BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Citing a failure to act on a statutory obligation that resulted in a state of emergency, the West Virginia Board of Education, during its March 12 meeting in Charleston, took over control of the Mingo County School District for the third time in 27 years.
“I would like to ask the West Virginia Board of Education to declare that extraordinary circumstances exist in Mingo County Schools that warrant immediate intervention,” state Superintendent Michele Blatt said during the meeting.
This comes after Blatt directed the West Virginia Department of Accountability to perform a special circumstance review of the Mingo County BOE on Feb. 17
The takeover involves the state seizing immediate control of finances, personnel and purchases, essentially stripping the local board of any governance.
Director of Accountability Alexandra Criner said the investigation is ongoing. To date the team has interviewed all five board members and administrative staff and reviewed meeting minutes and agendas.
According to Criner, the team identified concerns related to board meetings, procedures and board-superintendent relations. Initial observations suggest that political conflict within the county is compromising student education and achievement, she said.
“The Office of Accountability has received and responded to a plethora of calls, emails and letters dating back to 2022, consisting of allegations of misconduct against specific personnel,” Criner said.
“When taken as a whole, this pattern of complaints and infighting among adults paints a picture of a school system—most importantly, the children within that system—caught in political crossfire,” she added.
The action allows Superintendent Johnny Branch to remain in his position until his contract expires June 30. At that time, the state superintendent will appoint an interim superintendent.
State Board of Education member Paul Hardesty noted that this marks the third state intervention in Mingo County Schools. The first occurred from 1998 to 2002, and the second from 2005 to 2014.
“There is a consistent theme in all of this,” Hardesty said. “It lies in No. 4 of the superintendent’s recommendation: that the Mingo County Board of Education failed to act on a statutory obligation, which interrupted the day-to-day operations of the school system.
“Those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it,” he added. “Ladies and gentlemen, today, March 12, 2025, we have unfortunately repeated history, and that’s sad. Our children deserve far better.”
During the review, the Mingo County superintendent, current or future, will meet with Blatt to come up with standards and or a strategic plan.
The complete declaration is available on the WVDE website.
A public report of findings will be released at the conclusion of the review.