Ross Gallabrese DISCUSSION – Jeff Crook, superintendent of Brooke County schools, left; Ted Pauls, school board president; and Antoinette Perkins, board vice president, talk before the start of Monday's meeting.

WELLSBURG — The reduction in force process continued in Brooke County Monday night when members of the Board of Education voted to approve recommendations made by Superintendent Jeff Crook.

The process is an annual procedure designed to ensure the district remains within state staffing guidelines.

“Every year, in the second semester of the school year in West Virginia, we have to look at our enrollment numbers and see what staffing we have,” Deputy Superintendent Corey Murphy said after Monday’s meeting. “If we’re over the state formula, then we have to look at where we can make cuts to get that number down in terms of employees.”

The board approved Crook’s recommendation to terminate 12 professional employees and 18 service employees, as well as to consider for transfer seven professional employees and nine service personnel. The unanimous vote followed a 30-minute executive session.

Crook said some of the changes were recommended based on staffing adjustments planned for the 2026-27 school year.

“Some of the aides who were service personnel we RIFed because we are getting interventionists in the classroom,” he said after the meeting. “Every two classes will have one interventionist, and that’s a full-time educational specialist to help out with the kids.”

Crook said the decisions were driven by finances and enrollment.

“From our Oct. 1 count to now, our numbers are up slightly,” he said. “But this year the state is basing it on the Oct. 1 count.”

Murphy said the staffing changes reflect current education realities.

“That’s a little bit higher than we have done in the past,” he said. “We’re fortunate in that we have an operating levy that supports personnel over the state formula. In today’s world, it was time for us to make some cuts to get back in line with our enrollment. We have to look at that and eliminate where we think we can to keep our budget in the black.”

Crook and Murphy said the lists approved Monday are likely to change in the coming weeks.

“There is a likelihood that some of the people on that list might be back in positions vacated by retirements, or, if there is a need and we would have to post a new position, we would look at those people first,” Murphy said.

“When we look at teaching positions, at the aide positions and service positions, there could be positions for them next year, we just don’t know yet,” he added.

Murphy acknowledged the personnel process can be difficult for administrators.

“It’s not fun. I try to sit everyone down and talk with them,” he said.

He added that few of those affected requested hearings before the board.

“We had personnel hearings last week,” Murphy said. “Anybody on that list who wanted a hearing was able to come in front of the board and plead their case. We only had five hearings.”

The board also:

• Recognized winners in the West Virginia Young Writers competition; congratulated students accepted into the West Virginia Music Educators Association All-State Choir; and honored members of the Brooke High School Future Business Leaders of America, which was named the state’s chapter of the year;

• Approved more than 20 overnight or day trips for student activities or employee training;

• Approved Crook’s recommendation to reappoint Deidre R. Parr as treasurer for the 2026-27 school year;

• Was reminded that a special session has been set for 6 p.m. April 21 to reconvene the March 9 meeting;

• Scheduled a work session for 6:15 p.m. April 21 to discuss the budget for the next school year; and

• Announced the next regular meeting is scheduled for 6 p.m. April 27.