The West Virginia Board of Education has unanimously voted to take over Mingo County Schools, citing “extraordinary circumstances” including low student achievement and political conflicts. The intervention was approved this week as state education officials discussed an ongoing special circumstance review of the county’s school system. Eyewitness News said the review places limitations on the county’s school board in daily operations and will require the approval of state superintendent of schools regarding policy making. State board members will work to hire a new county leader as the contract extension of current Superintendent Dr. Johnny Branch was rescinded after 2024’s general election. Branch will be replaced on June 30 of this year.
The troubled school system was on watch for nearly a decade before it regained control of operations in 2014.