CHARLESTON — The West Virginia Board of Education will hold an emergency meeting today to discuss the financial issues impacting Hancock County Schools.

According to information posted on the West Virginia Secretary of State’s website, accepted at 2:14 p.m. Thursday, the state school board will meet in emergency session at 9 a.m. today, “to discuss the imminent material financial shortfalls present in the Hancock County School system that pose an immediate threat to the ongoing operation of the schools in Hancock County; and to consider whether such financial shortfalls should cause the WVBE to declare that extraordinary circumstances exist justifying immediate intervention into the operation of Hancock County Schools.”

Such discussion would fall under authorities granted to the state board under Article XII, Section 2 of the West Virginia Constitution and West Virginia Code 18-2E-5.

The announcement follows discussions Tuesday between Hancock County Schools Superintendent Dan Enich and officials with the West Virginia Department of Education, with Enich requesting assistance to meet the local district’s payroll obligations through February.

In a letter released last week, Enich indicated the need for assistance — which originally had been anticipated for later in the year — was necessary because Hancock County Schools was still awaiting a drawdown of approximately $475,000 in funds.

Enich has claimed, if the assistance is provided, regular revenue from taxes and grants will carry the district through the remainder of its year.

Through guidance from the West Virginia Board of Education, Hancock County Schools has been working with Educational Consultants LLC to review its fiscal budgets for the current and previous years, and establish a budget plan moving forward.