With Communities in Schools serving a vital function, but slated to lose state funding, Pendleton County Schools found a creative way to financially bolster the program.
The meeting started with the customary invocation by J. D. Wilkins, board president. He prayed, “Bless this year. Let it be a great year all around.”
At the close of the meeting, Nicole Hevener, superintendent, announced that Pendleton County Schools had secured outside grant support for CIS. This program, launched by former First Lady Cathy Justice and supported by Jim Justice, former governor and current United States Senator, provides support for students who struggle for a variety of reasons.
Part of the program helps to ensure that students have sufficient food and toiletries, as well as someone with whom to talk about problems in life.
When applying for a truancy diversion grant, PCS inquired if funds awarded could go to support CIS. The grantor answered in the affirmative, and PCS won an award of a little more than $26,000 to support CIS work. The West Virginia Legislature passed full funding at one point, but that was always scheduled to gradually taper off each year with school systems expected to pick up the cost, which includes salaries for personnel as well as supplies to distribute to children in need.
Hevener shared at the opening of the meeting that Pendleton County Schools rose in the Schooldigger rankings from 15th to 10th and added that it scored in the top 10 statewide in math and English. “We’re very proud of all of them,” noted Hevener.
Pendleton County scored in the top 20 percent statewide in English, mathematics, and science. The system also outperformed most counties in the achievement levels of “economically disadvantaged students.”
The board approved a series of memorandums of understanding. The first allowed for automatic admission to Marshall University for students who qualify, another engaged Pendleton County Emergency Rescue to have a presence at football games, while the third was for the renovation of a Ford van for school use.
A proposed MOU with SP Photography and Light In Motion to cover games was tabled until the first meeting in September.
J. P. Mowery delivered the treasury reports for June and July, as well as the financial report. Board members learned that the June 30 ending fund balance, showing PCS’ cash position at the end of the fiscal year, was $2,142,494.28 in 2026 and $1,580,501.08 in 2025.
“We gained a bit from 25 to 26, but we are basically breaking even,” said Mowery. He added that the fiscal year just ended also saw a little less than $120,000 earned from interest in various accounts.
He stated that July 31 numbers would see the balances come closer together. At the close of July 2026, the balance was $2,386,804.15 while the end of July 2025 saw a mark of $2,397,821.12.
“My concern will be the funding at 1,382 rather than 1,400,” he stated.
Mowery also mentioned a lawsuit filed in Lincoln County over school funding. A state court case from decades ago called upon the state to ensure proper funding for each school district to ensure that children from less affluent districts enjoyed similar opportunities.
The decision ruled that education was “a fundamental, Constitutional right,” but set a high standard. While it spurred hundreds of millions in improvements in past years and has driven policy and lawmaking, critics state that it was never fully implemented. In 2003, Judge Arthur Recht closed the case and ended his circuit court’s jurisdiction over the matter.
The current school aid funding formula was part of the effort to even out funding differences. On the lawsuit, Mowery said, “We will see. I have no idea what impact it will have to the state legislature.” Almost concurrently with the day of the meeting, West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey laid out his outline for how to reform state school funding, focusing on making the process easier to understand, among other priorities.
