February 17, 2026 | 4:00 P.M. | Board Room
445 West Main Street, Clarksburg, WV
Streamed live on YouTube - Video Below
The Harrison County Board of Education held a special meeting on February 17, 2026, to review personnel levels and projected state aid funding.
Enrollment and State Funding
Staff shared that student enrollment decreased by 429 students this school year. The district’s second-month enrollment count was 8,926 students.
State funding for positions is based on enrollment. When enrollment declines, the number of state-funded positions also declines. As a result, the district currently employs more professional and service staff than are funded through the state formula.
Current Staffing Overview
Staff reported that the district is over the state funding formula in both professional and service positions. They reviewed how staffing levels are calculated and how charter school and other adjustments impact funding totals.
Personnel staff also shared that from July 1 to the meeting date, 28 positions have been abolished through attrition (retirements, resignations, and transfers). Some positions were also created to meet student and classroom needs.
A proposal was discussed to abolish additional positions during transfer season. Staff emphasized that the goal is to manage reductions through transfers and natural attrition, not reductions in force (RIFs).
Financial Review and Projections
Finance staff reviewed projected funding for fiscal year 2027 and how it compares to current staffing levels. They explained the impact of enrollment decline on state aid, as well as the role of the excess levy in supporting personnel costs.
The Board also reviewed:
Projected changes in funded positions for FY27
The relationship between personnel costs and excess levy revenue
Rising substitute costs
Multi-year enrollment trends
State efficiency measures related to fiscal oversight
Finance staff explained that additional adjustments will be needed to align staffing levels with projected funding for the upcoming fiscal year.
Board Discussion
Board members discussed enrollment trends, classroom sizes, population projections, and the importance of making responsible financial decisions while supporting students and staff.
The Board will continue reviewing personnel and funding projections in the coming weeks as part of the budget planning process for the upcoming fiscal year.
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