By Stephen Smoot
After that discussion, board members heard the roster of newly hired personnel. That included many of the positions needed to run the summer’s Energy Express program, as well as the hiring of Derek Lambert as the new principal of Pendleton County Middle/High School.
Mowery started with a discussion of levy rates, explaining the four separate classes of property recognized under the law, three of which are subject to taxation. The total assessed value of property in this century has jumped from a little more than $200 million to almost $750 million.
Local taxes totaled about $3,780,990, an increase of about $125,000 from the previous year’s assessment.
He then shared that the school system received $7,737,960 in state aid.
Last year, the system received $77,000 in national forest land money from Secure Rural Schools. Though expected to be funded, Congress has not yet passed the proposed three-year renewal. Mowery adjusted the expected amount from that program down to $50,000 in the interest of maintaining fiscal restraint in budgeting.
Sonny O’Neil, board member, inquired about a bill currently under consideration in the West Virginia Legislature that would enable school system personnel to “buy back” unused sick days. That would have the effect of reducing their use.
Mowery shared that “I don’t know if it will pass” but “we will have to find a way to fund that if it passes.”
“Where do I expect to end up a year from now?” Mowery asked, rhetorically. He stated that the schools should exceed the desired reserves rate of $1.187 million “pretty handsomely.”
Mowery then explained the history of “carryover” from one budget to the next in this century. Since 2020, Pendleton County Schools has carried over at least $500,000 from the preceding year into the succeeding year’s budget. In both 2021 and 2025 that amount has exceeded $1.7 million.
Much of that has come through good stewardship of COVID era funding. Pendleton County Schools followed a strategy of not funding ongoing expenses, especially new hires, with COVID funds. Upshur County used such funds for inappropriate purposes, which brought a state rebuke. Other counties used the funds to hire new faculty and staff, only to have to face difficult choices between laying off personnel and closing schools.
Pendleton County Schools reserved COVID funds for one-time expenses and other special projects, which has prevented talk of layoffs, school closings, or reduced services.
Later in his update, Charles Hedrick, superintendent, referred to “seeing other issues with county schools” and stating that “we need to be proactive and we have been” concerning the changing economic and financial landscape.
Hedrick cited the Biblical story of “seven fat cows eaten by seven skinny ones” and applauded the board and staff “for financial soundness.” He said the system needed to remain “strategic to make sure we don’t get into a panic.”
Prior to 2020, Pendleton County Schools experienced much less carryover. In 2009, the system had $218,660 left over for the following year, but in 2012 and 2019, that dropped to less than $8,500 and $4,200, respectively.
One program currently facing reductions is Communities in Schools, established by former First Lady Cathy Justice as a support system for students facing challenges. The current budget of $300,000 per year will slowly reduce until “phased out to zero within several years.”
Travis Heavner, who also resigned as Pendleton County Middle School girls’ basketball coach, provided a facilities report. He said workers were “still working on window replacement” at Brandywine Elementary School and expected to complete that by April 22 at the latest.
He then reported on the malfunction of the sign at PCM/HS and explained that the school will install a wi-fi bridge to connect the sign better to school systems.
Later in the attendance report, he announced that the seventh grade at PCM/HS achieved 100 percent attendance in a recent day and added that the “March Madness” incentive is “making a big difference.”
