Craig Howell APPROACHING THE DEADLINE – Hancock County Schools Superintendent Walter Saunders said a final round of hearings is set for Thursday as part of the Reductions in Force and Transfer process currently underway in the school district. Final decisions have to be made by Friday.

Hancock County Schools have until Friday to complete a large-scale reduction-in-force and transfer process tied to the district’s ongoing financial crisis.

One set of hearings was held April 16, while another scheduled for April 20 was postponed after officials found some RIF letters did not include “specific written statements of cause,” according to a district social media statement April 19.

Those hearings are now scheduled to resume later this week, Superintendent Walter Saunders said following Monday’s Board of Education meeting.

“We have another day of hearings for April 30. All the action needs to be done by May 1,” Saunders said.

A series of employee hearings is scheduled for Thursday beginning at 8 a.m. at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center. District officials said 31 hearings are planned, including four professional positions and the remainder service personnel.

A final staffing decision will be made by West Virginia Superintendent of Schools Michelle Blatt or her designee following the hearings, according to the agenda.

The West Virginia Board of Education took control of the district in January after a multi-million-dollar deficit raised concerns about the district missing payroll twice this school year. Former Superintendent Dan Enich was removed, and Saunders was appointed.

State officials have estimated about 140 positions could be affected, though the final number will not be known until hearings conclude.

Saunders acknowledged the impact on employees and the community.

“It’s a terrible process. It’s terrible for everyone,” he said. “It affects everything. It affects the community.”

The RIF and transfer process began in February, with Saunders meeting individually with employees affected. Written notices and verbal communication were provided at that time.

During Monday’s meeting, the process drew criticism.

“We understand the situation,” said Melanie Donofe, past president of the Hancock County Education Association. “Hancock County Schools is facing a severe financial crisis. Reductions in force and transfers are not avoidable. But how this is handled — that is a choice, and that choice carries responsibility.”

Donofe said errors in notification made the process appear predetermined.

“When hearings are rushed like this, it stops feeling like a fair process and starts feeling like the outcome is already decided,” she said. “When you are laying off nearly a third of your workforce, there is no room for avoidable mistakes.”

She added Education West Virginia has offered assistance but was not included in decision-making.

“Education West Virginia’s offer to work in partnership with the county administration and the WVDE staff to put Hancock County back on track still stands,” she said. “We want to be a partner in repairing the loss of confidence that this tortured process has created, but we can only be a partner if we are part of the decision-making process.”