combat declining enrollment, aging buildings, lack of certified teachers

On Tuesday, following an emotional and tense public hearing at Riverside High School in which about 30 people spoke against consolidation, the board of education voted 3-2 to consolidate East Bank Middle School with DuPont Middle School beginning in the 2025-26 school year.

Assistant football coach Joseph Goodnite described the vote as an “anticipation of doom,” according to WV MetroNews, criticizing the decision-making process for excluding local voices.

Other speakers brought up concerns about lost opportunities for students, with several citing sports participation as examples.

While school board members faced difficult decisions with this consolidation, they will also be asked to support the closure of four elementary schools to create one new school. Schools that would close include Mary Ingles Elementary School, Belle Elementary School, Malden Elementary School and Midland Trail Elementary School.

Williams has pointed to the county’s continued loss of students — about 5,000 in the last 10 years, or about 15% of its enrollment. With the state’s school funding based on the number of students, the county’s reimbursement continues to fall, challenging the ability to keep as many buildings open.

The consolidation process has played out in other counties over the past year. All county decisions to consolidate must also be approved by the West Virginia Board of Education and State Superintendent Michele Blatt.

Last spring, the Harrison County Board of Education voted to merge Liberty High School into Robert C. Byrd, consolidate Washington Irving and Mountaineer Middle into the former Liberty building, and to relocate North View Elementary to the Mountaineer Middle building. Plans to move Salem Elementary into that building failed but could be brought up again if enrollment continues to fall.

Harrison County's plans were approved by the state board and are scheduled for next school year.

In September, Wetzel County’s Board of Education voted 3-1, with one member absent, to begin the process of looking to consolidate the county’s four high schools into two.

Wetzel Board President Linda Fonner told the Wheeling Intelligencer that declining enrollment, building conditions and lack of certified teachers were all considerations moving forward. The board and Superintendent Cassie Porter also cited the school system’s poor test scores as motivation for change.

“Wetzel County Schools’ declining enrollment, troubling students’ proficiency data, and human resources challenges demand serious and thoughtful action,” Fonner said. “Those actions must include examining the configuration of our facilities, our curriculum, and other data to determine how best to provide our students with the education they deserve. Today’s vote means that the board will, at a later time, consider school closures and consolidation as part of that process after complying with relevant state laws.”

Also in September, Preston County Board of Education members approved starting the process of closing both Rowlesburg and Fellowsville elementary schools as recommended by Superintendent Brad Martin.

For some time, the closure of Rowlesburg and Fellowsville elementary schools has been a topic of prolonged discussion. Back in 2018, the board voted to table the recommendation to close the schools at the end of the school year.

Now, coming to common consensus, it is no longer fiscally responsible to keep both locations open, officials said.

“From Fiscal Year 2018 through last fiscal year, Fellowsville, per student, was costing $18,741.44 compared to the district average of $13,451.82,” Martin said.

All board members voted to begin the process of closing both locations.

According to information provided by Preston County Schools, following the closures, all Rowlesburg students would be consolidated into the Aurora School and all students from Fellowsville Elementary would be consolidated into South Preston School.

The board has set hearings for late October and the board vote consoldiation for Nov. 18, with the goal of having all information to the state board for their approval, and the closings to be effective at the end of the school year.