By Stephen Smoot
“Bless the nation,” prayed J.D. Wilkins, Pendleton County Board of Education president, in the customary opening invocation, “bless the people of this nation.”
One of the most important messages shared in last week’s Pendleton County Board of Education meeting came near the close. Nicole Hevener, superintendent, shared that the Franklin-based Christian Assistance Network has run low on stocks of food and supplies for struggling households in Pendleton County.
Hevener stated that the school system would step up and promote more donations to C. A. N., who rents a building beside Pendleton County Middle/High School to store and distribute goods. She encouraged others to support their efforts as well.
At the opening of the meeting, Hevener shared that J. P. Mowery, treasurer, had received an invitation to edify the West Virginia State Board of Education with a finances-based presentation. She praised his “depth of knowledge” and added, “It’s a great thing that we have him here.”
The board then heard the names of students earning accolades at PCM/HS. Breena Bowers earned September Student of the Month and Vivian Pownell the James Huffman Award. Bowers excelled in SAT testing and serves as class vice president. Pownell has been active with Future Farmers of America and also, through the Grow Your Own program at Eastern West Virginia Community and Technical College, has already started her academic journey to service as a Pendleton County teacher.
Wilkins offered, “Congratulations to both of them.”
Next, Mowery provided the financial update, which included some official year end totals from the 2025 fiscal year that ended on June 30. Total revenues for the year hit $18,745,989 with just under $4 million coming from property taxes. Total spending reached almost $15.7 million with $1.8 million going to transportation. Mowery shared that “we have a large county” and told how that resulted in the sizable cost. Additionally, almost $1.7 million went into facilities maintenance.
Much of the rest goes to payroll (which came in at just under $10 million), nutrition, and other big ticket items in public education.
Mowery noted that the balance at the end of the fiscal year “ended up on target” and that the system needs to “make sure that we maintain” the healthy cash balance through fiscal year 2026, the current one. Last year, he explained, “We held our own and even increased a little bit.”
As Mowery has stated in a number of meetings during the years, the threat to PCS financial security lies not in a single large problem, but the threat of death by a thousand cuts. Secure Rural Schools funding from a federal program that compensates school districts for lands owned in district by the United States Forest Service still has an unsure future.
The 1,400 formula that subsidizes sparsely populated counties could adjust to the disadvantage of Pendleton County Schools. Pocahontas County may have to report a student population dip of 50. Mowery shared that “now they may be smaller than us, which may be the first time ever.”
Though Pendleton County is “holding steady at about 850,” the complex funding formula could shift and lessen funds received from that program. Neither program cut would have a decisive impact on its own, but when added to other declines in funding and grant opportunities, it could hit the county schools budget going forward in adverse ways.
Mowery shared that he continues to communicate with key members of the West Virginia State Legislature about the 1,400 floor that remains vital to the finances of several counties. In partial explanation of how it works, it provides funding to fill the gap between the actual number of students and what the system would receive if it had 1,400.
Funding is based in comparisons of the relative student populations between counties, not a fixed and objective number.
Mowery provided examples of where the spending went during the fiscal year. The report included a little more than $118,000 for bus repairs, but the state will reimburse PCS for 95 percent of that. Galliker Dairy charged a little more than $75,000 for dairy products, mostly milk. Fuel from Southern States in Moorefield came to approximately $200,000 and liability insurance from the West Virginia Board of Risk came to about $154,000. Mowery shared that had increased sharply from approximately $60,000 not long ago.
Mowery shared last month that PCS received one of the best quotes from that entity due to an exemplary safety record.
Payments to the Public Employees Insurance Agency, PEIA, reached more than $1.7 million as well.
In the treasurer’s report, which focuses on short term financial information, Mowery shared the current cash-on-hand balance as $2,748,261.25 as of Aug. 31. He explained that August and September typically see healthy inflows of revenue as property tax payments add up close to their due date.
In the month of August, PCS earned $9,781.62 in interest off of 4.43 percent; the fiscal year to date number was $19,689.23. Mowery remembered that “back when we had no money, that was a full year of interest.”
Travis Heavner presented the facilities update, which kicked off with him discussing a “needs grant” application submitted the previous Friday with the assistance of Thrasher. He shared that the Pendleton County Middle/High School roof required repairs, along with the HVAC at Brandywine Elementary School and other needs.
That said, the air conditioning system at Franklin Elementary School is “back up and running,” as is the unit at PCM/HS, “but not at full steam.” Also, repairs to the Harold Michael Building at North Fork Elementary School have neared completion.
Discussion then focused on the West Virginia Balanced Scorecard results from last year, released last week statewide. Pendleton County fared well and details will be shared elsewhere in this week’s edition.
In the superintendent’s report, Hevener stated that she joined service personnel for an appreciation luncheon on the day set aside by the state for recognition of their hard work. “That was a lot of fun,” she said. “We really appreciate our service personnel.”
Next meeting will take place at 6 p.m. on Oct. 7 at Brandywine Elementary School. Board members and the superintendent will also hear a presentation from the BES Local School Improvement Council.
