Craig Howell CHANGE ON THE HORIZON – Three members of the Hancock County Board of Education are set to depart from their offices at the end of the month. Monday’s board meeting was the last for Ed Fields, Jack Crow, and Jim Horstman. Pictured, from left, during the meeting were, Fields, Horstman, board President Chris Gillette, Director of Personnel Jennifer Marchese, Crow, and board member Randy Swartzmiller. Superintendent Walter Saunders participated in the meeting by telephone.

NEW CUMBERLAND — While the operations of the Hancock County Board of Education have been different in recent months, the board itself also will look a bit different in the coming weeks.

Monday served as the final meeting of the county Board of Education in its current configuration, with three members — Ed Fields, Jim Horstman and Jack Crow — set to depart following the May primary election.

“I really did enjoy the process,” Crow said near the end of Monday’s meeting.

Crow was appointed to the school board in April 2025 to represent the Butler District following the resignation of Gerard Spencer.

Crow, while acknowledging recent circumstances with ongoing budgetary concerns, the West Virginia Board of Education taking over operations of the county school district in January and the ensuing reductions in force that followed, said he appreciated the experience and hoped for a brighter future.

“There’s a lot of people who care,” he said.

Fields, who has served as the board’s vice president in recent years, was elected in 2022. He previously served on the board from 1989 to 1998.

He lamented the effects the district’s financial problems are having on teachers and staff, noting a number of personnel opted to leave in addition to those who received a reduction-in-force or transfer notice during the district’s recent restructuring.

“We’re losing a lot of good and qualified people,” Fields said.

Horstman, who was elected to the board four years ago, offered his thanks to the other members of the board.

“We’ve all grown a lot together,” Horstman said.

Crow and Fields initially had stepped up with plans to seek re-election this year, but withdrew their campaigns after numerous other candidates registered.

Horstman continued with his campaign, receiving 1,160 votes. His total put him in third place; however, two other candidates, also from the Clay District, received more votes.

Current board President Chris Gillette and board member Randy Swartzmiller will remain on the board for the time being, with their terms not up until 2028.

Gillette, in particular, thanked Fields for his knowledge and experience on the board, saying they often would discuss topics of concern within the district, and pledged to continue working while he remains on the board.

“We will do the best we can with the handcuffs we have,” Gillette said.

Swartzmiller, meanwhile, offered his thanks to his departing colleagues and wished them well.

Hancock County Schools Director of Personnel Jennifer Marchese also expressed appreciation to the department members on behalf of the school district. Marchese oversaw Monday’s meeting in place of Superintendent Walter Saunders, who was not in attendance in person but participated by telephone.

Gillette and Swartzmiller will be joined by three new members, officially beginning July 1, with Tiffany Gale and Melissa Bane, both of Weirton, and Jeff Woofter, of New Cumberland, set to be sworn into office.

Woofter and Bane will represent the Clay District on the board, with Gale representing the Butler District.

A reorganizational meeting of the board has been scheduled for 1 p.m. July 6 at the John D. Rockefeller IV Career Center.