The West Virginia Board of Education has approved closing three elementary schools in Roane and Logan counties. Walton Elementary and Geary Elementary in Roane County, along with Verdunville Elementary in Logan County, will shut down after the board’s vote Wednesday.
Local school boards had already supported the closures, citing serious financial strain and declining enrollment. Roane County is under a state of emergency for its school finances, while Verdunville faced more than $8 million in needed repairs and damage from an April landslide.
About 200 students from Walton and Geary will move to the Spencer Elementary and Middle School system. Verdunville’s roughly 100 students will merge with Omar Elementary.