WCHS-TV

School closures and consolidations have impacted many areas in West Virginia, with nearly 20 schools currently at risk of closing their doors. Together for Public Schools West Virginia is a coalition that is now urging state lawmakers to put an immediate pause on school closures to give enough time to make changes to the school aid funding formula after no changes came from the legislative session. “We’re asking for a relief fund for small and rural schools to support them while they’re getting the funding formula figured out,” Together for Public Schools volunteer Avery Thrush said. Thrush said this pause could prevent closures.  

This year, state lawmakers spent $114,000 on a study regarding the current formula. Researchers recommended the state give more money to districts with higher numbers of students in special education and to put more constraints on the Hope Scholarship. Ultimately they did not use this feedback to push any bills across the finish line. County school boards were even working alongside the Legislature and the State Department of Education to start a special education fund, which fell through. “We’re harming our students with disabilities, we’re harming our rural students and we’re harming our littles in elementary school who are having to get on these buses and go far distances,” Thrush said.